1:700 waterline painting

Wellll...I have an airbrush, but I hand paint virtually all my small-scale ship models. I find that the jobs of masking, cleaning the airbrush, etc. are more trouble than they're worth. Besides which, I'm a Certified Olde Phogey and enjoy working with a brush.

My paint brand of choice for this sort of modeling is PolyScale acrylic. Like most other modern hobby paints, it's perfectly capable of covering in one coat (with very rare exceptions) and doesn't leave brush marks. I generally reserve the airbrush for such things as aircraft camouflage patterns that have feathered edges, and for large, smooth areas that would be tough to brush-paint evenly. Nothing on a 1/700 ship fits into that category.

That's a personal opinion. Listen to those of other people, and make a choice based on your own judgment.

Once you get an air brush, and learn how to use it, you'll never go back. The finer the detail makes the airbrush more appealing to me with the ultra fine coat of paint you are able to apply. Just my opinion though.

i still handpaint all my ships, because i do not own an airbrush..doing ship camo is very easy with a brush..there isnt much to paint..for myself, i would still handpaint a 1:700 scale ship even if i had an airbrush.