Paint changes colour?

[mossiepilot]

I got a cheap kit to practice airbrushing on, all seemed pretty much OK, except for a little over spray, not enough masking tape, but I thought no problem I'll just use a brush to fix it.

I left the paint to dry/cure a few days and got the same paint back out, thinned it a little, and hand painted over the offending areas, and the hand painted areas have dryed a lighter shade than the air brushed paint?

I've no idea why it dried lighter, has anyone any ideas please.

Tony

[spanner570]

Tony, I think the paint is still the same colour, but when you've brush painted, it will be thicker than your spray application, hence the difference in shade i.e. light / dark....Having written the above, I could well be wrong mind!

I only brush paint and when I use a few coats of the same colour paint, each layer produces a slightly different shade, usually darker.

Ron

[Guest]

Yes I have had this problem Tony & came quickly to the conclusion Ron has pointed to.

Also depends on the colour of the primer as the primer colour shines through. Airbrush over a part with filler & the filler will shine through just as pre shading does. Why in my opinion primer is essential to give a good dense base to start from. Put on a hand brushed paint such as Vallejo Model & it obliterates all below it as it is so dense. May be an idea to thin handbrushed paint where it is used to touch up.

Another factor is to make sure the paint in the container is mixed well for both brushing by hand or air to get a consistent colour.

Laurie

[mossiepilot]

Thanks Ron, I forgot to add, the paint I'm using is Vallejo colour, don't know if this makes any difference.

Tony.

[spanner570]

Glad we could shed some light on your question.

I only use Vallejo Model colour when I use acrylics......The principle is the same whatever paint you use.

I reckon it's just down to you using an A.B. and then 'touching up' with a brush.....Different thicknesses produce slightly different shades.

Ron

[mossiepilot]

Cheers Ron, something to bear in mind when I paint the next one.

Tony.

[Guest]

I reckon it's just down to you using an A.B. and then 'touching up' with a brush.....Different thicknesses produce slightly different shades.

Ron

And the texture has a lot to do with it, airbrush and hairy stick lay the paint down differently so the surface of the paint reflects light in differing ways and your eyes pick it up as a different shade.

Can work to our advantage sometimes, the same hi-gloss colour can be sprayed to get the gloss, or stippled or scrubbed on to get a satin look

[mossiepilot]

Cheers Colin, you know when I was a kid, painting planes was just a matter of putting paint on in the right place, now it almost feels like an exercise in technical expertise. But it's something I'm going to have to learn if I want the finish I looking for. I'll crack on and keep trying till I get it right.

Tony.

[Guest]

An interesting little aside here, and i'm sure this has more to do with application via brush vs airbrush rather than what i'm about to describe.

(this particular phenomenon I haven't experienced as I'd have just touched up with the airbrush)

However, back in the days of being a mechanic (which encompassed welding, bodywork and spraying in the little backstreet specialist I worked at)

I once sprayed a panel on a customers car, all good and he was happy, a week later he returned having scuffed a different panel on a post or fence or somesuch, I had a decent chunk of the paint left and knew it was a good match and proceeded to prep the panel, mix and stir the paint thoroughly and spray it, looked fine till I got it in the light and it was noticeably, (to me), paler, I was baffled (customer was happy enough and prepared to call it done, but i'm a picky person and don't like to put my name to anything half done until a trade sprayer who used to help out when we were snowed under called by), he said, the paint wasn't mixed thoroughly enough, seen it before, I said but it was shaken to within an inch of it's life, stirred, decanted and mixed, he said, trust me, I know why, wheres the paint.

He proceeded to thoroughly mix and decanted the entire contents to a clean can, then threw in a squirt of thinner, sealed the old can and shook the heck out of it, he then decanted that to the rest of the paint, gave it me and said, there you go, that'll be perfect, re-prepped the car, mixed the paint and sure enough it was spot on.

Turns out that some of the pigment had stuck itself to the sides and base of the can and the wash out with thinner was what was needed.

Anyway, story aside, it's another little thing to think about.

[mossiepilot]

Thanks Mike, this painting lark seems to have more pitfalls than enough. :smile5:

Tony.

