Need some airbrushing advice

I was getting spattering and noticed bubbling in my top feed paint cup.  The problem was a bad seal of the needle nozzle to the AB body. Adding some "Chapstick" to the nozzle threads solved the spattering and bubbling issue.

I am not an expert, but that sputtering looks like one of two things....

your paint is too thick. OR Your air pressure is not high enough.

If you are shooting above 15psi, I would start by thinning your paint out a bit more. 

Greysteele

I'm working on a small resin Elvira figure and I'm trying to paint her stockings using a light mist of dark gray over a light flesh color. Primer is Tamiya Fine White, base coat is Tamiya Acrylic (flesh + white). For the stocking color, I'm using Tamiya semigloss black + a little flat white. I'm shooting it thinned with Mr Color leveling Thinner (2:1 ratio, paint:thinner) using a Pasche H1 at ~20 psi.

Here's what I get:

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/dbikqs2dpdjguwgbjk2to/2023-11-08-16.56.43.jpg?rlkey=0kvvqr328kjkpllcdxa934i89&dl=0

The gray is spattering (splattering?) making the mist pattern too coarse for the effect I want. I've tried adding more thinner, raising and lowering the pressure - no luck.

Any advice? 

What a coincidence! I just tried the same exercise last week, for the first time.  I have a 1/20 figure, a lady officer from a Gundam kit, and I'm giving her stockings. 

From my trial run, I can say:

• shoot at a lower pressure, to mist the color on
• I found that too thin a color led me to apply too much paint, defeating the purpose of thinning. I went at about 75/25 color to thinner. Of course, the next time, I may keep the ratio but take better care in misting the color
• I'm using Tamiya's X-19 Smoke, having seen that tip online.  In my excitement and haste to start, I forgot that the X colors in the acrylic line are the gloss paints.  I'll still use Smoke, but I will add some X-21 Flat Base to it for the next pass, for more of a satin finish
• I tested on a piece of plastic card, painted with the flesh color I use, Andrea Light Flesh (a water-based acrylic).  A couple passes looked good, I just overdid it trying to build up the color

I thin with Tamiya's proprietary X-20 Acrylic Thinner, myself, but don't discourage anyone from using what works for him.  I have used generic lacquer thinner with Tamiya acrylics, with similar results.

I've seen advice online, with some of the best from Cody Kwok, who has painted some of the best female figures around (https://codyscoop.com/models/figures-old)  But my immediate guide is Andrea's "Painting Girls in Miniature" (published in 2000).  That's where I saw, too late, the tip to use lower pressure. 

Definitely will use lower pressure than 20psi.

I also got a suggestion to use a darker flesh color.  In my case, that'll be Andrea Dark Flesh.

Hope that helps you, too.

Best regards,

Brad

You want to go 1/1 paint to thinner and using the bottles you should set pressure over 20 psi flowing. Set your gauge around 22-23 psi. Push the trigger and make sure as the air flows it doesn't drop under 20psi. With the metal side cup you can generally use a bit less pressure. I'll use Tamiya acrylic thinned with MLT or alcohol and side cup with pressure set to 20 or even 18 psi.

The paint may seem thin but it will spray and cover fine. And if this is more a wash over another color you probably need to go even thinner. If having to do that I personally would switch to alcohol as the thinner or not use leveling thinner but the regular lacquer thinner. You want a quicker dry in that case than MLT gives.

Try what I'm saying I think you will be pleased.

Hi Greysteele, I also use IPA to thin Tamiya acrylics. I tend to use 1:1 ratio. I use very light coats and try to spray as close as possible without pooling or spidering. Too far and the paint dries before it reaches the surface, causing a grainy effect. I mix a batch in a separate cup, then spray a lot of practice coats on scrap pieces to get the right combination of pressure, distance, speed of passes, etc. Also need to keep the airbrush clean. I clean the cup and needle after every session. I take the nozzle apart and clean that area every ten sessions or so.

Keep trying stuff, you'll eventually solve it.

rob44

You may want to use some flow improver for acrylic paint like this

 

https://www.amazon.com/Vallejo-Airbrush-Improver-200ml-Paint/dp/B00QD780G0/ref=sr_1_2?adgrpid=1236950891778155&hvadid=77309597673811&hvbmt=bp&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=101030&hvnetw=s&hvqmt=e&hvtargid=kwd-77309666967026%3Aloc-190&hydadcr=22427_13435146&keywords=flow%2Bimprover%2Bfor%2Bacrylic%2Bpaint&qid=1699494026&sr=8-2&th=1

Does that work with lacquer-based thinner?

You may want to use some flow improver for acrylic paint like this

https://www.amazon.com/Vallejo-Airbrush-Improver-200ml-Paint/dp/B00QD780G0/ref=sr_1_2?adgrpid=1236950891778155&hvadid=77309597673811&hvbmt=bp&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=101030&hvnetw=s&hvqmt=e&hvtargid=kwd-77309666967026%3Aloc-190&hydadcr=22427_13435146&keywords=flow%2Bimprover%2Bfor%2Bacrylic%2Bpaint&qid=1699494026&sr=8-2&th=1

Eaglecash867

What are you mixing your paint in?  Are you mixing it right in the color cup, or are you mixing it in something else and pouring it in?  I have often had unpredictable behavior with various paint/thinner mixtures if I did the mixing right there in the color cup.  I solved that problem by doing my mixing in those little Dixie paper bathroom cups first, and then pouring the paint into the color cup.  You can just crimp the rim of the cup to get a nice little pouring spout.  I also found that, with some paint mixtures, I always got the best results by always spraying horizontally, instead of a downward angle.  Spraying at a downward angle can also cause spattering sometimes, depending on the paint mixture.  I'm with Keavdog on what to thin Tamiya acrylics with.  I use 99% isopropyl alcohol to thin mine and get excellent atomization.  My airbrush is a Paasche H.

Thanks. I don't use a color cup. I prefer using a siphon bottle, which is where I mix the paint. I'll try again shooting horizontally and make sure the paint is well-mixed.

keavdog

I use isopropyl alcohol for thinning Tamiya - but I've heard of folks using Mr Color as well.  Take the airbrush apart and thoroughly clean and check for a bent tip.

Thanks. It's a brand new tip/needle set, but I'll put it under the magnifier to be sure.

What are you mixing your paint in?  Are you mixing it right in the color cup, or are you mixing it in something else and pouring it in?  I have often had unpredictable behavior with various paint/thinner mixtures if I did the mixing right there in the color cup.  I solved that problem by doing my mixing in those little Dixie paper bathroom cups first, and then pouring the paint into the color cup.  You can just crimp the rim of the cup to get a nice little pouring spout.  I also found that, with some paint mixtures, I always got the best results by always spraying horizontally, instead of a downward angle.  Spraying at a downward angle can also cause spattering sometimes, depending on the paint mixture.  I'm with Keavdog on what to thin Tamiya acrylics with.  I use 99% isopropyl alcohol to thin mine and get excellent atomization.  My airbrush is a Paasche H.

I use isopropyl alcohol for thinning Tamiya - but I've heard of folks using Mr Color as well.  Take the airbrush apart and thoroughly clean and check for a bent tip.