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                        I'm Mad and Disappointed

                        821 views
                        10 replies
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                        MonsterZero
                        • Member since
                          July 2003
                        • From: Chicago, USA
                        I'm Mad and Disappointed
                        Posted by MonsterZero on Monday, June 14, 2004 3:30 PM
                        I can't continue the hobby until I figure out why I can't produce good coat when airbrushing.

                        I have two airbrushes, an Aztek with a portable compressor and a Badger Anthem hooked up to a Campbell Hausfeld (?) compressor. This also has a moisture trap attached to it.

                        Both airbrushes produce coarse finishes (sandpaper-like) when spraying Tamiya acrylics, yesterday I had a minor problem with the Aztek and a few minutes ago the Anthem produced the worst coarse finish I have ever seen. The tank hull looks like it's made of sandpaper.

                        I really don't know what to do, I've tried everything. I sprayed outdoors in pretty intense sunglight and humidity (I don't believe sunlight affects the job though). The compressor has a moisture trap.

                        What's the purpose of building those models when I'm 100% certain I will fail in the airbrushing process. It's discouraging.
                        Report Abuse
                        Anonymous
                        • Member since
                          November 2005
                        Posted by Anonymous on Monday, June 14, 2004 3:50 PM
                        I had the same problem. My problem was thinning the paint with 99% ISO. I bought the Tamyia X20A thinner, and mixed the paint 50/50. Problem solved. ISO will actually half dry the paint before is hits the model.
                        Report Abuse
                        Anonymous
                        • Member since
                          November 2005
                        Posted by Anonymous on Monday, June 14, 2004 5:09 PM
                        Hi,

                        I have the Badger anthem. I used to have a caompressor with air tank. It has no air regulator so I'm blasting my spray at around 40 psi! So imagine what the finish was on my kit. Coarse and sometimes wbes of paint bulids up around my work place. Then my friend told me too lower the pressure. Now i'm doing smoother finishes thanks that tiny bleed valve under the tank.Big Smile [:D]
                        Report Abuse
                        MusicCity
                        • Member since
                          January 2004
                        • From: USA
                        Posted by MusicCity on Monday, June 14, 2004 5:18 PM
                        What pressure are you using and what distance from the surface are you spraying at? The coarseness is caused by the paint particles drying slightly between the aibrush and the model. This can be caused by the type of thinner, as pointed out by sincky, and by too much pressure or distance from the model as Reggie pointed out. Acrylics are notorious for fast drying times, so sometimes you have to force them to dry more slowly.

                        I spray at about 15 psi, at about 3" - 4" from the surface. I also frequently put a drop or two of acrylic retarder in the paint mix. I normally spray either Tamiya or Model Master acrylics, and usually thin them with 91% isopropyl alky. I think the Tamiya thinner is mostly alcohol, however I think it contains some retarder as well. Like sincky, I've noticed that Tamiya acrylics dry much slower when using Tamiya thinner.
                        Scott Craig -- Nashville, TN -- My Website -- My Models Page
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                        mass tactical
                        • Member since
                          February 2003
                        Posted by mass tactical on Monday, June 14, 2004 7:07 PM
                        Ditto what others have said about thinning ratios and distance. I have had good luck thinning 1 to 1 with 91% alcohol however, you will never be wrong in using Tamiya thinner particularly with their gloss paints as alcohol will flatten them. Practice is key. Try spraying on a sheet of flat plastic or a model that can serve as a test bed for painting practice. You can always strip the paint from these and start over. Don't get discouraged. Think of painting as a learning experience. The more you do the better you will get. I see no problems with your equipment but I would tend to favor using the Anthem over the Aztec. You certainly have a good community out there that is more than ready to help you through the learning curve! Just ask.

                        Mike McShea
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                        Anonymous
                        • Member since
                          November 2005
                        Posted by Anonymous on Monday, June 14, 2004 7:32 PM
                        what's a bleed valve? My compressor's messed, and it doenst really work all that welll.
                        Report Abuse
                        Anonymous
                        • Member since
                          November 2005
                        Posted by Anonymous on Monday, June 14, 2004 7:41 PM
                        monster, your paint job looks a little like sandpaper right?? I had the same problem. like the others said, try thinning it out a little more, about 2 parts thinner to 3 parts paint works well for me. some colors are harder to work with than others like white or glossy stuff. if you airbrushed with a tamiya acrylic, just spray the mold down with Windex & watch the paint disolve, rinse it under water, let dry & start over fresh. I had to do that before. easy way to strip & start over. good luck.

                        brian
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                        MonsterZero
                        • Member since
                          July 2003
                        • From: Chicago, USA
                        Posted by MonsterZero on Monday, June 14, 2004 10:52 PM
                        The first tank model I ever airbrushed with my new airbrush and compressor setup was a Trumpeter Stalin 3. No problems really, but then this guy at the hobby store who looks like dumbass but talks like an "expert" told me to increase the pressure to 25PSI. I've been spraying at this pressure ever since. I think that could be the cause. The paint is ejected with such terrific pressure it becomes "sand" in midair.
                        Report Abuse
                        MikeV
                        • Member since
                          April 2003
                        • From: Hayward, CA
                        Posted by MikeV on Monday, June 14, 2004 10:59 PM
                        Sounds like that guy at the hobby store is not an expert. Clown [:o)]

                        Mike

                        “Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. To know is not to be wise. Many men know a great deal, and are all the greater fools for it. There is no fool so great a fool as a knowing fool. But to know how to use knowledge is to have wisdom. " Charles Spurgeon
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                        MonsterZero
                        • Member since
                          July 2003
                        • From: Chicago, USA
                        Posted by MonsterZero on Tuesday, June 15, 2004 9:10 PM
                        I have succeeded

                        I lowered compressor pressure to about 12.5 PSI I produced the most perfect coat I have ever seen. Thanks for help, the construction of the model goes on.
                        Report Abuse
                        MikeV
                        • Member since
                          April 2003
                        • From: Hayward, CA
                        Posted by MikeV on Tuesday, June 15, 2004 9:32 PM
                        Great news Mark. Thumbs Up [tup]

                        Now go tell that guy at the hobby store to visit this forum and learn something. Tongue [:P]Big Smile [:D] Wink [;)]

                        Mike

                        “Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. To know is not to be wise. Many men know a great deal, and are all the greater fools for it. There is no fool so great a fool as a knowing fool. But to know how to use knowledge is to have wisdom. " Charles Spurgeon
                        Report Abuse
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