Do I need an airbrush...

Always try to better your skills,, brush painting and / or spray cans will suffice   but, if you can afford one, invest in an airbrush

You will be glad you did

Have fun with it

All the best

Bill

Synister

As the title states, do I need an airbrush to build model Armor? Can I get away with a brush?

You need an airbrush more than you need the next model kit. With so many on my stash, I have never figured out why I keep buying models. But I know why I want an airbrush which adds another dimension to my modeling hobby.

You don't need a fancy one. But buy a good quality, double action one that would last you a life time. And allows you to enjoy the hobby more.

Synister

As the title states, do I need an airbrush to build model Armor? Can I get away with a brush?

Two reasons

Engine grills

Suspensions

Sure you can brush paint them, but it sucks the fun out of building the model. Although, in fairness to 72nd scale, you might actually be ok with a brush at that level. Sometimes small is an ok thing.

With weathering being so utterly a dozen ways to get to the end, it's hard to say where weathering is concerned.

With an airbrush, you can almost fully assemble most tanks and THEN paint them with an airbrush and not think anything of it. You can just forget doing that with a brush.

You don't need one but it is a game changer...

Synister

I would love to purchase an airbrush but the problem is I live in an apartment and know that I would have to invest in a paint booth and all that stuff. Should I just hold off building armor until I live in a more suitable location?

Granted, I do all my modeling in the garage, but overspray is pretty much never an issue. From that perspective, you could airbrush in an apartment with some sort of super cheap booth to just contain any potential overspray.

The bigger issue is fumes. But if you stick with pure water-based acrylics (I'd recommend Lifecolor and Vallejo, with Talon for metal finishes), fumes aren't a problem. Thin with water or an acrylic thinner like Testors makes, clean up with water (or Windex).

Outside of that, your major issue would be air supply. Compressed air cans can get pricey as you blow through them. Silent compressors aren't cheap, either. You could probably do well with a small compressor like Iwata's NinjaJet, though. They make noise, but it's very manageable and as long as you're not running it at like 2 AM, I doubt anybody would complain.

Hi, and welcome back to the greatest hobby there is. No, you don't have to have an airbrush.Use rattle cans to get back and drybrushing.This way you can still build and get your skills going.Don't put off building for that reason!!!!

If you move to somewhere you can use an airbrush,then get one.As someone said,you can get great results from a brush and rattle cans.

if your not serious about your work then you'll won't need it. if you are then it's a must imo. what scale armor do you build?

I would love to purchase an airbrush but the problem is I live in an apartment and know that I would have to invest in a paint booth and all that stuff. Should I just hold off building armor until I live in a more suitable location?

An airbrush is a tool, not a magic wand. It is literally a brush that uses air, instead of bristles. If you only occasionally build models, then the expense may not be worth while.

OTOH, specialty tools often allow the craftsman to do a better job, more quickly and efficiently, but only if there is a certain level of proficiency.

I own an airbrush (several, in fact), but for years used brushes and rattle cans. Expect to pay at least $200 to get a minimal setup, and that could turn into $500 if you buy a quality compressor and spray booth.

Yes...No...

I occasionally use spray can's. You can achieve good results with those, but not all the fancy pre/post shading effects. But using a spray can you can easily paint a large surface without brush strokes, runs etc. That way you have a nice canvas for dry brushing and washes.

I think you’ll do fine sticking with a brush so long as your subject shows normal wear & tear, not parade spit & polish.  (I swear some display armor from the May Day parades must’ve been treated with whatever the Soviets used as their version of Blue Coral!)  Also I’d stick away from over-done weathering or super-grimy effects (sometimes less is more).

"Short answer: Yes with an If... Long answer: No with a But..."

 what TomZ2 said.

In FSM there is a particular author (first name Carmen - can't remember surname) who seems to only use brushes and the results are better than anything I can achieve with an airbrush.  Also worth noting, he only seems to paint with enamels too.

I guess it all just comes down to patience and practice - but then again, so does using an airbrush.

I say just get back into the hobby and start enjoying it - don't worry about the fanciest gear and equipment straight away, because, as most know, it's the artist not the tools.

Above all - remember to enjoy what you're doing!

Chris.

You don't need an airbrush to build a kit.

But an airbrush can help a ton with both paint effects (shading and such) and weathering (filter coats to represent dust or fading or such).

Here's an example that I couldn't begin to comprehend how to pull off without an airbrush:

I'm constantly amazed at the wonders people can work with regular brushes. I am not one of them, and so I reach for my airbrush pretty much whenever I can.

Honestly I do not know. I am just getting back into the hobby after a long hiatus and I am thinking that I might want to start building some armor. I am looking at buying a Tamiya kit (nothing specific just yet) and I was wondering if I need to purchase an airbrush to actually build one. I have been leaning towards maybe starting with a military vehicle like a Humvee or something of that nature. Any and all advise would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

That’s a “how high is up?” kind of question.  There are some paint effects that are next to impossible to accomplish without an airbrush.  Next to impossible, not impossible.  Otherwise, a brush is just fine.  (Some real-world armor, viz. WWII T-34s, were painted by soldiers using brushes, not a spray gun, and looked like it.)  What are you planning?