Hate Airbrushing?

I don't even have an airbrush at all and part of the reason is that airbrushes do tend to be "fussy," and I don't get along with things that are fussy. Another reason is that I live in a 2nd story apartment and don't really have a great place to airbrush anyway without having to haul everything down to a spot in the guests' parking lot that's well away from cars and the apartment building. (I could be wrong, but I don't think the manager wants aircraft gray spots on the wall, nor does my neighbor want grabber blue overspray on his new car.) On occasion, I will break out the spray can, but I make sure I use it where the overspray can drift away and dissipate.

I find clean up only takes a couple of minutes with my Omni 4000, just a flush out with water, followed by thinner and a stiff brush to remove any paint from the paint cup, and the nooks and crannies at the botton of the paint well. A bit of back flushing, and a final flush with warm water, et voila a clean Omni!

Needle lube helps a lot, and I find improves control as well as clean up.

As for paint mixing, I usually A/B at weekends, so paints are mised in 1/4oz jars ready for the next session during the week. I find this ensures consistent results, and no faffing around either, mixing during valuable A/B time.

One final thing, I've found it pays to plan your spraying sessions, ie all items of a certain colour, maybe from several kits, all prepped and ready to spray in one session. This also reduces colour changes, and thus clean up.

Karl

I also used to dread airbrushing sometimes because of the cleanup, even to switch colors, but I recently purchased a gravity feed AB after a few years of using the siphon fed ABs, and I must say that cleanup is MUCH, MUCH easier now. no bottles, caps or siphon tubes to clean.
Now airbrushing is no big hassle and makes the hobby much more enjoyable!

For me, cleaning the paint bottles is the biggest time killer. Cleaning out the siphen tubes and caps is tedious. A necessary evil, I suppose.

I kind of like cleaning them.
Maybe I am just sick.

Mike

QUOTE: Originally posted by H3nav Maybe some brushes are easier to clean than others?

I tend to agree more on this wise, as I to get in this mood when I use, say...my Paasche H for instance. A seemingly easy to use, easy to clean, simple single-action airbrush. It doesn't take that long, but man, there's something that seems to test my patience when I have to clean the color cup, the nozzle, the needle, and not to mention, having to use a whole lot of q-tips and the like for this type (syphon-feed) airbrush. Why use it, you ask? Well, again, a matter of mood and the effect that this airbrush can provide that another can't; depending on what I'm trying to achieve. So, to make a trivial and often controversial subject a bit more fuzzy...it's all a matter of perception and perspective. Try to think to yourself, as I do, that while you reach for the airbrush cleaning supplies, you are insuring that your airbrush-whichever brand, make or model, that it will be clean, and in great working order for your next masterpeice model. The alternative is a dirty airbrush that will sure to bring on more frustration as you watch tiny flecks of dried paint onto your lastest, most coveted project. Trust me, get used to doing the cleaning and think positive! Happy modeling.

heh....what's a mask???? I don't use them either. I tried once, and failed misserably (paint got under the tape, and went all over my nice "once clear" canopy. Haven't masked ever since. ABARNE, your correct, it does take more than a "decent" artist, but with time.... anyone can become good enough that they dont' need an airbrush.

It just takes patience and a steady hand, something you old farts lack =P (kidding of course)

I don't mix paints for brushing, it's very inconsistent. One second it's a darker color, the next it's a lighter one....i guess it happens when i let the paint sit for a little while when i'm paintint a large part.

agreed ... my dad used to produce some really nice models... and never used an airbrush... I asked him one day what he used to mask his canopies way back when, because they were so crisp... after I explained to him what masking was, he hesitated and then said "I hate to say this but I hand painted them" ...

but now he has seen me airbrushing when he comes over he is interested and thinking of getting back into the hobby after some 35 yrs!!

I guess in his case way back in the mid 60's necessity bred necessity.. I imagine airbrushes weren't found at the local Michaels... (which didnt exist at least on the current scale at that time either... all there was, was Woolco's department store to get models) of course he could have gone on the...... wait the internet didnt exist either haha

hmm.. has me contemplating if I am lazy for using precut masks and airbrushes now...

QUOTE: Originally posted by DoWBaseball A decent artist will make it so you can't tell if they used an airbrush or not. I have been asked many times what airbrush i use.....I love brushes.

I think you need to be a bit more than decent, but your point is well taken. On another site, I've seen a couple of ship builders who don't use an airbrush, and the only way you can tell is by asking.

Andy

QUOTE: you could just be like me and use brushes!!!!! lol

I would, but I really hate all that mixing and cleaning the brushes

you could just be like me and use brushes!!!!! lol

A decent artist will make it so you can't tell if they used an airbrush or not. I have been asked many times what airbrush i use.....I love brushes. Much easier to clean, and not such a hassle. The only hard part is layering, and that's when i bust out the chalks and pastels.

