AIRBRUSH PAINT!!!!

Does Michaels carry any of the MM Acryls? If not, then your only other choice is to shop online or drive to some place that does stock the paints you want. Given the price of gas...internet retail is a better option.

Also, check with your "area" LHS, maybe they can do a phone in order and they'll ship them to you. There are some LHS who offer this service...those that are all about "customer service" that is. 

I have shot Apple Barrel acrylics from Michaels through my airbrush with good results!  The paint is cheap, and comes in a huge assortment of colors.  Strain it first, as it will clump in the bottle.  I use nylon mesh (old pair of wifey's panty hose) over a funnel.  Thin with a mix of 1/3 future to 2/3 alcohol, then mix the paint 2:1 paint to thinner.  It should be the consistancy of skim milk, and will shoot at about 20psi depending on your airbrush type and nozzle.  I do NOT recommend using the 'fine' needle and nozzle for acrylic paint!

Also, Golden's fluid acrylics, thinned with Golden's airbrush medium 2:1 or 3:1 work very nicely, but are a bit more expensive.  Michaels carries these as well.  The fluid acrylics tend to be very translucent, so be aware of the color of your primer coat, as this will affect the final color.  Be prepared to build up your colors a bit more than normal, this is not a 1 shot paint, but I have had some beautiful, liquid colors using these!

Good luck!

Chris

Michaels has all kind of paints that you can shoot through an airbrush. Just maybe not in the colors you're looking for.

Tony

Neither is really 'easier' in my opinion, although the Goldens, already a liquid, and with its own airbrush medium, is quite simple to mix.

However, it is more expensive, and has a limited color selection.  Give both a try, see how it works.

Good advice about watching out for latex componants!  Liquitex is another paint to avoid thinning with alcohol.  Michaels carries this as well, and although they claim it is ready to spray right out of the bottle, you'd need to shoot it at like 50 psi, the stuff is too thick!  I rarely use it, but when I do, I thin with water about 4:1 paint to water.

ROBO SNOWMAN wrote:

i need airbrush paint and the only hobby type store i have is Michaels. So do i have to buy on-line, and if i do what would be a good acrylic paint choice.

if your going to buy online try vallejo acrylic paints,already pre mixed,in eye dropper bottles.

i've only recently come back to this hobby but i'm very impressed with the vallejo range and ease of use.

Many train stores cary Pollyscale acrylics, and maybe Model Masters Acryl.  Both are excellent paints, and shoot through an airbrush like a dream. 

Alcohol...well I use 90% Isoprpoyl for thinning with paints that react well to alcohol.  Always do a test before loading your brush.  Some paints turn to goo when alcohol thinned, and Vallejo balls up (literally, little paint balls floating in a sea of alcohol!)  The 70% Isopropyl also works, I just have had some issues with the paint performing differently when I switched from 1 brand to another.  70% is also 30% something, and that 'something' varries by manufacturer. 

Primer could be a whole article, but for my money, the easiest, and cheapest is to buy a can of flat black, white, or grey primer at any hardware store, decant it into a jar, stir to let all the propellant release, then I shoot it through my brush. Voila, pre-thinned primer, and you have soooo much more control and less overspray than using the can.

So when you decant the primer and put it into a jar how long dose it stay in working condish without getting dry.

What kinda container do you use to hold like mixed paints, and primer?

Is future a good clear coat, or should I use it for a sealer, and get MM flat/glossy clear?

And thanks for all the help you guys are awsome

Lasts a day or two at most.  Maybe more if you have a tight fitting lid.  I use glass baby food jars (I have a 10 month old), but have used airbrush bottles before (depending on the model, paasche used to give you this big ol' supertanker paint bottle when you bought the VL set.  I still have one of those lying around (the bottle, not the VL)

Yes, Future is the best gloss coat I have ever used, period!  Tough, self-leveling, airbrushes without thinning, can be used to thin other paints, cleans up with windex, I love the stuff.  It does so many things, you'd think it was an Acme product being peddled by some guy out of the back of a wagon, but I swear by it.

For dullcoating afterwards, skip the MM.  I use a product called JW's right step.  It is a waterbased acrylic matte coat, thin it 50% with water, airbrushes beautifully, clear as glass, no yellowing I can see, and tough too!  Michaels carries it, can be hard to find.  Usually in the aisle with paint brushes, near the brush cleaners and misc chemicals.  Best part, $6.99 for 8 oz!  Thinned properly, this should last years!

Chris

Killjoy wrote:

Lasts a day or two at most.  Maybe more if you have a tight fitting lid.  I use glass baby food jars (I have a 10 month old)

congrats. I got the tamyia paint for the hobby shop