Thread: Air Brushing!!!!!

Need a good recommendation for my first REAL airbrush and compressor. I am really wondering a few things specifically.....

1. What type of compressor works best? Is there a quiet version of it for indoor use? What price point are we talking?

2. What type of airbrush and why? What is the price point, roughly?

3. What type of paint should be used? Can I still use acryllic or should I be using something else?

4. What stages of the process do you recommend using them for? Is there an airbrush/compressor that is better suited for all stages of the process?

There are two of us here in Dallas that are wanting to try this out. I figured I would ask as I know there are quite a few of you that use them for various stages of your paiting. Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

Need a good recommendation for my first REAL airbrush and compressor. I am really wondering a few things specifically.....

1. What type of compressor works best? Is there a quiet version of it for indoor use? What price point are we talking? JW won a badger at Adepticon last year it is the ****, very quiet.

2. What type of airbrush and why? What is the price point, roughly? Again, JW's badger is badass. I have two pasche's that worked pretty good. You are welcome to one of them if want.

3. What type of paint should be used? Can I still use acryllic or should I be using something else? Special airbrush paints or GW mixed down with alcohol/water

4. What stages of the process do you recommend using them for? Is there an airbrush/compressor that is better suited for all stages of the process? I used mine for base coats and weathering

There are two of us here in Dallas that are wanting to try this out. I figured I would ask as I know there are quite a few of you that use them for various stages of your paiting. Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

John,

Do you know what model number the items are for the airbrush and compressor?

Originally Posted by Wiley One

John,

Do you know what model number the items are for the airbrush and compressor?

Not offhand, I'll check when I get home.

Originally Posted by Wiley One

Need a good recommendation for my first REAL airbrush and compressor. I am really wondering a few things specifically.....

1. What type of compressor works best? Is there a quiet version of it for indoor use? What price point are we talking?

2. What type of airbrush and why? What is the price point, roughly?

3. What type of paint should be used? Can I still use acryllic or should I be using something else?

4. What stages of the process do you recommend using them for? Is there an airbrush/compressor that is better suited for all stages of the process?

There are two of us here in Dallas that are wanting to try this out. I figured I would ask as I know there are quite a few of you that use them for various stages of your paiting. Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

(1) I would recommed a hardware pancake compressor unless quiet is a requirement in which case Iawata Siverjets are damn sweet and expensive. I currently run mine in the garage with small compressor from Harbor Freight. It works. The benefits of a hardware style compressor though is because there is a tank you get nice regular pressure and the motor doesn't run as often though when it does it can get loud. Get an in-line moisture trap

(2) Double action/gravity fed. Iawata, Badger are both good brands. I have a badge revolution that I like and an Iawata that I love. The Iawata is siphon fed though so it gets used for mass basecoats and terrain. I will replace my badger with either the Infinity 2-1 or another Iawata . If I were starting from scratch and money wasn't an issue I'd look at the Infinity 2 in 1. Its a great brush.

(3) I've run GW/VMC/VGC/Reaper/Apple Barrel and other craft paints through mine and all are workable. The new Miniatiare line has gotten solid reviews and is airbrush ready and I like the Vallejo Air (VAC) line, especially for metallics. The minitaire line is more in tune with traditional 40k colors while the VAC line has more in common with historical and natural colors.

(4) I prime (btw VAC Surface primer is the ****), basecoat, shade and highlight with mine.

It's a good tool but like all tools it has a learning curve and practice is important. You can't beat it for simple mass basecoating but if that's your goal you can go cheap or go with the Army Painter spray can line.

All of my links are to Chicago Airbrush which is a pretty decent online retailer.

Before you buy please spend the time and watch this video. It will really educate you about airbrushes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tsW-v...layer_embedded

1. What type of compressor works best? Is there a quiet version of it for indoor use? What price point are we talking? First unless you spend in the $800-$1500 range there is no such thing as a silent or quiet air compressor. This what I use a Paasche D3000 and it isn't as loud as my washer, dryer, or dishwasher. A solid compressor that can handle 5-50 PSI effortlessly which is all you need for an airbrush. look to spend on this between $100 and $400.

2. What type of airbrush and why? What is the price point, roughly? Other than the Chinese knockoffs, which are garbage, most airbrushes are fairly close in quality. I own two Paassche brushes. Both are siphon feeds one that is a bottom feeder and one that is a side feeder. Bottom feeds are good if you need to lay down quantity of paint. Gravity feeds are about detail. Side feeds are the meeting in between these two points. I'll be buying a gravity feed soon because I want the finer control but my side feed is a champion.

3. What type of paint should be used? Can I still use acryllic or should I be using something else? evilhomer pretty well covered it. Only two things should be used to thin acrylic paint: distilled water and airbrush medium. Windex will destroy the metal over time and alcohol will lead to more clogs because of tip dry.

4. What stages of the process do you recommend using them for? Is there an airbrush/compressor that is better suited for all stages of the process? Lester Bursley is a great reference for seeing what you can do with a brush. Here is a great example. Also Rob over on Spikey bits has some good videos. For the second part you need a compressor that can handle 5-50 PSI, and at minimum a side feed siphon. However, I would go with a gravity feed. Probably a Badger Krome or Patriot, or a Paasche Talon.

Feel free to drop me a line with any other questions.

I'm glad you spoke up Billy. I haven't used alcohol( to paint with) personally but have heard of this being done.

In the right proportions, it turns the paint to the consistency of curdled milk. Pretty nasty actually, and even worse to spray. That's the normal model acrylics (GW, P3, Reaper), not the other stuff like Tamiya acrylics.

I really have not had much success with the new GW base colors, too thick. By the time I thinned it enough to be workable, the color was breaking. I still prefer the Tamiya paints, which you do thin with alcohol. They are really consistent for me, but the color range is somewhat limited. I have some of the Minitaire paints, better color range and pre-thinned, but haven't tried them out yet.