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Airbrushing for a Newbie?

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MailManX

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San Diego, CA (USA)
Tekno RC's
  1. ET48
  2. MT410
I've gotten pretty good at masking and painting my Lexan bodies. Someday I'd like to learn to airbrush. I've only seen it done in videos and it fascinates me. Can anyone here tell me if it's easy enough for a DIY guy to learn? How about equipment? What would be a good starting setup in terms of items and cost?
 
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I can't paint to save my life, not even a solid color on a flat sheet of lexan. There are two guys over at www.rcnitrotalk.com (NCNitro and Rolex) that do some incredible jobs. I think air brushing is more of an art than a science. Best to pick up a decent set and do lots of practice.

Ryan Harris also has some really good videos on airbrushing, here's one for example:

 
I can't paint to save my life, not even a solid color on a flat sheet of lexan. There are two guys over at www.rcnitrotalk.com (NCNitro and Rolex) that do some incredible jobs. I think air brushing is more of an art than a science. Best to pick up a decent set and do lots of practice.

Ryan Harris also has some really good videos on airbrushing, here's one for example:

That was awesome! Thanks! I'll be watching some more of those. Once I get my shop cleaned and organized, I'd like to get the equipment and start practicing.
 
Honestly same. @MailManX you can take it into any painting store and have it done professionally for pretty cheap.
I didn't even know such a thing existed. I take it these shops are not RC specific? They must have airbrush artists that will paint whatever anyone pays for. But even so, I have always loved to tinker and do my own work at every step of the process. The first successful RC body paint job that I ever did made me so happy that I wanted to do more. I think that I would enjoy learning to airbrush.
 
Just takes practice. You need a good compressor that will keep steady pressure and preferably a gravity feed brush. I had an Iwata when I airbrushed, worked real well and didn't take long to get the hang of it.
 
Just takes practice. You need a good compressor that will keep steady pressure and preferably a gravity feed brush. I had an Iwata when I airbrushed, worked real well and didn't take long to get the hang of it.
Excellent! Thank you!
 
For a compressor, I used a 3 gallon from harbor freight with adjustable pressure. Was like $50 and worked perfect for airbrushing.
 
I used to airbrush motocross helmets (20+ years ago) and a decent compressor, regulator and filter on the air line things much easier to get consistent results.

Like @slowngreen said, Harbor Freight would be a good economical way for the hobby DIY'er to give it a try, and you can get soem decent airbrush kits off Amazon just check the reviews to avoid the cheap ones.

TT
 
I've gotten pretty good at masking and painting my Lexan bodies. Someday I'd like to learn to airbrush. I've only seen it done in videos and it fascinates me. Can anyone here tell me if it's easy enough for a DIY guy to learn? How about equipment? What would be a good starting setup in terms of items and cost?
airbrushing looks cool if you know how and i have not tried, but if you do i whould buy some lexan and practice on that to see what you like and how to do it so you dont mess up a nice body
 
Another good thing to practice on is the clear sheets for projectors. I bought a package from Office Max of like 100 sheets for a few bucks.
That is a really excellent idea! Thanks!
 
I've been rattle-canning forever. I need to start airbrushing so that I can use water-based paints.

I recently bought an Iwata Eclipse HP CS. Hope to put it to good use.
 
It's not too difficult and can be a lot of fun. I would recommend a moisture trap to keep water out while spraying and a adjustable pressure control to keep consistent pressure. The setup costs are what is expensive though for a compressor and good airbrush. Slight learning curve on thinning paints to the correct consistency for your particular airbrush as well to figure out what works best.
 
I have been looking into air brushing. I have never tried it and don't really know where to begin. I think I have it narrowed down to two brushes and two regulators.

For the brush I am looking at these two. Iwata Neo CN is the one I'm leaning towards but also considering the Badger Patriot 105.

For the regulator I am looking at the Badger filter, gauge and regulator and Paasche filter, gauge and regulator and I'm leaning towards the Paasche.

1. Does anyone have any experience or opinions on these?

2. Is there anything else I need to be looking for?

3. What kind of paints are people using?

Thanks for any help you can give me!!
 
I have been looking into air brushing. I have never tried it and don't really know where to begin. I think I have it narrowed down to two brushes and two regulators.

For the brush I am looking at these two. Iwata Neo CN is the one I'm leaning towards but also considering the Badger Patriot 105.

For the regulator I am looking at the Badger filter, gauge and regulator and Paasche filter, gauge and regulator and I'm leaning towards the Paasche.

1. Does anyone have any experience or opinions on these?

2. Is there anything else I need to be looking for?

3. What kind of paints are people using?

Thanks for any help you can give me!!
reviving this post...

I’m about to buy an air compressor and water trap etc.

As @Chevys10zr2003 asked, what paints should I use or what is good? I know rattle can brands but not some much the airbrush stuff.
 
reviving this post...

I’m about to buy an air compressor and water trap etc.

As @Chevys10zr2003 asked, what paints should I use or what is good? I know rattle can brands but not some much the airbrush stuff.
There is no one paint brand, some are better than others. Most like pactra, I tend to stick to rattle cans because besides doing drop shadows you can do everything else and use tamiya which I find is the best anyway.

It’s all about masking, I personally can do very detailed jobs or simple schemes but I always nail my masking because you can add dimension with that more than the paint can.

But... airbrushing is cool for smaller shadowing effects and that is why I still own mine.
 

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