New at Airbrushing

iflyitall

Did my first bit of airbrushing today. I used Testors acrylic and some mineral spirits hardware store paint thinner. It all went fine, but it was really hard to clean. I took the Badger 200 apart to clean since I wanted to make sure I did a good job and even after I had sprayed quite a lot of thinner through the brush, there was still a lot of paint in the brush. I am going to the hobby store tomorrow to buy some new paint. I am going to try an enamel and also pick up some better thinner.

You thinned acrylic paint with mineral spirits?  Well, there's your problem I'd say.  No-no.

Gary

Did my first bit of airbrushing today. I used Testors acrylic and some mineral spirits hardware store paint thinner. It all went fine, but it was really hard to clean. I took the Badger 200 apart to clean since I wanted to make sure I did a good job and even after I had sprayed quite a lot of thinner through the brush, there was still a lot of paint in the brush. I am going to the hobby store tomorrow to buy some new paint. I am going to try an enamel and also pick up some better thinner.

I use a Badger 200, and use Testors enamels. I clean the brush with paint/hardware store paint thinner.  However, a warning- do not buy cans/bottles that just say "paint thinner."  Some of it is just junk!  Hold out for containers that specifically say turpentine or mineral spirits.

I use enamel because it dries slower.  Some acrylics dry so fast that if you get interrupted, say by a phone call or something, and then go back to clean your airbrush- it is too late!  Once acrylic dries it is very hard to clean out of an airbrush.  Paint or lacquer thinner can always clean a metal airbrush and you have at least an hour with enamel before you have to worry about it.

The slow drying of enamel gives a very nice gloss when you need a glossy finish.  For gloss enamels I built a drying box.  Flat enamels, while they take a little longer than acrylics, don't take all THAT long to dry.

Thanks everyone all this info will keep my very busy. I'll post my models as I build them. I am currently working on a UH1 and a B25

Just picked up a book from the library!

Thanks! I thought for a minute you just gave me a link to google. hahaha made me laugh. The article is great. I'll give it a read thanks!

Hello, ifly, the site snibs recommended is a really good resource for all things AB. I found this site very helpful as well:

http://www.ipmsdayton.com/Tips/Paints%20and%20Thinners%20-%20Caldwell%20(Handouts).pdf

Best wishes as you learn. It is well worth the time and frustration to learn to air brush.

Check out the videos at Testors Model Workshop and Florymodels.

Do a YouTube search for Scale Models and you will find all kinds of stuff.

Don

iflyitall

Is there an article or place I should look for these answers? 

Some advice: Get yourself a book on airbrushing, ANY book on airbrushing, it doesn’t matter whose. The basics are still the basics. (Kalmbach won’t appreciate my counsel, but you can save yourself a little money by visiting your public library.) Read it. It won’t make you an expert, but it will answer most newbie questions.

Go ahead, steal anything you want from this forum, that’s between you and the vengeful wrath of your personal god…

Hi.

Here is a great place to start,

sites.google.com/.../home

Google is also your best friend for information and it will more than likely link you back to these and other forums with a million opinions on all sorts of topics from mixing ratio to cleaning, There's a good chance if you use the search engine on the right you will find the answer you need as well.  I use Humbrol enamels mostly and mix it around 30% thinner for matt but it can vary with paint thickness. I always clean the ab with the thinner I was using to mix.  It's a long learning curve but well worth it.

Good luck and most of all have fun.

Mick.