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Newbie Airbrush questions!

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  • Member since
    November 2005
Newbie Airbrush questions!
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, February 14, 2003 1:45 PM
Hi all,
Im sorry if this has been posted before but I have a three part question I hope someone may able to help me with. Here goes.

1. How much paint should I mix for a 1/72nd fighter?

2. And how many coats should I need?

3. Am I right that before adding decals, I coat the model in Gloss laquer, add the decals and then Flat coat it?

Best Regards

  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, February 14, 2003 3:21 PM
1. I assume you have a color-cup (not the bottle). I'd fill it with about 2/3 to 3/4 with your thinned paint and that should be plenty for a 1/72 fighter. If you're using a bottle, then you shouldn't need more than about 1/4 inch in the bottom of the bottle. However, if you spray it on really thick, then the paint will go much quicker. I find with airbrushing the trick is to spray light 'mist' coats rather than lay it on thick (especially in 1/72 scale).
2. Depending on the color, 3 or 4 light coats should do the trick. You might be able to do with less. Use your judgement after each coat.
3. I recommend putting on Future instead of the Gloss lacquer. It's much easier to work with and has way less risk of damaging the underlying paint. You'd decal overtop of the future, then put the flat over-top of that. However, I don't think I'd do a flat LACQUER coat over top of the future, because I'm not sure if that would react well. I'd get an acrylic flat and put it overtop (GS, Tamiya, and Microscale all make a flat finish that shouldn't harm the future.)

The best thing you can do is get a scrap piece and try everything out together. Better to find out about a 'problem' on a test piece rather than on the real thing!

M.
  • Member since
    January 2003
  • From: Chantilly, Virginia
Posted by CNicoll on Thursday, May 7, 2009 9:31 PM

This is a nit, but I also like to put a coat of future OVER the decal after it dries, as well as UNDER.  Just keep what you are painting with the Future level.  It levels itself nicely, but that means if the wings (for example) are too canted, the Future will puddle at the edge.  Again, best to use light coats and you can use a paper towel to wick off the excess in case the worst happens.

And to have even more fun, mix some future into your paint for a semi-gloss or gloss effect, best to try it out on a piece of scrap and let it dry to see the effect.

On the bench:  Academy 1/72 B-17G 'Blue Hen Chick';  1/48 Tamiya Mustang III; Kitty Hawk 1/32 P-39. 

Completed:  1/48 Tamiya P-51D Mustang - 'Show Bird', 1/32 Dragon P-51D  Flying Tigers 'What if'; 1/32 Tamiya P-51D Big Beautiful Doll

Group build:1/48 Tamiya Mustang III; 1/48 Tamiya P-51D Show Bird

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