#Airbrush help needed!

42 messages · Page 1 of 1 (latest)

high patrol
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Hi all, I got my first airbrush yesterday and I'm finding it really challenging to get anything working consistently with it. Could someone help me please?

The main problem I'm having is that it only seems to spray when the paint is really, really thin. It hits the model and then runs like a wash into the recesses. I've tried thickening it and it still seems to be the same - it just blows wet paint around the model. This is with blue citadel and Vallejo thinner. I've tried lowering the pressure and holding brush further away but I can't figure it out.

I then tried brown and less thinner and nothing but air was coming out, with occasional brown splats. Have I gone too thick?

Also, when I watch tutorials they seem to have a fair bit of liquid in the well to stir but two drop of paint and four drops of thinner just go all the way down into the needle area as it's such a small amount. I don't need more than that I don't think but it isn't what it looks like on YouTube?

Basically I don't know what I'm doing and need some help!

sweet tapir
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Have you checked the video red did ?

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#general-miniatures message

high patrol
high patrol
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I watched that and it was a help. However I'm still getting this and I'm not sure why. Is my paint too thin? If I make it any thicker it starts to speckle.

20231114_131944.jpg
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The paint doesn't attach to any flat surface.

paper goblet
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Is that mini primed? Doesn't look like it.
If so, it will partly explain the issue. But I think the main problem is that you're applying way too much paint. The trick is too apply very thin layers that don't pool, letting them dry, them coming back with another layer and so on until you got the opacity required.

stark lotus
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I had the exact same problem. the trick is indeed very thin layers. Assuming you are using a double action trigger, try to give the tiniest of flicks back with the trigger to start spraying paint. Try it on a paper towel first to see how much paint comes out. start with some distance to prevent pooling and move in closer when you feel confident it won't start to pool. Use a high enough psi (15-25).

This might be superstition, but I find circular motions or up-and-down motions also prevent paint from pooling as you are not spraying on the same spot at all times.

vivid anchor
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You can sometimes use a dry brush to wick up any pools. Sometimes you can also just blow air on it to push it off the mini if the pool is near the edge anyway like the end of that cape, and you aren't worried about overspray

high patrol
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Thanks everyone! And sorry for the slow reply! I think I need to get used to it being so quick and just spraying for a second and then waiting for it to dry. Seems to be crazy quick. It is primed btw.

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Good tip about wicking it off too and yes it's a dual action trigger.

blazing saddle
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Do you have a gauge for setting the pressure on your air supply?

last isle
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four drops of thinner on 2 drops of paint sounds too much to me. Never had to thin my paints so much. It's more like 5 drops of paint to 1 drop of thinner (and maybe 2 drops of flow improver for heavier paints). (Note that this is just an example, works for vallejo paints and a 0.5 mm nozzle)

Also, especially if you only put in a tiny amount, do not mix inside the cup. Yes, you will always waste some paint, but paint consistency is much better that way.

Have you tried flow improver instead of thinner? It dissolves any lumbs or rough/chalky bits in the paint but does not make the paint runny as thinner does.

paper goblet
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2 thinner:1 paint is my standard ratio of thinning for paints like VMC for basecoating. For highlights, I increase the thinner.

high patrol
high patrol
blazing saddle
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@high patrol ok.... here's how elements of airbrushing and what effects them.

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Compressor: pushes the air through (uh, duh... yes, I know you know) the rate / fast affects your paint spray. Having a loosen/ tighten is a start, but very vague control.
A gauge will help you dial in and get results.

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My basic compressor, I added a gauge to it, and got a 100% improvement straight away, and within a few sessions, started enjoying the results.

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Altitude and humidity: all these responses, use three drops, no use 12, no that's too much....
Altitude: if you live near sea level, you'll need a lower compressor pressure than living on the side of a mountain...
Think Florida compared to Utah.....

Which leads to humidity.
Someone in a low altitude (lower pressure) location with high humidity levels (Florida type) will run lower pressure and less drops for thinner as humidity slows drying.
Utah airbrushing, less air pressure at altitude and very dry, will need a higher air pressure put through and more drops to slow drying and help thin the paint.

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Paint thinned to about melted butter, and set your compressor to a mid flow pressure.

Test on a scrap figure or (primed) plastic sheet.

Once you have got it set, then you can fine tune your paint ratio.

Just like hand brushing, there's a sweet spot that works for you and your location.

Until you get that gauge, just get the setting right for airflow.

Then get the paint sorted...

Then discover the airbrush.

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Airbrush cleaning will be the next learning process, but you've started, which is great!

high patrol
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Thanks for all the above! Humidity isn't a problem as I'm in the uk. Wish it was, it's cold! Well I've tried again and I still don't really get it. I've painted the cloak on a figure and it looks pretty good but I always, always, get the problem of just blowing wet paint around. It's like I'm applying a wash at times. So that leads me to think that it's too thin but if it's any thicker then there's so little liquid mixture it doesn't even get down into the airbrush. Surely I'm not going to have to use a while ton of paint just to airbrush one tiny cloak?

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Two drops of thinner and a tiny bit of paint doesn't make for much substance. And even that ratio leads to wet paint blowing onto recesses but not staying on raised areas.

glacial axle
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Marco Frisoni’s videos on it helped me a lot. Thinking about pressure and consistency and then learning to eyeball it myself

high patrol
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Ok thanks! I wish most of my paint was in drops but I've got tons of citadel. I'm moving more to Vallejo but still got loads of the GW stuff. That's good advice though, think I'll worry less next time and make a big old mix even if half of it ends up down the sink. I'll also check out Marco's vid on it too, he's great. Also squidmar just dropped an airbrush video a few days ago so watching that as well.

glacial axle
high patrol
glacial axle
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Tank makes it quiet, the pressure gauge does help control psi clearly, and moisture trap for safety. It's smaller than it looks.

high patrol
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That's way more expensive though and I just got this one. Vince V says one like mine is ok to start I think. I can always upgrade my compressor at some point I suppose.

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I got this one

glacial axle
high patrol
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Oh dear lol. I hope it's ok. It'll be fine for basecoating at least and the airbrush itself is pretty nice.

glacial axle
blazing saddle
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@high patrol humidity isn't another word for temperature....
You can stand out in a summer rain, be warm and wet....
Or stand out in a winter snowy day, be cold and dry...

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As for air pressure, it does have a direct impact with the viscosity of your paint...

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The thicker the paint, the more air pressure, the less fine control you'll have