Airbrush advice...

[QuackingPlums]

I just got myself a new 'proper' airbrush/compressor having only ever used rattle cans on my shells until now. I used to have one of those Badger airbrushes with the compressed air cans before (about 20 years ago ) but that sucked - quite literally. Having never gotten any paint out the end of it I gave up and went back to rattlers!

Anyway, I've been practising a bit on spare bits of plastic, using some Createx/Auto Air that came with my airbrush and some Testors candy colours that I got from my LHS. The Createx is great, but I've noticed that the Testors paint tends to come out like candy floss after a while, and I have to clean it all down regularly. Is this normal?

Also, what cleaner should I use? I have a bottle of "Iwata Medea" that works fine with the Createx, but as soon as it touches the Testors it just turns into a stringy mess.

I'm about to place an order for some new colours - am quite happy with the Createx opaque and fluorescent colours so far but is there something better I should look for? I've read about the Spaz Stix chrome, which I'd like to try - who stocks this in the UK?

Cheers and TIA!

[jonmiller]

sounds like you need to thin the testors some more.
as for cleaning it, im not familiar with it so cant say, sorry. if its like pactra, something like cellulose thinners would do the job.

as for paint, i will be stocking createx in about a week or so.

i will be tryng to get some spaz stix also.

there is the spaz stix uk site but from my personal experience the service is..

but then ive tried contacting spaz stix direct and their service isnt any better so what can you expect

if you cant get the sschrome then the alclad chrome is the next best thing.


jon

[QuackingPlums]

Cheers Jon! The Testors jars actually have Pactra written them as well - never quite got the hang of why paint always has two brand names on it!

Sounds like I can get all my airbrush supplies from you once your stock comes in -result!

[bigred5765]

stick to water based acrylic, auto air createx faskolor all available from here CLICKY
WHEN APPLYING THE FIRST COAT warm the surface of the shell first helps first coat bond to it,

[lochness42]

Jon is right about Spaz Stix UK,
they still owe me paint/money, but I gave up after year or so and just consider that as loss.

[QuackingPlums]

Well here is my first airbrush attempt (Mardave Fiesta shell):



Design was inspired by a google images search so I can't take credit for that. This was an exercise in using the airbrush for me and I'm quite pleased with the results!

All masking was done using masking tape, and only the candy blue, orange and black shadows were applied using my airbrush/spray gun. The rest (including the chrome) was by rattle-can.

Some obvious mistakes in masking, and some bits didn't turn out like I'd hoped. Next time I'll try using liquid mask!

[QuackingPlums]

Probably down to personal preference, but if you're using a combination of tape and liquid mask (my hands have long since lost the ability to cut straight lines!) which way round do you do it? Tape first then mask on top, or mask first then tape on top? I'll be cutting through the mask with a scalpel in any case, I just need a guide to keep me straight!

[bigred5765]

i wouldnt bother with the tape just use liquid mask, and a long strightblade laid back to cut stright lines,if you must then tape first.