GrogHeads Forum

Tabletop Gaming, Models, and Minis => Modelling and Miniatures => Topic started by: acctingman on June 08, 2017, 10:44:41 AM

Title: Airbrush recommendations
Post by: acctingman on June 08, 2017, 10:44:41 AM
So, I tried my hand in 15mm ww2 miniature gaming and while it was ok, what I enjoyed the most was painting the tanks! Selling off my mini's and terrain I made  :bd:

15mm is a nice looking scale for gaming, but I'm looking at 1/72-76 or possibly 1/48th for tank kits. I found I didn't need an airbrush for 15mm, but anything larger I think an airbrush is going to be a requirement. So, here I am, asking any kits builders what you'd recommend for an airbrush.

Thinking I should start out with a used airbrush or something entry level as I build up skill and technique. Has anyone used those trigger brushes?

Danke!
Title: Re: Airbrush recommendations
Post by: Barthheart on June 08, 2017, 10:46:43 AM
JD just went through this... the thread should still be here somewhere....
Title: Re: Airbrush recommendations
Post by: acctingman on June 08, 2017, 11:18:05 AM
Oh, great. I'll take a peek around  :notworthy:
Title: Re: Airbrush recommendations
Post by: Barthheart on June 08, 2017, 11:27:50 AM
Here it is:

http://grogheads.com/forums/index.php?topic=7598.0
Title: Re: Airbrush recommendations
Post by: acctingman on June 08, 2017, 12:06:55 PM
Quote from: Barthheart on June 08, 2017, 11:27:50 AM
Here it is:

http://grogheads.com/forums/index.php?topic=7598.0

Found it, thanks Barth!  O0
Title: Re: Airbrush recommendations
Post by: Bison on June 08, 2017, 12:14:20 PM
You mean to tell me we haven't had an airbrush recommendation thread in 4 years?  Wow are we slacking in this joint.
Title: Re: Airbrush recommendations
Post by: mirth on June 08, 2017, 12:15:49 PM
Quote from: Bison on June 08, 2017, 12:14:20 PM
You mean to tell me we haven't had an airbrush recommendation thread in 4 years?  Wow are we slacking in this joint.

The dongle threads have been all consuming.
Title: Re: Airbrush recommendations
Post by: Bison on June 08, 2017, 12:18:08 PM
I'd rather discuss airbrushes personally.
Title: Re: Airbrush recommendations
Post by: acctingman on June 08, 2017, 12:21:41 PM
I do know that I don't want to spend too much right out of the box....I've used an airbrush a couple time many many years ago. Something used and cheap while I hon my skills. I'll practice on a couple cheap kits but after that is the help I'll need.

I REALLY like the look of these and from what little I've read, they seems to be very popular.

https://www.amazon.com/Grex-Tritium-TG3-Trigger-Gravity-Airbrush/dp/B002XQ2K5W/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1496942480&sr=8-1&keywords=grex+tritium

Review...

http://www.finescale.com/product-info/kit-reviews/2014/05/grex-airbrushes
Title: Re: Airbrush recommendations
Post by: JudgeDredd on June 08, 2017, 12:48:32 PM
You rang?

I bought a Harder & Steenbeck Ultra.

https://www.air-craft.net/acatalog/Harder-Steenbeck-Ultra-Airbrush.html?gclid=CIn-ofzlrtQCFawK0wodODQJDw

It was a great brush, but I was having some difficulty with the trigger (it requires downward pressure to allow air and pull back pressure to allow paint flow). If you can control it, it's great but I had difficulty (because I was new to it - not because it's not a nice configuration).

In the end I sold that and bought this bad boy (similar to yours)

Iwata Neo Trn1
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Iwata-Gravity-Pistol-Trigger-Airbrush/dp/B00HJ777W6/ref=sr_1_4/262-3946170-7516226?ie=UTF8&qid=1496944024&sr=8-4&keywords=airbrush+iwata+neo
or in the US
https://www.amazon.com/Iwata-Medea-NEO-TRN-Trigger-Airbrush/dp/B00HJ777W6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1496944093&sr=8-1&keywords=neo+trn1

I love it. The trigger mech is much easier for me to use. It's easy to control paint and airflow, it's easy to strip down and clean and it's got a preset nut at the back (as do most - including my Harder & Steenbeck) to set the maximum pull back of the needle, limiting paint flow.
Title: Re: Airbrush recommendations
Post by: JudgeDredd on June 08, 2017, 12:49:51 PM
I should also point out what I "skimped on" was the air compressor - something I plan to remedy soon.
Title: Re: Airbrush recommendations
Post by: Bison on June 08, 2017, 12:51:39 PM
I've been considering this one or one similar to it.  http://www.hobbylobby.com/Crafts-Hobbies/Model-Kits/Airbrushes/Neo-Gravity-Feed-Trigger-Airbrush/p/80732503

I'm just not ready to drop the money on an airbrush, compressor, and then another line of paints....yet.  Give me a year or two and that might change.  I'm really more interested in one for priming purposes, because I've come to not enjoy using the aerosol cans of primer.
Title: Re: Airbrush recommendations
Post by: Bison on June 08, 2017, 12:53:06 PM
Quote from: JudgeDredd on June 08, 2017, 12:48:32 PM

