airbrush advise and paint thinning

[JLD142]

Hello guys,

I'm pondering with the idea of upgrading to an airbrush as opposed to just using brushes.

I've been reading about and it seems dual action is the way forward.

I've been looking at the following:
FoxHunter KMS Airbrush Kit AS18 With Compressor and 2 x Double Action Airbrushes and Hose

http://www.amazon.co.uk/FoxHunter-KMS-A ... compressor

My first question is, what is everyone's opinion on this as a first airbrush ?

My second question is in relation to thinning Tamiya paints. I've been reading to thin paint in the ratio 2:1 paint:thinner is this correct ?

My third question is in relation to Tamiya primer. Can I use Tamiya grey primer staright from the spray can ?

My final question is in relation to mixing paints. If I were to mix paint in a mixing bottle will this keep or will it dry out ?

Sorry for all the questions.

~Josh

[davetwin]

I can't comment on the compressor as I have never used it but I do have both of those air brushes which I found worked perfectly fine, I have since upgraded to a decent airbrush but still use the old one now and again.

I use ultimate airbrush thinner with my tamiya acrylics, I use two parts paint and one part thinner which seems to work for me at 20psi pressure. You are looking for the paint to be the consistency of milk.

I also use Tamiya fine surface primers straight from the rattle can and this works fine.

I have not mixed colours as such before but I have mixed a single colour with thinners and a drop of flow improved in a mixing jar before so that it was ready to use, this was kept for about a month before I used it, it had all separated and need a good shake / stir but after that it sprayed fine

Hope this helps

[BombMagnet]

Tamiya sells empty jars, which should keep the paint as well as their normal paints. Of course you can put anything you want in them!

[sargentx]

If you don't mind mixing your own colours, Golden makes artist quality air-brush ready paints. "Acrylic High Flow". These paints spray and brush beautifully and need no thinning. They cure within minutes and can be second coated immediately.
I use an Iwata compressor and gravity fed Iwata double action.

[Bill Gormley]

Josh,

I won't comment on the airbrush you posted because I don't have wide experience with different brands. I've been very happy with my Grex Genesis.XG for the past 3-4 years.

You'll get widely varying advice on thinning paint so there's no getting around experimenting to see what works. As a starting point, I'd recommend thinning them 2:1 with Tamiya's own lacquer thinner. See how that sprays at various psi, then move to 60:40, repeat, and then go to 50:50. I've never had to go beyond that point. You can use Tamiya's acrylic thinner too but my experience is that the airbrush tip clogs more quickly. Still, if you don't have a well ventilated work space the acrylic thinner might be the better option.

I use Tamiya's fine grey surface primer out of the can. Keep the can moving and experiment on a test subject first. You'll be pleasantly surprised how nicely it snugs down on all the details rather than drowning them. It's a great base for the paint and it helps you highlight areas you think you fixed but still need work.

Bill

[Plastic Habit]

I agree. Purchasing an airbrush is a great investment, but it is up to the buyer to stay within a comfortable budget for themselves. Just because person X says they get great results with a $200 airbrush doesn't mean you could get the same results with say a $50 one. Dual action would be a good way to go as a first airbrush. Some people have multiple airbrushes to do different types of work. I have two Iwata NEO gravity-feed dual-action airbrushes that I run off of a 10 pound CO2 tank. So in the end, airbrush set ups are just a personal preference like using PE or not.

I don't use Tamiya paint so I can't really give an answer about them. As Bill said, work with the mixing proportions and see what works best for you. Sometimes you'll find that the proportions are different for different colors within the same brand line.

Finally, eventually your paint will dry out in a mixing bottle, of course this depends on how much air to paint is in the bottle. Try to mix only enough paint to use in that session.