SEARCH FINESCALE.COM

Enter keywords or a search phrase below:

Arghh! Yet another airbrush disaster!

727 views
5 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    November 2005
Arghh! Yet another airbrush disaster!
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, October 1, 2004 4:25 AM
Hi all, i'm sure this kind of thing has been discussed in depth here before so i'm sorry if i'm going over old ground. I'm new to the airbrushing game and despite a fair few attempts i just can't seem to get it just right. I'm wondering if perhaps it's down to the paint that i use (Humbrol enamals-thinned to a milky consistancy as per most reccomendations). I always find that the paint either speckles on to the surface or goes to the other extreme and pools up all over the place. Is there just an ellusive fine-balance that i need to find (or die trying!) or are acrylics just easier to airbrush with?

I'd appreciate any help at all as i don't know anyone who lives close enough to me to offer practical instruction.

Rob Crafer
  • Member since
    January 2004
  • From: USA
Posted by MusicCity on Friday, October 1, 2004 5:24 AM
Airbrushing is a triangular procedure in that there are three things that affect the finished job (5 if you include the airbrush and operator). They are 1) Paint consistency, 2) Air pressure, 3) Distance from the surface. To get a good paint job they all three have to be balanced within a relatively wide range. If your paint is too thin or the pressure is too high or you are too close to the surface you will get a runny finish. Likewise, if your paint is too thick or your pressure is too low or you are too far from the surface you'll get speckling.

I usually thin my paint about 3:1 (paint: thinner), spray at about 15 psi, and spray from about 3-4" from the surface. These will vary from airbrush to airbrush but should be a good starting place.

Humbrol is good paint and enamels usually spray very well. It sounds like yours is thinned about right so I'd suspect that it's either the perssure or your distance from the surface that is causing your problems. Try playing with your air pressure and see if that helps. Also make sure your airbrush is thoroughly clean and you don't have any air leaks along the hose anywhere (spray some soapy water on all the connections and look for bubbles).
Scott Craig -- Nashville, TN -- My Website -- My Models Page
  • Member since
    August 2003
  • From: Alice Springs Australia
Posted by tweety1 on Friday, October 1, 2004 5:43 AM
Music is on the money Rob.
Dont be distracted, it just takes a bit of trial and error to find what works for you and your setup.

From what you described, I would look at pressure first, the speckle would most likely be that, or paint being to thick.

The pooling would be to much paint flow, vs distance and speed across project.
Patience is the key.
Wink [;)]
--Sean-- If you are driving at the speed of light and you turn on the headlights, what happens???
  • Member since
    August 2004
  • From: Kennesaw, GA
Posted by jdavidb on Friday, October 1, 2004 7:19 AM
By speckling, do you mean something like micro clumps? That happens with enamels once they've expired. I never have been able to fully renew enamel that has degraded to airbrushing like that.

The very few Humbrol enamel paints I have used seem to have an extremely long life compared to Testors, but they also sit on the shelf at the local hobby shop for a whole lot longer too. I don't know if your Humbrol cans have expired before you got them. It's a guess I'm making.
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, October 1, 2004 8:41 AM
Thanx guys, i was hoping for some responses before the weekend, i've only got net access at work at the moment so i needed some enthusing before i leave!
The speckling is hard to describe. It's almost as if the paint has dried mid flow but it actually hasn't. weird!

yet more practice and striping new paint to come then! Does anyone use acrylics? I've always had better results with acrylic rattle-cans than enamel so i'm considering an (expensive!) switch.
  • Member since
    January 2004
  • From: USA
Posted by MusicCity on Friday, October 1, 2004 12:08 PM
QUOTE: The speckling is hard to describe. It's almost as if the paint has dried mid flow but it actually hasn't. weird!

That isn't an uncommon problem, but it's more prevalent with acrylics than with enamels. It can usually be cured by lowering the air pressure or spraying closer to the model.

QUOTE: Does anyone use acrylics? I've always had better results with acrylic rattle-cans than enamel so i'm considering an (expensive!) switch.

I use acrylics almost exclusively. I'll occasionally spray some enamel or laquer but it's nearly always from a rattle can.
Scott Craig -- Nashville, TN -- My Website -- My Models Page
JOIN OUR COMMUNITY!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

SEARCH FORUMS
FREE NEWSLETTER
By signing up you may also receive reader surveys and occasional special offers. We do not sell, rent or trade our email lists. View our Privacy Policy.