I'm relatively new to modeling. Always like it, but more of a snap-together/ProFinish type of modeler. A few months ago I started experimenting with putting more of a "real" model together that actually needed painting. Well, I loved it. I was having a blast until I bought a FineScale Modeler Magazine and realized how poor my paint job was. Not to meantion the fact that I didn't know what filler putty was or why I needed sand paper. I have been a research hound since then and have really developed a great interest in modeling. I would love to be able to produce something to put in my office that looks half as good as the models I see in FSM.
I thought some of you would get a kick out of my first experiences with airbrushing. I should have started off simple, like some articles I read suggest, but I didn't. My mom is an artist and had a Badger 150 collecting dust. She didn't mind parting with it so all I needed was an air supply. I wanted to just try it out so I bought a can of compressed air from Hobby Lobby. Sure enough, the connection didn't fit. So I thought, what the heck, and bought a CH 2 gallon compressor. I hooked it all up, but I was scared to death to try it out. I read up on as much as I could about airbrushes and airbrushing but It's hard to comprehend without actually doing it. But all the articles I found worried me about screwing up the airbrush and all the problems that could arise. I finally got the nerve to try it out. I had purchased some paint thinner, but then read that some people use mineral spirits or laquer thinner. All the articles warn about toxic fumes and suggest you work in a ventilated area. I was working in my garage that had a small ceiling fan with the door open. I decided to mix the enamel paint with the original paint thinner I bought. I didn't quite know what to mix it in. I finally decided to do it in the metal cup first, since it would only be a small amount. I used soda straws to try and measure the paint and the thinner about in equal parts. Of course, that is hard to do when the thinner is thin and the paint is thick. I used a toothpick to stir it as much as I could. I stuck it on the airbrush, turned the regulator to about 20 psi (didn't have a clue what would be best) and held my breath. I had an older model to test it out on that my son had demolished. (He's good at providing broken models for me to experiment with.) I pushed the button down and pulled back a little. You know that the way most ceilings look? All those bumps and splatters? Yep, thats what my first spray looked like. I tried pulling make more and the clumps just got bigger. Finally, it wouldn't even hardly spray. I was scared as hell that my first attempt had screwed up the airbrush. I desperately fumbled for the other cup, the clear one with the screw on cap and tube. I poured paint thinner into it and went to replace the metal cup with the clear one. When I took the metal cup out, paint started pouring out from the bottom of the air brush. I fumbled around for something to wipe it up as quickly as possible. I stuck the clear cup on and started spraying. Nothing came out for several seconds, but finally it started spraying white and then a clear mist. Once I felt comfortable that I got it pretty clear I took the clear cup off. I didn't know what the problem was but thought maybe it was the paint I tried or maybe the way the metal cup works or maybe it just wasn't thinned enough. I got some different paint and poured it into the clear cup that contained what was left of the thinner I used to clean out the airbrush. I started stirring but noticed that not only did the paint not mix very well with the thinner, it was freakin like jelling in a ball by itself. I didn't know what to think. I opened up a can of the laquer thinner and poured some in. What do ya know, it pratically mixed without me even needing to stir. I have no idea what the problem with the paint thinner was, but oh well. I cleaned the clear cup out and started anew with the laquer thinner. The paint mixed great and I was off like a terd of hurdles. I hooked it up and started spraying. It was working, but I didn't know how well, what was good or even what was bad. But it wasn't clumping up, that was a good thing. I pulled back on the button and it would paint pretty good, but I was getting a big mist. I would push the button forward and it seemed like it wasn't painting enough. I would pull it back and more mist. Push it forward, not enough paint. By this time I was feeling a little woozy. I wasn't sure if it was from the laquer thinner mist, my frustration or the 8 beers I had trying to figure this damn thing out. I got worried and decided to quit for the night and see what the results on the test model were once it dried. I spent the better part of an hour trying to make sure I cleaned the heck out of the airbrush. I went though about a roll of paper towels and more toxic fumes. I looked at the model the next day and it actually didn't look that bad. I read up some more and things make more sense now that I actually tried to airbrush, but what a poor first experience. I hope I will have the courage to try again. (just kidding)
Hope I didn't bore anyone too much with this, just thought I would like to share it. It's too long to proof read and it's time to go home from work, so I hope it's not as sloppy as my first airbrushing. :)