Painting Anxiety / Painting Phobia

I have a fear of airbrushing....or trying different painting techniques. I have a perfectly good airbrush and a compressor(no moisture trap though!) and Im afraid to use it...As far as being overly critical I think that could be a major contributor. I know it is in my case...usually when I goof on a piece...I know it and can spot it out....yet others cant until I show them. Im a bit of a perfectionist to...so this doesnt help me.
Totally un-related to painting but I build mainly OOB kits for the simple reason Im afraid the things I may do to "spruce" up the model will turn into complete failure...I'm terrified of scratch building and have only scratch built 1 thing ever! A CB antenna....So your not alone David.
If theres not a group....we'll start one! LOL
Chris

I'm with you, Chris. I am somewhat terrified of airbrushing. I know I'll eventually need it to finish some of the more complex camo patterns on my German A/C, but I just can't bring myself to try it out again. My wife is still a bit miffed that I spent $150 for a compressor with all of the goodies, and so far it's aired up a couple of bike tires and a swimming pool.
In regards to OOB builds, I tool the leap about a year ago and bought my first AM kit. It's completely revolutionized the way I plan builds, as well as my expectations of a kit's detail level. About half of the kits I have planned to build will get the full treatment of aftermarket goods. The hard part was making that first step of cutting apart a perfectly good kit to make room for even better resin. Heartstopping, at best. To make matters worse, it was the Trumpeter A-10. $125 if I screwed it up.
Take heart, we've all been there, and we've all survived.

Scott

Looks like I am the only one. I did bought a Tamiya HG compressor set but just kept it in the box for almost 3 years before I eventually have a go at it. Most of the time I used spray can and most of my aircraft are single colour.

I only decided to use my airbrush when I was building my Tamiya 1/48 Spitfire. Not only I have to learn about airbrushing, masking was the other thing that was required before you could paint !!!

Now, after 8 years on, I am trying all sort of ways to make a perfect finish with my airbrush. If it wasn't for the Spitfire's camoflauge scheme, who knows I might be still be using spray can !!!

Yes, the paintjob definitely makes or breaks the model alright.

I would estimate probably 90% of my building effort (and cussing) goes into the painting process. I wish I could build just one kit without having to re-paint a dozen areas that I've screwed up because I thought "if I just do this one thing here it'll be perfect" and then-disaster strikes.

But nobody should be afraid to airbrush away. You just have to put it in perspective and think to yourself "What's the worst thing that could happen?" Even if you did totally somehow fubar the entire thing, so what? You've learned something. Now you can go out and mess up another one and learn from it too.
Usually at some point during the painting of every kit I've done I say to myself "...and this is supposed to be relaxing and enjoyable?......right!!!"
I think most of us here are what people call "perfectionists" and that can turn us into our own worst critics. We look at our completed works and all we can see is every little flaw jumping out at us because we know exactly where they are and how they happened. It doesn't seem to matter that no one else can tell.

I've resigned myself to the fact that I'll never build a "perfect" model. But that doesn't stop me from having fun trying.--YET!

You've come to the right place David. Lots of guys and gals here to help you get over your finishing blues.

Merlin nailed it with his first sentence ..... the finish is whats makes or breaks your entire build.

For myself, getting the paint on the kit is where I slow down too, but for different reasons. I like the build more than the finish. But in your case what I think you need to do is select one of your kits that has a "simple" finish to it, one that is of "lower value" so that if the mistakes do happen, you're not too turned off. Fire up the a/b and give it a splash, work slowly. Camo is a lot easier to do than it looks, once again working slowly is the key with your airbrush pushing a small amount of paint.

Now if I remember correctly you mostly do game pieces, with these small pieces the drybrushing techniques are far more important than the base coats. I'm not sure what level of weathering you want to go to, but it can also hide a world of sins.

Biggest thing is to give it a try, if you having problems, shout.

We're all right here to help.

The majority of the instructors at my school have said the same thing, "Art is about taking chances." That can also be combined with the saying, "Never gamble more than you can afford to loose."
Like Shermanfreak said, getting some low-cost kits on which to hone your skills is a gamble that you can afford to loose. You can still build, fill, detail, etc. while you get some airbrush time on the cheap kit. I made the mistake (and a very costly one at that) of learning to airbrush on kits that I wanted to keep. It was an expensive lesson, but one I will never forget.
Take the chance on something you can loose. You may just surprise yourself.
Good luck & have fun !

I know the feeling...

