Airbrushing

     I am just learning the art of airbrushing myself, but I do know a few things.  For those of you who don't know what airbrushing is, you should probably check it out.  If you have ever wondered how pro modelers get those great camo markings on their military models or how they paint great fire and designs on cars.   It's all done by airbrushing.

This above is an airbrush.  In fact, It's the exact type I have.  Some will look different, but they can all be distinguished as an airbrush.  The better models, such as the one above use a siphon cup as pictured for holding paint.  Cheaper models use gravity feed cups.  These are messy, and just aren't as nice.  A model like this one costs about $70 new from a catalog.  Although there are cheaper places.   The big brands in airbrushes are Paasche, Badger and Aztec.  There are others, but these are the ones you here of most.

     If you buy an airbrush, take time to look over the assembly.   Make sure you know how to take it apart, clean it and put it back together before you ever run anything through it.  Then after that, get a source of air.  You can buy a portable compressor for about $100, or you can get a portable air tank and get it refilled at a local filling station or your own, larger compressor. 

     Try out your airbrush with water first, you can dye it so you can see it easier if you want.  Just tinker around with it, get a feel for the air and paint settings.  Some airbrushes you can control both paint and air with the same lever such as mine, these are called double action airbrushes.  Everything else is single action and the paint flow has to be set manually.

     Although my airbrush and all other have air control, it is very touchy.  You press down a little bit and you have half air, press a millimeter more and you have full.  Paint control on my double action is excellent, but the air really needs to be regulated.  about 40 psi seems to work the best.  To much more than this and the pressure can blast paint in an ugly way onto your model.  Much less than this and the paint starts to splatter, and even spit a little bit from lack of air pressure.  Also, ALWAYS make sure to clean out your airbrush moderately good between colors.  Blow a little thinner through it and clean off the needle.  I had mine get stuck once because I didn't clean it out good enough. 

     You have to thin down paint to make it run well through an airbrush.  The basic rule of thumb is 2 parts paint to 1 part thinner.  Special airbrush thinner is recommended.  I use basic NAPA medium evaporating paint thinner and it seems to work just fine.  I don't think a special thinner is really all that necessary. 

     Airbrushing is not necessary to a beginner, but is a must if you are to give your model a good outer coating of paint.  If you don't have one, just buy the canned paint and stick to single color models.        This is all VERY basic airbrushing info, the actual art goes far beyond modeling, but this advice is strait forward and useful.  I will be adding more as I become a better airbrusher.  If you want to learn more, buy a book on it. There are lots of airbrushing books out there. 

One more thing.  When your airbrushing, or doing any modeling of the sort; work in a well ventilated area.  The fumes from paint can be harmful.  If you can't get a good ventilated area, where an activated charcoal respirator.  You should ALWAYS where one of them when your airbrushing, even if you have a well ventilated area to work in.