New to airbrushing, some general questions

It's probably easier to hand paint the smaller details.Im not a pro,but I would have done the same,when I do armor,that's how I handle it.

I'm not familiar with the FoxHunter KMS Airbrush you bought so I cannot comment on it's performance or quality. I'm sure someone will weigh in on this.

I suggest that you read all the material included and practise to get familiar with your ab. They all perform different so you have to experiment with different paint/thinner/ ratios and psi settings.

Small details like the wiring on the engine or any other molded on detail is best painted by hand unless they are on the parts tree and you want to spray it then attach the individual part. I rather use the Tamiya X20A acrylic thinner as it makes the paint spray better than using a substitute. 

I also do a hand paint on really small details that would be too hard to mask. If detail is too small for my smallest tip brush, I dip the end of a sharp toothpick in a little puddle of paint and apply paint with that.

I usually get that little puddle by shaking the paint bottle and then removing the cap and set it upside down on my bench.  The paint film that sticks to the inside of cap is just right for dipping a toothpick end in.

I recommend that you NEVER thin Tamiya paint using water. Thin using Tamiya airbrush thinner. Otherwise you won't get good adhesion thinning with water. I wouldn't bother doing a wash since you've already thinned Tamiya paint with water. You'll end up wiping away the colors in the process.

Looking at your set up the compressor should probably be fine but you'll want to replace the airbrushes as some point if your going to continue airbrushing. Look at a few of the posts about airbrushes or have a look at Don's website https://sites.google.com/site/donsairbrushtips/ for some ideas. Like most things the more you spend the better things get.

You could reverse your process and paint the engine block silver, mast the parts you want silver then paint black but for what your doing you did the right thing.

Don't be affraid to ask either somone here will always help

Phil

Thanks for all the quality advice. Pretty much confirmed my thoughts.

Regarding thinners, I have been using enamel paints and have suitable thinners but haven't tried on airbrush yet. I wanted to try acrylics and heard that you could use water so tried while waiting for an order of Tamiya thinners to arrive.

I agree that I will want to purchase a better airbrush and to be honest, this is my second as I started off with a very basic plastic one with propellant cans which was pretty awful. I intend to keep cost low until I get more confident. However, with that in mind, would a better airbrush fit the compressor that I have or would it require an adaptor?

Again thanks for all the help. 

Dave

First, I echo the suggestion to have a thorough look at Don's Airbrush website, massive amounts of info there. Next, I have no knowledge of your airbrush, (USA,) but if it functions at all for you it would be best to learn using it the best you can for experience. Then you'd have some knowledge, to help you decide what type/brand of AB you would want to settle down with.

There are plenty of very expensive AB's out there, as well as many quite reasonable ones. High cost does not neccessarily result in better performance, what will be most important is matching the right AB to your needs. Comfortable to hold, easy and reliable to use, quick and easy to clean thoroughly after use will be importan't features.

It's likely that you can readily find an adaptor that will allow any AB to be mated to your compressor. Try shops that specialize in air tools, air hoses and compressors, they're normally well stocked with fittings. I find it easier and faster to lug the AB and compressor air outlet along, so they can see first hand what is needed to make it useable.

When I sized them up at home, then tried to figure out how I could make it all work, I bought TOO much stuff and ended up with an awkward Frankenstein looking outfit.

Good spraying.

Patrick 

I am a beginner myself and have found that youtube is tremendously helpful for figuring out different ways to paint scalemodels with an aibrush!

Ola

I am a beginner myself and have found that youtube is tremendously helpful for figuring out different ways to paint scalemodels with an aibrush!

 

100% agree. With YouTube and the videos here I am learning quite a bit :)