Lots of times I grind to a halt while preparing for a new painting or masking technique... Then once I do it I get enthused and want to try it even more.

I habe the same problem alot. Mainly with autos where I try to get a perfect looking paint job and always seems to orange peel or bubble. Maybe that's why I fell in love with armor. Mess up, slap some mud or a tarp over it. Of coarse I have yet to try my first camo job yet. That's going to happen with the next one though.

I can relate to your anxiety about painting. Yet you just have to do it. Try a 'one' color kit, meaning a single color not a 'late war three-color ambush pattern' used on German panzers. How about a M3A1 Academy Stuart. You just use 'olive drab'.
I'm currently working on a DML Panther II. I'm using a three-color pattern. This is only my 2nd armor kit. I started doing armor kits last March. Anyway after getting the three colors on I was ready to start over. I didn't like it the way I did the patterns. But I decided to take my lumps and go ahead and start weathering it. Well after a few 'filters' were applied, and after I put a coat of clear on it and added some washes, burnt umber and black, well it's starting to look a bit better. I'm glad I went ahead and didn't re-paint the darn thing. Since I am so new to armor I think it's good to go ahead and try all the techniques, which are new to me, so that I can see for myself what results I can get. Point being, I'll learn alot from this model and apply to any future kits. So even if I end up being somewhat dissatisfied with the final result, the process of getting there will be worth the experience!

So put some paint in your air-brush and spray something! Preferably not the kids or wife or the car! Any loose styrene is fair game!!

Glenn

With me, David, it's more of a fear of masking. Ugghh! lol! I'll agree with Merlin that even though you see every flaw, unless you're trying to compete or something, most people will think your work is very nice. I've re-painted more than once! Also I only build 1/72, so if I "ruin" a model I'm not out of a lot of money.

David-just dive in-I usually can't wait to paint but I'm an illustrator and not an engineer. Find some cheap kits or even just cardboard to practice on until you get comfortable-airbrushing, esp. dual-action can be tricky. Our critical skills grow faster than our artistic skills. But why do you think they make paint removers? If all else fails try a coupla stiff drinks first.

but what about those of us without airbrushes...

David-No airbrush? That'll keep your life simple. Use spray cans or good quality brushes-hopefully you use solvent-based paint. Flat paints respond well to brushing. Dry-brushing beats airbrushing for weathering and pastels are like reverse dusting!! Practice, practice, practice or pay someone else to do it! ;-)

QUOTE: Originally posted by David Voss but what about those of us without airbrushes...

No Airbrush ..... none .... zip .... zero ...... nadda.

May I direct your attention then David to a site that is probably closer to serving your needs.
http://www.beadandbutton.com/bnb/community/forum/

Hmm...I wonder what that "Ban" button does?

Just go for it - I bought a sealed Tamiya Panther at a garage sale for $5 - built the kit and then primed it light gray. My new Iwata compressor. air brush, and my Paashe spray booth have all arrived and I am setting them up this week. I will use this model to practice over and over and over again. I think you just have to jump in and give it a try. Even if you do not spray a model try spraying some sheet styrene or even some old model pieces that you did not use to practice.

QUOTE: Originally posted by David Voss Hmm...I wonder what that "Ban" button does?

ROFL PUSH IT AND FIND OUT DAVID

Chris

I knew you had an evil streak to you, shermanfreak!!............

But I have to say, a world without airbrushes would be considered in my opinion .....well,.....uninhabitable.

David, get an airbrush!!...........No wonder you get the heeby jeebies thinking about messing something up. I don't care how "proficient" anybody is with a spraybomb or brush, nothing will lay down a finish like an airbrush............nothing.

Comon Dave, get an airbrush. Nothing to be afraid of.

We promise that, once you play around with it and get that 1st kit sprayed, there's no going back!

I used to have that anxiety, when I was relying on an Aztek. Now painting/decaling are my favorite parts after I got my Iwata. I'm starting to get annoyed that I have to glue things.

QUOTE: Originally posted by Erock68 We promise that, once you play around with it and get that 1st kit sprayed, there's no going back!

Boy, is that a fact! Last Christmas, my little brother got me one of those airbrush starter sets from Testors with a single action, external mix airbrush and a can of compressed air. Shorty thereafter, I went on-line and did some research. I posted here and at a couple of other modeling-type boards. I got a few people saying that the brush was too cheap and wouldn't give good results, but the vast majority of responses were encouraging and I got some great tips for using the brush.