In the end I sold that and bought this bad boy (similar to yours)

Iwata Neo Trn1
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Iwata-Gravity-Pistol-Trigger-Airbrush/dp/B00HJ777W6/ref=sr_1_4/262-3946170-7516226?ie=UTF8&qid=1496944024&sr=8-4&keywords=airbrush+iwata+neo
or in the US
https://www.amazon.com/Iwata-Medea-NEO-TRN-Trigger-Airbrush/dp/B00HJ777W6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1496944093&sr=8-1&keywords=neo+trn1


Ha! Great minds think alike.
Title: Re: Airbrush recommendations
Post by: acctingman on June 11, 2017, 12:50:53 PM
Can't really find anything used in my area, but after visiting a Hobby Lobby I think I'm going to pick up one of those beginner $25 airbrush kits that take the canned repentant (and a bargain bin kit to practice on) to get a feel for everything. Once I feel my skills are adequate I'll graduate to a nice trigger airbrush.

Thanks for the info gents
Title: Re: Airbrush recommendations
Post by: JudgeDredd on June 13, 2017, 12:33:20 AM
I'll be honest with you I bought a cheap starter set (about £60 I think it was for the airbrush and compressor of which roundabout £20 was the airbrush) and I was having no end of issues getting any consistency.

I had no idea whether it was the brush or the compressor (airing  ;D  on the compressor because of the air feed feeling ropey). I posted around the internet and the general consensus was that the brush was not up to the job.

Changed the brush and hey presto - a working solution.

In short, I wasted some money. YMMV but I thought I should pass on my experience.
Title: Re: Airbrush recommendations
Post by: acctingman on June 13, 2017, 08:27:47 AM
Yea, I think I'll pass on the cheap propellant based option. Going to buy a  Paasche H on the recommendation from another forum and a nice little 3 gal compressor. All can be had for $100

The other option is visiting my local(ish) model shop and signing up for a class and maybe seeing if I can score a used combo from a more experienced modeler!  O0
Title: Re: Airbrush recommendations
Post by: acctingman on June 13, 2017, 09:03:05 AM
So, does anyone here who builds want to share their techniques? Maybe how you go about your build?

I never know the sequence. When do you wash? Weathering?

Is there a "noobies" guide to building or a step by step? It's been forever since I built a model kit  :uglystupid2:
Title: Re: Airbrush recommendations
Post by: JudgeDredd on June 13, 2017, 05:26:25 PM
I'm always a tad confused with "the process". I suppose it really depends on the model.

The old way is build and paint as the instructions instruct but to prevent wastage of time and paint, it's best to assemble parts, prime, paint, build, paint.

My personal preference for an aircraft, for example, is to build the cockpit, assemble the landing gear sections and weapons and prime them then paint them and then weather them. Don't forget to put a semi gloss or gloss coat on them before weathering.

After that, stick the cockpit in, cover it up, assemble the model (leaving off the landing gear and weapons), prime the model, then paint.

Once painting is done, gloss coat, decals, gloss coat (or a coat of the kind of finish you want) and then weather.

Finally stick the landing gear and weapons on.

When weathering, don't forget to put a "finishing" coat on beforehand to help with rubbing it off. Also don't forget to put a gloss coat on before putting the decals on to minimise/prevent silvering.

I use MicroSol and MicroSet for the decals and they've never let me down (only when I've used them wrong).

UMP (Ultimate Modelling Products - https://www.umpretail.com/ ) do a good line of washes and primers.

The type of washes you want will obviously vary from model to model. When using primer, You need a bigger needle in the airbrush - probably at least a 0.2 and better with a 0.3 because the primer is thicker. Don't thin the primer down.

Be prepared to do a bit of hand painting for all the wee parts.

These are things I've picked up from around the web. They are by no means gospel and you will find your method. But be aware it will likely alter slightly from model to model.

You've already found Andy's Hobby Headquarters on Youtube. His channel is excellent and I'm always amazed at how easy he makes the process look. He has excellent technique. Though he does mainly do armour...very little in the way of aircraft.

My Challenger II that I did, I assembled the wheels, assembled the body and the turret. I then primed the body, wheels and turret. I then painted, glossed, decalled, more gloss (well semi gloss), fitted the wheel and tracks and then chucked a load of weathering solution on. It's really quite scary at first to make your model and paint it only to decide to rub this dirty wash all over it. But it does give them an authentic look.

I've done two tanks - Challenger II and Leopard 1A4.

Challenger II
http://grogheads.com/forums/index.php?topic=4728.0
http://grogheads.com/forums/index.php?topic=10643.0

Leopard 1A4
http://grogheads.com/forums/index.php?topic=15263.0
http://grogheads.com/forums/index.php?topic=19310.0

Aircraft I've made
Su-27 Flanker
http://grogheads.com/forums/index.php?topic=15913.0

Sea Harrier
http://grogheads.com/forums/index.php?topic=14685.0

Me262
http://grogheads.com/forums/index.php?topic=13504.0