PACIFIC CARRIER AVIATION GROUP BUILD

I got a question for you guys.  I'm still new at this airbrush stuff.  I found a few minutes to shoot the prop hub Inter. Blue this evening.  The only problem is the paint on the hub came out grainy.  What am I doing wrong?  Thanks.

Craig

Here is a pic to show what I'm talking about.  Is it pressure?  Paint mixture?  Distance?

It looks like it might be drying before it hits the object.  Maybe thin it a little; move in closer; and apply in light misting coats?

What kind of paints and thinners are you using flyer? Acrylic or enamel? Whats the room temperature at?

Yeah, looks like too little thinner and too much air. I suppose you are using the Mr.Color paints with their thinner? Those are pretty tough to thin right, but once you get the hang of it they sray like nothing else.

Simply try adding more and more thinner and testing the spray pattern on a piece of plastic of a sheet of paper...

I will agree with the other posts, looks like the paint is not thinned enough with a little too much pressure. When I first used an airbrush some 20 years ago, I was getting the same results because I did not thin the paint. I used to pour the paint (Testors MM enamels) directly into the airbrush (I apologize, It was not my intension to cause anyone a heart attack!) and with too much air pressure most of my results were grainy like yours here.

Right now, I thin the paint (still Testors MM enamels) about 2:1 maybe a little more. Then keep the pressure between 15-20 psi.

Hope this helps!

Thanks for the feedback guys.  I was using a Mr. Color enamel and Mr. Color thinner.  I thought I thinned it half and half.  I believe the psi was around 20.  I may have been to far from the piece.  I'll keep practicing.  Thanks again.

Craig

What has worked for me is I usually go really thin on the mixture, high on pressure and barely open on the needle. Do you have a moistrure trap between your compressor and airbrush?

Yes, there is a moisture filter on my compressor.  Also, it's really dry here in AZ right now.

flyerduke, I've been watching everyone's response to your "pebbling" issues and I had considered them dead on solutions. As I also paint with Mr. Color I've never encountered this problem and so, the thought of thinning more, turning down the psi to around 12-15 and getting a little closer make complete sense. But, then you mentioned something important, that you live in Ariz. It was then that I realized that I do something a bit different than you with my Mr. Color, I use Mr. Leveling Thinner (MLT) as opposed to Mr. Color Thinner (MCT). MLT differs in that it contains a retarding agent which allows the paint to dry slower and thus, level on the surface more efficiently. But, the important point about MLT is that it is more effective in hot, dry climates. Being from Moab, Ut (yes, in the hot dry desert) that is why I use MLT. Now, I'm not suggesting that this is your problem, just that if the other efforts are not proving effective, then you may want to try switching thinners. I hope though that you are able to solve your paint issue easily.  

Well fellow plastic surgeons I should have pictures up this weekend sometime. I painted the bombs, weathered and attached them, got the aerial antennas on, prop is glued in place and the wing joint is drying.  I also picked up the mirror for the display case yesterday and got that all glued into place on the base.

  Update: Somehow the folded wing managed to stay in place! I thought I was going to have trouble with the wing because it didn't want to cooperate adhesion wise. Anyway I've got the "studio" pics of this thing taken just a few minutes ago so these are hot off the press. I would like to thank everybody for their generous and encouraging comments, suggestions and reference photos along the way. Is this thing gonna win any shows? Probably not , but the man I'm giving it to for Christmas is going to flip. This guy has helped me out in more ways than I can possibly count so this is just something to give back his way as a thanks.

Here we go:

That whole pink background thing is disturbing me a little. I may come back in a bit with some pics that aren't as pink in the backdrop there. My camera doesn't do white backdrops too well. They always tend to come out yellow so I tried this setting and it came out pink. Hmm. Will have to do some fine tuning here..........

 Oops I left this out. This is what everything looks like together minus the acrylic top I had made for this.

Joe- That's an awesome looking plane!  Well done.  I look forward to following your next build.

JR- I may have to find some Mr. Leveling thinner.  Gonna lower the psi and get a little closer too.  Thanks.

Craig

Thanks flyer. Refer to the  Official Bf109 GB thread for the next build cuz that's where I'll be doing that one (or two) next year. heh heh heh 

I may join that build sometime next year.  I need to finish the Hellcat and I committed to the Century Series GB with a F-107.  So at the rate I build, I might be able to join in the 109 build by next summer.  

Mustang...it looks awesome.  I love it.  Congrats for pulling it off with this stinker of a kit.  BTW...the color issue with your images looks to me being the result of your white balance.  Try changing the cameras white balance setting to the match the source of light you are using. If it is an incandescent bulb, use that setting. Try them all and see what works best. If you have photo editing software, you might be able to correct the images you took that way too.  Again..look for a white balance adjustment in the software.

Again..great job. 

Steve

MAGNIFICO JOE!!!!! Absolutely outstanding results. All of that hard work, skills and immense patience paid off in spades my friend. My hats off to you Joe, for putting so much into a gift of gratitude. Your heart and your talent are all in the exact right place. Thank You so much for sharing your Corsair with us.

Yet, you have only set your feet on the path to eternal bliss my young disciple. To achieve that which will bring you to true oneness with He Who Knows Only Styrene, you must now venture not only into USN aircraft but, into the realm of 1/72. Yes, my fellow flockling, it is your calling. Your destiny. One must only ......surrender.   The Reverend Joe

Now I understand the Reverend Joe reference.  

Mustang..one other thing.  If you go the software route..they may also call the white balance adjustment as color temperature.

Good God! He's lost it! 

Thank you Joe and Steve for the feedback and the advice on the camera. I'll check it out and see what I can do.

mustang1989

Good God! He's lost it! 

If I do that I'll have to serve out my sentence. I'm at my limit with kit purchases for a while! lol

mustang1989

If I do that I'll have to serve out my sentence. I'm at my limit with kit purchases for a while! lol

Great job Joe! Glad to see you overcame all the difficulties to produce a fine looking plane

Reverend Joe: Amen to that!

Jim: Thanks man. At first didn't think it was even going to look like a Corsair.

Nice going, Joe; you hit that one out of the park. The question now is, do you tell the giftee how much of a pain in the butt it was to build, or pass it off as no big thing?

Steve, thank you for that photography tip. I work with an incandescent lamp and when I take pics they always turn out yellow. Changing the white balance made a huge difference.

Fantastic work and results with the Corsair, Joe.  Great-looking build!  Congratulations!

Raven:The other half of the Christmas present is a build book showing step by step pics and commentary. Not to tell him how big of a pain it was to build but just for his entertainment. He's a modeler too but he doesnt do it any more.

checkmateking:Thanks buddy. Helluva ride! I'll be looking for both of  you fine folks in the upcoming 109 GB.

Hey gang.  Sorry I haven't posted any WIP lately.  Finding time and the right weather outside has slowed my progress (spraying enamels).  That's why I ordered a spray booth today.  Hopefully it will be in by next weekend.  I have the week of Thanksgiving off and I'd like to get some serious work done on my Hellcat.  I have done a little modeling in the meantime.  I've got started on my 1/72 F-107 for the Century GB.  Gonna try and get the Hellcat and 107 completed over the next few months.  I'd like to get in on the 109 GB early next year.

Craig

flyerduke

 I've got started on my 1/72 F-107 for the Century GB.  Gonna try and get the Hellcat and 107 completed over the next few months.  I'd like to get in on the 109 GB early next year.