I'm just about done painting my first airbrushed model and I'm so glad I got that little brush as a gift. I'm already on my second can of compressed air, and I'm saving for a compressor. But, the airbrush has helped me create a really nice paint job on the plane I'm building, and it's taken far less effort than a brush painted finish would have.

Here are some things I keep in mind that help me get over my anxiety about using the airbrush, and painting in general:

1) I'm going to screw up. I accept that. Sometimes, the mess-up is so minor that I'm the only one who notices, so I'll let it go. Sometimes, I need to do some touch up with a fine brush, and that's not hard to do. Twice with this model, I had to take a fair amount of paint off the nose and repaint it. That wasn't that hard either.

2) The more care I take in masking, the less anxiety I feel. Late last week, I spent 30 minutes or so masking off the area around my F-4 Phantom's tail that needed to be painted bare metal. Then I spent another five minutes setting up my airbrush, stirring and shaking the paint, and otherwise getting ready to paint. Then I spent about two minutes painting. Another minute with a hair dryer set on the cool setting to quicken the paint drying time. Then, in another minute or so, I took off the masking tape that I had spent half an hour applying. I was very happy with the section I painted. There was no overspray on the model, and the bare metal area looks good.

3) Have fun and manage you expectations. I didn't expect a finish on the plane like the ones I see in the magazines. In fact, I didn't quite know what to expect. In the end, the plane looks really darned good, and I already have some ideas on how I can do better with the next model.

These are just things that have helped me. YMMV.

Regards,

-Drew

Drew has the right philosophy I believe!

QUOTE: Originally posted by merlin V1650 I knew you had an evil streak to you, shermanfreak!!

Evil you say? hehe.... check out shermie's pic

ROFL......Oh my side hurts!!!! That was too funny!
Chris

David, painting is the bit I like the least in modeling... So easy to mess it up. I'm not helped by the fact I have little patience... I ofen go too fast and end up with a sub-standard finish that detracts from the hours and hours I may have spent in building, detailing a model. Well to my eyes in any case. Because that's where the problem is. I'm way too hard on myself too, and a lot of people just do not see the mistakes I may have done and give me the thumbs up.

I'd say go for it..! You can only get better as time passes. Start with figures and models that are maybe not worth that much money, or not worth much to you, just to give you a idea of what you have to beat next time. As for the airbrush, if you can get one, do so, but one can do great things with cans and the old brushes you know. And I know many modelers that are virtuoso with an airbrush but can't use a brush properly.

Looking forward to seeing your figures, David.

QUOTE: Originally posted by David Voss [Evil you say? hehe.... check out shermie's pic

YES!!!........Outstanding..........EXTREMELY intimidating...Fits shermy like a glove!!

Dave, I have the perfect solution for you especially since you do mostly figures. Buy some Vellejo paint. It's absolutely awesome for brush painting. I'll put a couple drops on a pallet and thin it maybe a 1/3 with tap water and it brushes beautifully and dries fast. I'm talking in few minutes you can handle the parts carefully. Moses of great repute on the site and of recent scarcity (due to a new baby fixin to come along I'm sure ) put me on to the Vellejo so I can't take credit for it. If you saw the pictures of my Marder, I brush painted the spare tracks on it with vellejo grey black for the base coat to try it out. I was going to strip and spray them if I needed to but it came out perfect, no brush marks, beautiful. If you try it on your figures, all you need to do is have a steady hand!! I always hated brushing details before I used the Vellejo btw, because it was hard to get a smooth coat. With the Vellejo thinned a little it self levels.

IF you have small slips of the brush, start doing some washes on the figures and some drybrushing and besides covering up small oopses, it'll bring them to life!! Again on my Marder, that was my first armor kit and my frst time going all out on washes, drybrushing, pastels and it came out great. I surprised myself on the finish. It's very easy to do if you just jump in and do it. And of course holler if you have any questions!

If you're going to get into kits, get an airbrush. It's then just a matter of practice with it.

Eric

Hey Eric (and everyone else too), thanks for the advice. I'm think I'm going to give the Vallejo paints a try. I know switching paints isn't going to magically make me a great painter, but I think they are worth looking into. I don't mind brush painting at all. Granted the small details can be a challenge, but it's fun.

BTW -- should we tell Shermie 'bout the picture or see how long it is until he notices?

ROFL Dave!!! I missed that pic the first time through! Don't tell him, let him find it (while we all snicker behind his back ).

Ain't being an admin fun???

Eric