After some more thought on the subject, I really enjoy the actual act of air brushing, changing colors isn't so bad. I'm just lazy when it comes to cleaning, and that by itself will make me put off yet another paint job.

I used to semi-dread using the airbrush. It was a pain to set up and I was not very skilled with it. Having improved my setup and gotten more experienced with it, I really don't mind it too much at these days.

Like Bud said, having the thing ready to go is a big help. I have a nice paint booth setup in my garage with everything I need right there where it is convenient. Once I set that up, airbrushing was a lot less of a chore. If I can ever get around to rearranging my den and upgrading the ventilation, I could bring the setup inside where I actually build my models and would be truly set.

Andy

Can't say I enjoy cleaning up, but after a while it just becomes part of the painting routine & I don't even think about it when preparing to use the AB.

Regards, Rick

Maybe some brushes are easier to clean than others?

I sometimes am hesitant to fire up the compressor. For things such as landing gear, gear doors, etc. that are usually the same color (white on modern US stuff) I buy cheap cans of sray paint, and shoot parts that way.

I'd love to have a 65' X 30' area for modeling...heck, I'd like a 15 X 20...

QUOTE: Originally posted by I-beam I don't hate it but I do have a tendency to put it off as long as possible. I will get two or 3 models built up in components until I have everything done that can possibly be done then I break out the airbrush stuff and do them all at once.

Funny that this post should come up, because I was just thinking this same thing last night. It doesn't really take that long, but some of us have convinced ourselves that it's tedious and time consuming. I spend more time shooting than I do cleaning, and I realize that once I'm doing it...it's the "before" that gets me.

Currently I have 3-5 kits waiting to receive some sort of airbrushing...I'd better get at it!

I think a lot of the "problems" with airbrushing is not setting up a "turn-key" (I hate that term!) operation...but it makes a difference. Many are not as fortunate as I am to have a 65' x 30' basement devoted to hobbies. But, if you stored your computer under the bed and had to drag it out everytime, you wouldn't be on the keyboard very often. I set up a spot in the shop with my paint booth (a huge cardboard carton ) with an AC filter and muffin fan for exhaust. I bought extra bottles and keep one filled with thinner for quick swap for cleanout. I use acrylics because it's simpler than oil base to cleanup. I purchased a $14. ultrasonic cleaner on the web for heavy-duty clean up. No work...just push a button! In other words, I made every bit of the process of airbrushing as EASY as possible. Laziness breeds creativity! Works for me.

Bud

yup Laquer thinner will do the job, also MM makes an acrylic cleaner that cuts through acrylics like nothing!!!!

One thing you can try if you dont already is turning the pressure upwards of 40 to 50 PSI and blowing out the thinner...

Also needle lube helps keep the needle clean... and the paint flowing... just a quick spray out between colors..

I do know what you mean though... when I started airbrushing for about the first couple of months it seemed like a chore to clean... then little by little I got my system down and it takes no time at all now!

hey i find that lacquer thinner helps with cleaning, as it cuts thru everyting....
hope that helps u with cleaing, as it has helped me....

Thinning is no problem, but I hate the cleanup at the end.

Part of it has been my paint selection... I haven't had a good cleanup experience yet with Model Master Acryls, and I've been using Floquil Wisconsin Central Maroon for another one of my projects... that doesn't seem to clean up too well either.

Part of it is my painting area: it's too high and far back from the edge to work sitting down, but a bit lower than what I would consider optimum to work standing up.

And part of it has got to be sheer laziness.

I don't hate it but I do have a tendency to put it off as long as possible. I will get two or 3 models built up in components until I have everything done that can possibly be done then I break out the airbrush stuff and do them all at once. If I try to do more than 5 at a time I get sloppy. I do all my airbrushing outside so set up includes the extra step of lugging everything out and taking everything back in.

yeah, i get in that mood sometimes myself. i'll clean up a model and get it ready for paint, then it'll sit and collect dust cause' i'm too lazy to mix the paint and such. happens to me all the time, but its really not that big of a hassle. later.

hey i kinda feel the same, but im only new to this.... seems like i sprend alot more time mixing and cleaing that i do actually spraying!! hehehe....
but, like with anything, i know i will get better with time.... ive only used it a couple of times, but im already getting better and faster at it....

QUOTE: Actually, I find mixing and cleaning don't take that long. Mixing maybe 5-6 minutes, and cleanup maybe 5-6 minutes. Everything else is pure airbrushing.

I agree with Tanky. When I change colors I blow some thinner through and some air to clean things out. End of the day I clean a bit more thoroughly and that takes 5 to 10 minutes max. I'll break out the airbrush to spray one part, not a big deal to me.

Actually, I find mixing and cleaning don't take that long. Mixing maybe 5-6 minutes, and cleanup maybe 5-6 minutes. Everything else is pure airbrushing.