Acrylic/Enamel

[stona]

If you are the sort of painter who feels the need to have fine control over the pressure at which you operate your airbrush, then invest in a MAC valve. They cost about £25-£30 and allow fine control, which you certainly don't have adjusting the output on your compressor.

I don't bother. I spray pretty much everything at about 30-35 psi, on the compressor dial. I might go lower if spraying extra thinned paint for exhaust stains (for example) but only if it starts 'spidering'.

Cheers

Steve

[Guest]

If I can go back to basics ... etc.

Great post, Barry. Essential advice for any newbie to the modelling hobby. Over the years I discovered much of that by trial and error - especially when it came to the realisation that acrylics are not the same. I wrecked one or two nice models on the way. But I've always taken the attitude that when everything goes well, little or nothing is learnt and it is only when things go awry that you learn a lot. C'est la vie ...

[PaulTRose]

i will never use enamels in an AB....mainly due to the fumes cos of my asthma

i once read the easiest way of thinning revell aqua was to open a fresh pot and top up to the brim with water......that should roughly give the right ratio (however you will never get the lid back on til you have used some!)

ive started using Mr Colour waterbased acrylics from the bossfellers shop and i am mighty impressed!.....gives superb finish and are the easiest paint to thin ive ever used, but i am using the proper thinner

[Peter Gillson]

Hi De
i won't repeat all of the advice the guys have said about paint types, I'll be more general.

as some have mentioned: practice, practice, and more practice. there are three aspects to airbrushing; getting the consistency/air pressure right and pointing the airbrush where you want the paint to go.

Regarding the third, here is a link to a post I did a while ago which details some exercises I go through when I want to refresh my airbrushing techniques.

Returing to the first two, I suggest buying a bottle of a primary colour of your chosen manufacturer and using that to practice ratios of paint/thinner as well as different air pressures. It may sound daft, but on the odd occasion I have tired a new make of paint I make a note of the different Paint/thinner ratios and air pressures as I practice. On one practice sheet I will play about with one ratio at a number of different pressures, the next sheet will be another ratio etc etc. without making notes i know I would be scratching my head trying to remember which ratio/pressure I like best.

you may have spent ghe best part of £100 on the airbrush and pressure so a couple of quid on a bottle of paint just to practice with is money well spent.

have fun - and remember: clean it, and then clean it again!!

Peter

[colin m]

If it all goes wrong I'm going to blame BarryW

Eh now, don't pick on Baz. I followed his advice about MRP and they are brilliant. You will not regret the change.

[Del640]

Top advice gentlemen, greatly appreciated.
Practice is the keyword, so I shall continue to attack plastic bottles and card at my leisure..

Thanks again!

Del