Brush/rattlecan instead of airbrushing?

No, not at all, though I would not say brush painting is simple, as it takes technique to make it go right. I've used all three though airbrushing is 98% of what I do currently. I like spray cans for white and gloss colors, brush painting for 1/72 aircraft (I consider it therapy), and airbrush for the rest. Don't give up the airbrush, there's a world of techniques that will give you much satisfaction. 

Depends on the model.  I know a number of car modelers who use them all the time.  I use rattle cans of real car paint for the bodies, but revert to airbrush for small details on frame and suspension.

I also know modelers who exclusively use a paint brush.  These are mostly folks who do flat finishes on ships and military aircraft. It takes a real artist to brush paint with glossy paint.,

For camouflage spray cans are extremely difficult because of the high flow rate.  There are tricks for masking, especially to get soft edges.  It can be done but it is probably harder than using an airbrush.  You waste a lot more paint, though.

jmb667

I've had good luck with rattlecans and brush painting everything I've been working on thus far, since returning to the hobby last year. I had an airbrush and compressor (airbrush is for sale, unused, if anyone's interested!), but I just don't want to deal with the "hassle".

Am I alone in finding a preference for the "simplicity" of brush and spray painting?

 

No, you’re not alone. I still use rattle can spray paint myself. I still hand brush paint for smaller parts  (ie: gun barrels, etc...)

I'm just curious about which airbrush you feel is a hassle.

Don

You should use what ever gives you the results you are looking for and gives you the level of personal satisfaction you want using it.

I personally will never build models and not have an airbrush, nor give up my lvlp guns for other painting. I also brush paint and rattle can. I also friction paint on the wood lathe. Use what works for you till you hit a limit with that method, then learn a new method to overcome the limit. Ever Onward !!

I'd keep your a/b. Like anything else, they're aren't getting any cheaper, and arguably just more complicated.

My biggest learning blocks to being adept (well competent anyways) with an airbrush are roughly in this order:

Workspace. It's possible to set up and break down the a/b for each use, but having to unpack it, set it up and arrange whatever else you need all the time will frustrate you. If there's a corner of the garage, basement or patio where it can live, you'll be much happier.

Equipment. Having owned quite a few, I don't make much of a distinction in difficulty of use between single and double action, but a double action brush is certainly preferrable in terms of results. Otherwise it helps to have one that's easy to maintain. Some, like my Patriot, really don't even need to be taken apart to clean them after use, other than to run some solvent through them, and withdraw and wipe the needle. That helps keep the frustration level to a minimum as well.

Paint. While they are popular because of their relatively low amount of fumes, acrylics IMO are the hardest to airbrush. This is just my opinion. They are very sensitive to what they are thinned with. It's not as simple as "add water" for many types. A lot of space in a/b forums seems to be devoted to thinners, ratios, brand compatability. I learned to airbrush with lacquers, and those are great. A good modeling example is Alclad 2. Next simplest for me are enamels like Humbrol, that thin with traditional mineral spirits. I started using acrylics with the Polly Scale line of Floquil paints. Those were water soluble, and easy to clean up.

So, I'd keep your rig, and when the weather turns nice again set it up somewhere where it can stay out under a cover. Spend a little time and money on a variety of paints and see what you like. Economics of buying spray in cans does weigh, and the inclination to buy cheaper spray can paint will bite you back. 

Good luck,

Bill

jmb667

Thanks for all the input. I think I'll keep doing what I'm doing, and what I enjoy (i.e. which method lends itself to the least frustration). :)

 

That's great ! Still, you might want to hang on to the ab as mentioned. One day you may not feel as you do right now. I went through a period where my ab sat unused and not so clean I might add. One day came along where I got a renewed hankering for it, I cleaned it up, updated it's nozzles, added a second airbush all years later. I find today that the ab is a hobby in itself, very enjoyable. Painting used to be a step to get past so I could get on with the building I enjoyed years ago. Now painting is a hobby in itself that if I fess up, I find more enjoyable than the build itself. You don't know how you might feel about that ab in 10 or 20 years, or maybe in 2019 for that matter !

Hi,

I tried airbrushing as a kid and had no luck with it.  Though I can't say that I've had a lot of luck with spray cans either.  As such, for now I have been keeping to brush painting only.

PF

I do really like Tamiya rattle cans.  I've done several bikes/cars right from the can with pretty nice finishes.  I also like to have white, flat black, semigloss black and primers on hand as well.  Everything else, outside of detail work, I do with an airbrush.

These 3 bodies done straight from the Tamiya rattle can

PFJN

Hi,

I tried airbrushing as a kid and had no luck with it.  Though I can't say that I've had a lot of luck with spray cans either.  As such, for now I have been keeping to brush painting only.

PF

 

Practice makes perfect. You almost have to intentionally screw up with rattles cans though, once gotten you never lose it ! You need even passes timed well is all. Maybe get yourself some of these holiday or one color plastic plates and some plastic spoons and a can of spray paint and practice on those. No loss if you screw up. If you do it try this: Count out one hundred thousand ( time that as about a one to two second pass) and spray about six inches or so away from the plate. In one call out you shoul,d have passed over the plate starting from off the plat say to the left and passing past the plate to the right and let go of the nozzle. Then pass back again the same count from right to left, again left to right etc. Make over lapping passes and the key is to keep moving past the subject in steady even strokes. The counting is just to establish a rhythm. If the paint wants to run ( unlikely) then speed it up a little, if too dry looking slow a little. A trick for better flow and leveling is to heat the can up in a pan of hot water so that when you shake the can it feels comfortably warm in your hand.. You should spray in an area that is well over 60 deg F and not too humid.

Once you establish a good rythm you can experiment with distance. Closer will be wetter and narrower patterns, further away dryer and wider patterns. You form your own balance, what I described above though should get you going with rattle cans. Try the spoons next, this brings in a curved surface, both convex and concave, plus a stem type shank to paint. Between plastic plates and spoons you get some flat broad surfaces to paint and more complex and smaller shapes without wrecking a costly model kit !

Another good subject to practice on and what I used to learn my various acrylics ( I've been changing to acrylics over the last year or so) with an airbrush, is prescription bottles. I've shot various thinner combos with about 6 brands of acrylic paints and additives on several bottles before ever taking it to a model.

jmb667

I've had good luck with rattlecans and brush painting everything I've been working on thus far, since returning to the hobby last year. I had an airbrush and compressor (airbrush is for sale, unused, if anyone's interested!), but I just don't want to deal with the "hassle".

Am I alone in finding a preference for the "simplicity" of brush and spray painting?

 

oldermodelguy

PFJN 

Practice makes perfect. You almost have to intentionally screw up with rattles cans though, once gotten you never lose it ! You need even passes timed well is all. Maybe get yourself some of these holiday or one color plastic plates and some plastic spoons and a can of spray paint and practice on those. No loss if you screw up. If you do it try this: Count out one hundred thousand ( time that as about a one to two second pass) and spray about six inches or so away from the plate. ..

Hi,

Thanks for the tips.  I'll give it a try sometime. 

PF