[Guest]

Thanks Mike, this painting lark seems to have more pitfalls than enough. :smile5:Tony.

Yes, your'e right, but persistence pays off. Practice, practice, practice! Airbrushing produces a wonderfully smooth coat (although some people using brushes say that a brush can give a very good finish.)

Do you know anyone who could give you a demo of airbrushing?

Another thing: Vallejo Model Colour is used for brushing and is not suitable for airbrushing. Its too thick.

[Guest]

although some people using brushes say that a brush can give a very good finish.

Not just "very good" in some cases Steve.

I know of some guys in the auto painting trade that produce artwork that is indistinguishable from airbrush work, one guy in the midlands (passed away now) used only three brushes (ooooo, a 1/4 inch flat and a raggy old round stipple) and all the chopper clubs and angels used him for the artwork and murals on their show bikes coz he was that good.

[Guest]

Yes, your'e right, but persistence pays off. Practice, practice, practice! Airbrushing produces a wonderfully smooth coat (although some people using brushes say that a brush can give a very good finish.)Do you know anyone who could give you a demo of airbrushing?

Another thing: Vallejo Model Colour is used for brushing and is not suitable for airbrushing. Its too thick.

Steve. Vallejo Model Colour is OK for airbruahing. It is just not prepared for airbrushing as Model Air.

Model needs loads & loads & loads & a lot of thinner. Vallejo thinners as Vallejo thinners has the same ingredients as the apint which gives a much better chance to sucess than water. I would say in the region of 50% thinners ie half & half (not third & two thirds). But all colours are different so it needs a bit of experiement with your set up. My experience is that it not as "perfect" ! as Model Air but it widens the colour range enourmously.

Gripe. I wish Vallejo produced a chart showing the colours of both Air & Model in a religious colour sync.

Gripe over & good night.

Laurie

[Guest]

An interesting little aside here, and i'm sure this has more to do with application via brush vs airbrush rather than what i'm about to describe.(this particular phenomenon I haven't experienced as I'd have just touched up with the airbrush)

However, back in the days of being a mechanic (which encompassed welding, bodywork and spraying in the little backstreet specialist I worked at)

I once sprayed a panel on a customers car, all good and he was happy, a week later he returned having scuffed a different panel on a post or fence or somesuch, I had a decent chunk of the paint left and knew it was a good match and proceeded to prep the panel, mix and stir the paint thoroughly and spray it, looked fine till I got it in the light and it was noticeably, (to me), paler, I was baffled (customer was happy enough and prepared to call it done, but i'm a picky person and don't like to put my name to anything half done until a trade sprayer who used to help out when we were snowed under called by), he said, the paint wasn't mixed thoroughly enough, seen it before, I said but it was shaken to within an inch of it's life, stirred, decanted and mixed, he said, trust me, I know why, wheres the paint.

He proceeded to thoroughly mix and decanted the entire contents to a clean can, then threw in a squirt of thinner, sealed the old can and shook the heck out of it, he then decanted that to the rest of the paint, gave it me and said, there you go, that'll be perfect, re-prepped the car, mixed the paint and sure enough it was spot on.

Turns out that some of the pigment had stuck itself to the sides and base of the can and the wash out with thinner was what was needed.

Anyway, story aside, it's another little thing to think about.

Nice tale that Mike. I have been caught out by this. Coming to the end of a Vallejo Model air container I wash them out to use again for mixing. Been surprised at how much has stuck to the bottom & sides which I have not mixed as I should have done. Also noticed with Model a first squirt then a second squirt & the colour is different. Model takes the devil to mix well.

Good tip.

Laurie

[Guest]

Nice tale that Mike. I have been caught out by this. Coming to the end of a Vallejo Model air container I wash them out to use again for mixing. Been surprised at how much has stuck to the bottom & sides which I have not mixed as I should have done. Also noticed with Model a first squirt then a second squirt & the colour is different. Model takes the devil to mix well.Good tip.

Laurie

I think that using a stainless steel nut in the Vallejo bottle (my recent thread) would go a long way towards good mixing.