My very first shell...ever

[Danmarks86]

Well here is my first attempt...really annoyed at the orange as it went totally wrong...water started coming through the airpipe even though I have a moisture catcher on! Any ideas on what to do tonpreent this?
I know it's not great but other than the orange going wrong I'm chuffed really




Oh window film is still on and so is the outer protective stuff.
Regards
Dan

[julianb]

Cracking first attempt!

Narrow shading and fades can be really hard if your gear isn't performing A1.

Just work really slowly with the fades. Thin the paint with reducer, turn down the air pressure -sometimes I use as little as 10-15psi, and apply the paint in the lightest, driest coats you can achieve. Practice practice practice!


regards

Ju

[Danmarks86]

Thanks for the reply Ju, nice to know its not a bad first attempt! Ordered an inline moisture trap to prevent the water getting through to
My airbrush. More practise and hopefully il get better! Must admit I prefer water based paints...less messy lol

[andys]

Any chance you used this for inspiration or maybe just a coincidence ?

Either way - a good - ambitious first effort Practice makes perfect - I learn something new with everyone I do

[eyeayen]

If you're getting water come through the airline you need to make sure the compressor tank is empty, if you've got water in the tank from it not being drained no moisture trap is going to be able to stop it all.

There should be a drain valve at the base of the tank to let water out, better to do it when there is some pressure in the tank because it will blow any water out.

After that put the compressor on again, let it fill up, turn off and do the same with the moisture trap until no more water is being released from that, there should just be a small spring loaded valve underneath the water trap. It should take long to clear through. ( if you don't have the valve you might be able to unscrew the moisture trap ( don't have any pressure in the tank when you do this ) and literally dry the moisture filter out or replace it ? ).

Then with what air is left just hold the airbrush on with the trigger back and see if any more has collected in your air line.

You should be good to go then.

[Danmarks86]

Originally Posted by andys

Any chance you used this for inspiration or maybe just a coincidence ?

Either way - a good - ambitious first effort Practice makes perfect - I learn something new with everyone I do

Funnily enough yes I did lol...hope you don't mind lol. It just seemed a bit simpler than some stuff out there I thought I'd use straight ish lines as opposed to flames etc, and it looks really smart. How do you regulars get even design shapes on both sides of the shell?

[andys]

Don't mind at all fella - a compliment if anything

What you'll probably find is that busy shells with flames etc are IMO easier to do as you can get away with it not being perfectly symmetrical. With a very clean 'graphic design' style shell it needs to be spot on or it stands out like a sore thumb !!

I don't do the tracing paper / flip technique when I use liquid mask (as I did with the b4 shell) I just draw everything freehand. On most shells I'm doing now I'm using my own vinyl cut masks

[Danmarks86]

Cool! Just tried the turn on then of and bleed the water trap on the compressor ad it seems better already! There is still visible moisture in the trap does that matter?

Andy do you sell any vinyl designs? I'd possibly be interested just to help me on my way! Really enjoyed doing my first one but totally naffed at the orange...it seems to be a funny colour as I had a play around on an empty bottle last night and I tried putting it on so that when I put a colour on top it wouldn't go through but it still does...any ideas there?

[AndyG]

(Assuming you're drawing on your design on the outside, then cutting liquid mask on the inside....)

I mark reference 'dots' on either side that I'm happy are symmetrical, and then join the dots freehand with a sharpie pen.

Where the two side meet at the front of the shell, I often fold a piece of paper in two, and cut it in the shape of one half, then open it up and you have a perfectly matched shape. I then hold this onto the shell and draw on the line before tracing it inside with the scalpel.

My latest trick, which I love, is to lay 3mm green masking tape (available from everythingairbrush.co.uk) on the outside of the shell to make a cutting guideline for the eye. It's bright green so easy to see from the inside. It has massively improved my cutting standards, and helps ensure trim lines are parallel.

[Mike Parker]

[QUOTE=Danmarks86;677761]Cool! Just tried the turn on then of and bleed the water trap on the compressor ad it seems better already! There is still visible moisture in the trap does that matter?

You'll be okay if it's condensation, but if it's water there should be a push valve at the bottom of the trap

I use 2 traps, the one on the compressor & and one at the other end between the hose & airbrush as a final line of defense. Hope this helps

[Danmarks86]

[QUOTE=Mike Parker;677768]

Originally Posted by Danmarks86

Cool! Just tried the turn on then of and bleed the water trap on the compressor ad it seems better already! There is still visible moisture in the trap does that matter?

You'll be okay if it's condensation, but if it's water there should be a push valve at the bottom of the trap

I use 2 traps, the one on the compressor & and one at the other end between the hose & airbrush as a final line of defense. Hope this helps

I have pushe the push valve at tw bottom several times after filling the compressor with air. I have ordered an inlineair mositure trap for my airbrush end last night so should be here tomorrow or day after.

Thanks for the tips on symmetrical designs, don't quite get the paper idea and what you mean by both ends meet at the frot end?!?

Thanks guys dan

[AndyG]

I mean the area of design just in front of the window - you want that to be dead symmetrical naturally.

If you get a piece of paper cut to size to cover the area of the design, then fold the paper along the desired line of symmetry. Then, starting at the folded side, cut a curve or whatever shape you're after, then open up the paper - you will have a perfectly cut symmetrical shape.

You can then hold that down onto the shell using it as a guide to draw on your guidelines.

If you draw it on freehand without a guide, then only a select few uber-artistes will get it perfect.

If you look on my paint thread, the recent shell I did for Steve Kirk, I used this to get it just right where the chrome trim lines came to a "V".

[Danmarks86]

I shall have a look matey

Originally Posted by AndyG

I mean the area of design just in front of the window - you want that to be dead symmetrical naturally.

If you get a piece of paper cut to size to cover the area of the design, then fold the paper along the desired line of symmetry. Then, starting at the folded side, cut a curve or whatever shape you're after, then open up the paper - you will have a perfectly cut symmetrical shape.

You can then hold that down onto the shell using it as a guide to draw on your guidelines.

If you draw it on freehand without a guide, then only a select few uber-artistes will get it perfect.

If you look on my paint thread, the recent shell I did for Steve Kirk, I used this to get it just right where the chrome trim lines came to a "V".

[lardy37]

were you using the fastcolour fastlusent flaming orange if so i have had the same problem with the water coming through and thought it was the gun or compressor but when i did another shell the same thing happened but it only happens with the orange paint and no other colours so have put the fault with the paint not the equipment so dont be to hard on yourself but it is anoying as hell as there seems to be no reason for it to happen, next time you try, try and avoid using the orange and see if you get any problems

[eyeayen]

I've used that colour without problem, try reducing your air pressure when you spray it as it does seem to be a little thinner than the others.

[Danmarks86]

It was fastrax orange, very annoying indeed

[jonmiller]

really good for your first attempt buddy, nice job on the pinstriping.

keep it up

[Danmarks86]

Originally Posted by jonmiller

really good for your first attempt buddy, nice job on the pinstriping.

keep it up

Thanks Jon, il be after some more of your paints next month (August) do u do larger bottles of the waterbased thinner?

[Danmarks86]

SecOnd attempt, same colour bar the orange:




I went in a bit deep with the craft blade and a few of my lines are ok need of some practise, but not bad for second attempt I think

[Steveonamission]

Great start to airbrushing I'd say!