1. Airbrush Types
a) Single Action Internal Mix (Badger 200) (150)
2. Airbrush parts
Airbrush produces soft spray patterns and offers choice of three head
assemblies (F, M and H). Ideal for water base and laquers. Single action
sprays paint immediately when you press the trigger. Flow rate of the paint is
adjusted by turning a needle clockwise or counter clockwise.
b) Dual Action Internal Mix (Badger 175) Crescendo
With a larger body built for comfort and handling this airbrush offers choice
of three head assemblies (F, M and H). Ideal for water base and laquers.
Dual action allows you to adjust both air and paint flow rates.a) Recommended Head assemblies for type work.
3. Paints (carrier water vs. "laquer thinner medium")i) F: for fine detail or N Scale
b) Needle-matched to tip (fine/medium); care required in handling needle
ii) M: For general painting HO Scale
c) Tip (Fine, Medium) (150)
d) Drawtube
e) Paint cup or jar
f) Handle
g) Air and/or paint control button
a) Laquer Base: requires drying over night
4. Safety considerations
i) Scalecoat (bakeable at 150 degrees in oven). Use caution on plastics.
b) Water Base: dry within minutes/ accelerate drying with hair dryer.
ii) Floquil, also bakeable. Use caution on plastics.
iii) Automotive enamel - in brass especially, some use colors matching RR paint chips.
i) Polly S (excellent coverage, good color selection)
c) Printer's ink, such as Accu+Paint - very thin application.
ii) Model Flex
iii) Tole paints, such as Delta Cream Coat - mainly for scenery.
d) Enamels - such as Testor's. Long drying time, and very thick. Sometimes used for metal figures.
e)A gloss finish is ready for decaling. Flat requires an overcoat.
a) Laquer base paints contain toluene.
5. Air source:
b) Absorbed through skin - use gloves; holding tool for object (hemostats)
c) Particulate spray - use respirator with appropriate filters
d) Ventilation - use spray both such as badger with exhaust fan
a) Canned Air - pressure varies with depletion of can
6. Paint Mixing techniques
b) Compressor - constant pressure; develops in-line moisture dependent on humidity/temperature (Recommend using a water separator and pressure gauge.
35Lbs at 7,000ft for Scalecoat and Floquil mixed at ratio of 3:2 carrier to paint. 25-28Lbs at 7,000ft for Polly S
c) Nitrogen or CO2 bottle with regulator. More expensive, but clean, dry pressure.
a) Follow manufactures instructions
7. Spraying techniques
b) Types of paints
i) Scalecoat/Floquil: 3 eyedroppers of laquer thinner to 2 eyedroppers of paint (Paint should not be watery when sprayed but provide even coverage. Floquil also has a glaze to thicken the paint.
c) Techniques:
ii) Polly S/Model Flex (Polly S: 2 partd Polly S air brush thinner, 1 part water to 2 parts paint [use eye dropper])
iii) Model Flex: 3 eyedroppers of water to 2 eyedroppers paint
iv) Custom mixed paints - you should match to color in picture or color chips. Remember lighting and film type affect trueness of color.
i) Paint black as last color
ii) Paint red as last color if lighter colors are used
iii) Scalecoat: silver has finest ground pigment
iv) Floquil: platinum mist is excellent alternative.
v) Always seal silver with a clear coat to preclude rubbing off and allow for decaling without "ghost" outline of decal film
a) Distance from object - about 8 to 16 inches - Depends on tip, flow rate, and water or laquer base paint
c) Wet appearance laquer base
d) Continuous motion of arm when spraying pressing trigger for paint release
e) Spray light colors first than dark colors for multi color paint schemes
f) Unique problems with orange and yellow colors (orange peel) paint dries before it reaches object surface
g) Barriers/primers may be required on some plastics and brass or metallics.
h) Plastic vs. Brass painting
i) Brass - Scalecoat can be baked on in oven causing high gloss finish of paint and even flowing.
i) Masking for multi color schemes:
ii) Plastic - can use low heat hair dryer to 'bake paint" with Scalecoat. Be cautious.
1) Tape Types:
a) 3M automotive striping tape (blue) - good adhesion but difficult to work over excessive relief, crisp delineation, good for curves
2) Technique:
b) 3M masking tape / Tamayia / Rice tape - 3M masking tape excellent fot straight lines. Tamayia / Rice tape (highly recommend) -
excellent adhesion; (can tape over decals and remove carefully without pulling up decal), excellent for curves, excellent for any relief on object
a) For compound curve patterns, place decal inside cellophane package such as Microscale and trace dotted line with pilot ink pen
on to tape mask, or photocopy decal sheet under glass then apply to object.
b) To prevent bleed of color under tape paint a sealing coat of the taped over color on top of tape or use clear coat.
c) Always paint away from tape line
d) Use fine tip for spraying in tight places as you can adjust the paint flow to a low level in a single action brush
9. Clean up:
a) For laquer based paints, use clean laquer thinner to spray through airbrush between colors or between intervals of painting
b) If brush clogs, try twisting a thinner soaked q-tip on the airbrush tip. Or, disassemble and soak in laquer thinner
c) NEVER allow paint to dry in airbrush
d) For water base paints use cleaner mix of 2oz clear ammonia: 5oz 409 cleaner and 1 gallon of water. Spray through brush between colors or when done painting.
e) Use laquer thinner after cleaner mix to completely clear brush.