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airbrushing problems

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  • Member since
    June 2004
  • From: Malaysia
airbrushing problems
Posted by abuyia on Sunday, January 23, 2005 11:48 PM
hi,
im a newbie on airbrushing and have a few problems hope you all can help me with:
Problem 1. my paint job has streak marks on it... The marks are of different gloss so its very easy to see it when view from an angle. When I do the actual painting, the streaks appear as i move the airbrush along either horizontally on vertically. I'm using enamels.
Problem 2: do i need to use a larger noozle for spraying a wider area or can i just use the same fine needle to spray an area by opening on more pressure and paint.
Problem 3: what is considered as a good paint coverage? when the surface is covered wet with paint? or just before grainy bits of paint start forming? When should i stop painting the same area and consider it done? (of course not until there are runs and sags...)
Problem4: I still get very grainy bits of paint forming on the surface. this is especially so when i cover an area with a few passes of the airbrush.how do i solve this ?
Problem5: is it normal to have a paint mist appearing around my model (and my work bench!) when i do the 1st coat of painting? or do i need to adjust the pressure until only the surface gets coated by the paint?
any suggestions and comments are always welcomed.
  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Southern California, USA
Posted by ABARNE on Monday, January 24, 2005 1:39 AM
I suspect most of these issues will work there way out with practice and experience.

Problem 1 - Not entirely sure what you are describing - perhaps you are not overlapping your strokes enough so that you are having some areas well covered and others not to well covered.

Problem 2 - Within limits, you can open up the needle and add more pressure for a wider pattern. After a certain point though, you would need a larger needle. Experiment on a scrap model or a sheet of styrene plastic.

Problem 3 - Usually I try not to make too many passes over the same area. When using flat enamels, it seems like things are going best when the surface goes on kingd of shiny and stays shiny for just a second or two before air drying flat. Bottom line is that it is better to shoot a couple of thin coats rather than one thick coat.

Problem 4 - A grainy surface I think comes from having the paint dry in the airstream prior to hitting the model. Try moving you AB closer to your model. I think it can also come from having your paint too thick. Try adding more thinner. For me, getting the right thinner to paint ratio is the most irritating aspect of air-brushing, but it also seems to be one of the most important. Unfortunately, since most brands of paint seem to have a large sample to sample variation in paint thickness, you really can't simply add X parts thinner to Y parts paint and have consistent results. Again, the more you do it, the easier it will be be.

Problem 5 - It sounds like you do not have good ventilation. Ideally, you should have a spraybooth with some sort of exhaust fan to clear the fumes. You can either buy one or make one.
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Monday, January 24, 2005 1:59 PM
Number 5 is caused from having too much air pressure. Try reducing your air pressure and that will also reduce your overspray.

Dan
  • Member since
    June 2004
  • From: Malaysia
Posted by abuyia on Friday, January 28, 2005 1:23 PM
Thanks all for the tips.. most problems are getting lesser by each spraying session i do.
  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: SETX. USA
Posted by tho9900 on Friday, January 28, 2005 7:38 PM
that will be the truth no matter how long you are at it abuyia! Practice is your friend!!!
---Tom--- O' brave new world, That has such people in it!
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