1) Someone please explain to me why I'd want (and what is) a double action
airbrush over a so called single action one? What other features should I
look for in an airbrush/compressor? I want to buy a good one.
2) Frisket - where would I find these sheets? Art supply? Drafting? Some
other place?
3) Masking - one way to get mask off without the paint that may be
attached is to run your exacto carefully along the edges prior to peeling,
thus slicing off any paint and preventing "pickup" of paint from the model.
Now,
in less-than-flat areas, this is non-trivial, but on larger flat areas,
it is a viable technique. I just don't bother masking anymore... too much
pain, too little gain. Paint more carefully. <Hard with an airbrush>
4) Airbrush paints - Must I buy a whole new set of paints? I have Tamiya
and Humbrol and Ral Partha paints galore... must these be added to with
another whole set for an airbrush? Or is thinning and using them an option? If
so, how much to thin, or with what?
> 1) Someone please explain to me why I'd want (and what is) a double
Easy Answer is that double action Air brush can be adjusted to produce a
smaller spray area then a single action. I have both. When work on larger
items you can produce stripes and such with the double action. On mini's both
produce too large a spray area to do any detail work. However I use an
airbrush to lay down the base color on mini's. It produces a much more even
coat. This really helps with colors that don't cover well. I can do a dozen
light coats and not worry about too much paint or making the coat before run.
> 4) Airbrush paints - Must I buy a whole new set of paints? I have
I use poly-s airbrush thinner about 40% thinner and 60% paint by volume.
This works with most hobby acrylic paints. I have not used Humbrol paints, But
I know it works with Ral Partha, Tamiya and Testers model master acrylics. The
deal is that you need a fine ground pigment, which most hobby paints have. A
double action airbrush requires finer pigment and thinner paint then a single
action brush.
> 1) Someone please explain to me why I'd want (and what is) a double
A doublt action airbrush allows control of both air and paint flow, by
pressing down and pulling back on the "trigger" respectively. They allow much
more precise control in you painting. I have an Iwata which I like very much.
With a little practice you can easily get a flow less than
1/4
inch wide.
> 2) Frisket - where would I find these sheets? Art supply? Drafting?
Some
> other place?
Yes to all portions of this question. Art supply might be your best bet,
though.
> 3) Masking - one way to get mask off without the paint that may be
Now,
> in less-than-flat areas, this is non-trivial, but on larger flat areas,
I prefer masking as well as possible with tape and then touching up
afterwards. By directing the paint away from the edge of the tape, you get
less "spray" under the edge.
> 4) Airbrush paints - Must I buy a whole new set of paints? I have
You can use the paints you have. Thinning them is indeed an option. For water
based paints use water (I've heard that adding a VERY small amount of
detergent helps for thinning). For others you might want to consider airbrush
thinner (Testors sells this among others).
Thought I'd offer a comment about thinning paints, particularly Ral Partha
Etc. After thinning the paint to the consistency of milk (just what is the
constancy of milk; no fat, low fat, whole, half & half?) you ought to strain
the paint through some nylon. This will eliminate most pigment clumps or bits
from your
final mixture. It has been my experience, using un-strained paint, that
the brush gets gummed up and paint doesn't flow evenly... if at all.
On compressors - The max psi you'd want to run through an air brush
would be 20,
and I think that's pretty high. 12 - 15 psi seems to work well for me.
I have a Panache (sp) compressor with a moisture trap (prevents corrosion in
the
line/brush) and a regulator (which allows me to monitor the pressure and
fiddle with it a bit).
Finally I'm a beginner with the air brush so take my comments with a grain of
salt. Though I really like the soft color and even coverage you get with the
> 1) Someone please explain to me why I'd want (and what is) a double
explained by others a good double action can go 1/8 inch or less but
you need to control the air pressure which leads to:
> look for in an airbrush/compressor? I want to buy a good one.
two general types, direct piston, or diaphragm to tank. The best are diaphragm
to tank as you don't get the pulsing of the piston, but they are double the
price of piston. I have a piston to a regulator and moisture trap and that
seems to be enough to eliminate pulsing of the air flow. If money no object
get a diaphragm compressor with tank, moisture trap and regulator.
The regulator is critical to fine line work as even with a double action brush
it allows you to set the pressure low enough to get
minimal flow - viscosity is also a factor as the paint has to be thin
to get a fine line, see below.
> 2) Frisket - where would I find these sheets? Art supply? Drafting?
Some
> other place?
Art Graphics shops and where they sell air brushes.
> 4) Airbrush paints - Must I buy a whole new set of paints? I have
Humbrol enamels? Enamels need a specially designed air brush to work well as
the pigment is coarse and some air brushes are designed for graphic work and
son don't take to the coarse pigment.
There are several air brush models designed for enamels, strangely the one I
have is made by Humbrol.
Thinner for enamels, I use humbrol thinners/cleaner.
thinner for acrylics, water, add a bit of vodka to lower the surface tension,
I dont like putting detergent in my paints.
Thinning is a heuristic process, and it depends on the air brush, air pressure
and paint you are using.
Thin, test spray, adjust. There is also a thing called a viscosity cup which
measures paint viscosity by surface tension. The milk tip is ok but its very
hard to judge, basically it needs to be quite thin
50 - 60% thinner as stated.
Thats why I bought the air brush paints by badger as they seem to have
formulated them to work under various conditions of air pressure and
to flow well. I was getting about 1/4 inch lines with a cheap set up.