Hi Guys,
Hope you're all well.

Id like to start airbrushing to get better finishes on props and was after so information on where to start and what to buy.

Thanks as always

Andy

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"Drake, we are leaving"

I have a cheap ebay kit that was $50.
has moisture catch and a single tank and came with one gravity fed airbrush.

Its been really great. one thing id have got is one with a reserve pressure tank for a little more money, that way youre notlistening to it charge up after every brush stroke. This kit taught me about disassembling my airbrush and cleaning the needle ect plus helped me develop preferences for paints ect. I recommend buying some nice pre thinned airbrush paint to start out to save the headache of getting the perfect mix. You also will not be able to paint with humbrol enamel until you thin it or get a brush with very high power.
The consistency you want is basically gonna need to be almost like water. However the amount of pressure that you need is a lot less then you might think, You'll just need a very clean brush. The slightest little grain of dried paint in the mix can ruin your time.

with some paints like acrylic you get "tip dry" so you'll be taking it apart and cleaning often. Also pick up some good general thinner for cleaning the brush out. you may also wanna get some actual "airbrush cleaner" too, its overpriced but makes things move along quickly.

Airbrushing is very frustrating at first until you get used to the routine of changing colors and cleaning/ adjusting the needle.
A basic gravity feed brush is all youll need at first. The kits that come with three or four brushes are just a way to charge more, They all generally come with at least one "dual-action" brush. that just means you pres to shoot air and pull back to add paint paint to the mix"

here is a link to the one I have. This particlular listing is overpriced though. mine was like 42 bucks with the one silver gravity fed brush. But i definitely recommend the reserve tank because the noise gets annoying for other people in the house.



https://www.ebay.com/itm/Portable-Airbr ... %7Ciid%3A1

I got a book on the topic from the airbrush institute. I will be referencing it as I fumble through painting my volunteer predator mask and gloves.

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The impossible takes a while longer and goes over budget too...

Many thanks for the information, much appreciated

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"Drake, we are leaving"

Anytime. Here is the site for that institute in case search engines do not work properly for you (ran into that issue personally on topic research)

https://theairbrushinstitute.com/

Just try to find a local source for parts. You will burn through tips every now and then as you learn things and it helps if you do not have to wait on amazon or another vendor to drop ship to you.

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The impossible takes a while longer and goes over budget too...

It’s an utter ball-ache but the results tend to be worth it.

You’ll fuck up, spill paint, spray stuff you don’t want spraying, the nozzle will clog, you’ll probably bend the needle at some point and you’ll lose a part of it while you’re cleaning it (which often takes longer than the painting!!)

Just stick at it and you’ll fine

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AKA: Simon

I'll second that you will spend more time cleaning than painting! Overall it is good fun and great results.

I myself am just using a $25 airbrush I got on amazon and a CO2 cylinder (like you would use in a soda machine or beer kegerator). The CO2 cylinder and regulator for it are a bit of an investment up front, but in the long run the co2 is dirt cheap and it runs silent. I enjoy mine quite a bit.

Thanks for all the comments guys..

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"Drake, we are leaving"

I can recommend the Aztek airbush series. Not because they are the best airbrushes, they aren`t. But they use a very simple system for cleaning which makes it much simpler.