SEARCH FINESCALE.COM

Enter keywords or a search phrase below:

applying a "light dusting" with an airbrush

4848 views
7 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    November 2005
applying a "light dusting" with an airbrush
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, March 17, 2005 5:38 PM
i want to add a really light coat of light or dust colored paint with my airbrush to simulate fading and dust (and maybe do the opposite on the bottom to simulate shadow). the thing i'm worried about is that paint does not go on smoothly from my airbrush. it lands in fine spots rather than a mist. if i dilute the paint with water a bit (i use gunze sangyo) it elmiinates the orange peel effect but it still has that ton-o-dots look to it rather than smooth. i have a decent badger brush (that i'm sure i don't know how to adjust worth a crap) but i use canned air and sometimes that can just doesn't give off enough pressure. any comments? suggestions? ideas?
  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: PA
Posted by JWest21 on Thursday, March 17, 2005 6:11 PM
Investing in a good air compressor would be a good idea, but to keep ut cheap, try submerging the air can in warm water and then mix the paint with acrylic thinner instead of water (if MM- their thinner, if Tamiya, their thinner, etc.) Just a couple ideas
Jason "There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness." -D. Barry
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, March 17, 2005 6:51 PM
Some apply a 'light dusting' by holding the air-brush several feet away from the model and letting the paint drift down on to whatever is being painted. Some paint may dry before ever landing though. This technique may or may not be what you were looking for.

Glenn
  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: The Buckeye State
Posted by Panther 44 on Thursday, March 17, 2005 7:14 PM
Have you tried adjusting thinner ratios and or air pressure?
I sometimes thin the paint 70/30 thinner to paint.
Depending on how bad the "fine spots" are you might be able to cover some of that with some pastel chalks. In other words, apply the chalks over the paint after it dries and try to blend in the dust with the rest of the paint job.
Joe
Just remember, ignorance is no excuse for the law. - Moe
  • Member since
    January 2005
  • From: returning to the FSM forum after a hiatus
Posted by jinithith2 on Thursday, March 17, 2005 7:14 PM
what I would do, is go outside and hold the airbrush up high and pointig at the model, and then spray a thin mist. most of the paint wil be somewhere else than the model by the time it reaches it, so it will create that dust look
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, March 17, 2005 7:55 PM
all good ideas. i try to avoid thinner for 2 reasons: first it's nasty stuff, i paint in my bathroom and having to clean the brush out with windex is bad enough. second, i'm afraid thinning the paint too much will produce a wash which will accumulate in the recesses and such.

could holding the brush far away from the surface and letting the paint drift down cause a fine "chunking" of the paint?
  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: PA
Posted by JWest21 on Thursday, March 17, 2005 7:57 PM
Do you use acrylic or enamel? I use the acrylic and it isn't nasty at all. The thinner seems to be some derivative of rubbing alcohol, but less stinky
Jason "There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness." -D. Barry
  • Member since
    April 2004
  • From: The cornfields of Ohio
Posted by crockett on Thursday, March 17, 2005 9:20 PM
The key to "dusting" and "fading" with the airbrush really doesn't have much to do with making the paint "thinner". The result will be just the opposite, as you have pointed out. The key is keeping the airbrush at about 6 to 8 inches from the model and keep it MOVING. Make several passes at the extended range, and I too would use an acrylic, such as Tamiya buff. Move the brush over the work in fast swipes, applying layers until you get the level of fading that you want. Since you are painting in a less than ideal environment, why not give up on the airbrush altogether and go for MIG pigments, they are designed just for the purpose you desire and are great products, you can apply all the dust you want with an old paintbrush.

Like this sprayed with a "buff" acrylic mixture at about 15 psi.;
JOIN OUR COMMUNITY!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

SEARCH FORUMS
FREE NEWSLETTER
By signing up you may also receive reader surveys and occasional special offers. We do not sell, rent or trade our email lists. View our Privacy Policy.