Model & Hobby Model airbrushing incorporates various crafts and hobbies from model cars and trains to birdhouses and doll houses. The airbrush can be used to paint plastic, metal and wood common materials used to construct scale models such as those mentioned. The proper equipment should always be used for the best results, and never neglect safety while using the airbrush. Information for a successful and safe airbrushing experience is included in this guide. Table of Contents 1. Hobby and Model Airbrushing Equipment o Airbrush o Air Source o Airbrush Holder o Air Hose o Manifolds o Cleaning Items and Other Supplies Water Bottle Cloth or Paper Towel Bowl of Water 2. Airbrushing Model and Hobby Paints Types of Paint Airbrush-Ready Paints and Thinning o Color Schemes and Mixing Colors 3. Airbrush Safety 4. Basic Airbrush Strokes and Shading 5. Hobby and Model Airbrushing Tips o Practice o Have a Plan 6. Masking and Stencils 7. Step-By-Step Hobby and Model Airbrushing Tutorial Preparation Primer Clean the Airbrush Apply the Basecoat Apply the Other Colors Assemble the Model Apply the Racing Stripe Touchup Apply the Clearcoat 8. Airbrushing Flames 9. Clean Your Airbrush
1. Hobby and Model Airbrushing Equipment Airbrush Some hobbyists choose to use two airbrushes one for doing detail work and the other for applying an overall basecoat. If you cannot afford two airbrushes, choose a dual-action, internal mix airbrush with a gravity feed paint reservoir. The dual-action lever gives you more precision and the gravity feed does not require the higher air pressure of the siphon feed. The lower air pressure gives you more control. This is the type of airbrush that hobbyists typically use for fine detail work, but it will work fine for applying a basecoat, too. Try starting with a 0.3mm nozzle, as this can work for a variety of jobs. If you can afford a separate airbrush for applying basecoats, many hobbyists prefer a single-action airbrush to apply a single uniform coat over the entire model; still opt for an internal mix airbrush for finer atomization. Whether you choose the gravity feed or siphon feed airbrush for your basecoat is dependent on the size of the model. Siphon feeds tend to hold more paint than gravity feeds, so keep this in mind. Air Source Most air sources will work for hobby and model airbrushing. Just don t choose an enormous compressor; this is overkill. Use a regulator to ensure that the proper pressure is provided to your airbrush. A simple tabletop compressor is a fairly common air source for hobby and model airbrushing. If your compressor has an air storage tank attached to it, it can provide more consistent airflow without pulses of air that can disrupt your work. You might opt for a CO2 tank for a quieter air source. These make only a hissing noise as air is released. Again, you ll use a regulator to deliver the appropriate pressure. An air tank can work well, too. Airbrush Holder Compressors might come with an airbrush holder attached to them, or you can purchase one separately. Some airbrush holders sit on top of your counter; others are attached to the side of the counter. These are good places to secure the airbrush so that it doesn t get stepped on or fall off the counter. Additionally, some stands hold one single airbrush, and others hold multiple airbrushes. Air Hose The air hose connects the air source to your airbrush. Do not choose an air hose that is too long and will become tangled, but make sure that it s long enough to reach from the compressor to your airbrush with some slack leftover for easy maneuvering. The length of the air hose that you choose is going to depend on your workspace, but most hobbyists keep the air source nearby and can get away with a sixfoot hose.
Vinyl hoses are available some are coiled to save space and work well for the airbrush hobbyist. A braided hose can also work, and is more durable than the vinyl variety without sacrificing flexibility. Braided hoses do not come coiled. Manifolds For the model hobbyist, a manifold probably isn t necessary. Some might choose to use one, however, if using more than one airbrush. If you re using separate airbrushes for detail work and basecoats, you might choose to keep both hooked up to the compressor, although switching from one to the other is not a hassle. A manifold makes most sense when more than one person is airbrushing at the same time. Both hobbyists could hook up to the same air source, which should be capable of providing appropriate air pressure to both airbrushes. Cleaning Items and Other Supplies Water Bottle Whether you choose a gravity feed or a siphon feed airbrush, have a bottle of water on hand. If you have a gravity feed airbrush, you ll add the water to the color cup to flush the previous color during color changes. If you have a siphon feed airbrush, you ll attach the water bottle to the airbrush to flush the previous color during color changes. Cloth or Paper Towel It s hard to say exactly what you ll use the cloth or paper towel for, but everybody seems to need one sooner or later. They make a good test surface to check out your new color before applying it to your model, and to make sure it isn t compromised by the previous color. Bowl of Water Spray excess paint into the bowl of water, and spray water while flushing the airbrush during color changes. 2. Airbrush Model and Hobby Painting Do you paint your model before you put it together, or after? It s more a personal preference than anything else. As you become a more experienced hobbyist you ll get an idea for which works best for you. You might even change your method from one job to the next. If you paint before, you might scratch the paintjob while putting it together and will have to go back and touch it up. If you paint after, it may be difficult to paint in small crevices. Types of Paints
Airbrush paints for models were traditionally oil-based, but today water-based acrylics are becoming more and more popular. Make sure the paint you choose is compatible with the material used to manufacture your model. Certain oil-based paints may not work well with vinyl, for instance. Gloss paints are available in addition to flat ones, but with gloss paints you should have some experience as an airbrush artist because mistakes are more noticeable. With a little experience you ll figure out air pressures, mixing and application. Until then, stick with flat paints. Clearcoats are available in water-based or oil-based varieties, and are used to protect the paintjob. Decal setting solutions are available so decals better blend with the surface. Airbrush-Ready Paints and Thinning Paints When you re searching for a paint, opt for the airbrush-ready paints. These are just easier to work with and may not require thinning. Some, however, choose to thin airbrush-ready paints a little bit so that it flows better through the airbrush. Rubbing alcohol is a common thinner used with water-based paints, and you could also use distilled water. Don t be intimidated by thinning your paints. If you re comfortable bringing your paint to the right consistency, the selection of paints available to you will expand greatly. Color Schemes and Mixing Colors Learning about the different color schemes can help you as an airbrush artist, especially when pairing colors or fading one color to another. Airbrush artists may find themselves in a situation in which they do not have a color they need or have trouble finding a certain premixed color. In such cases it helps to have a general knowledge of mixing colors to create others. See our Spray Mediums 101 Airbrush Paints and Colors ebook for guidance and detailed information. 3. Airbrush Safety Airbrush safety is important no matter what you re doing. Take the proper precautions to ensure that you re not breathing the fumes and overspray of your paints or thinners. Certain thinners used with oil-based paints may be hazardous to your health, and toxic paints are hazardous as well. You should wear a respirator or mask to protect yourself from potentially harmful fumes. Even if your paint is non-toxic, it s important that you wear a respirator to protect yourself from overspray, which can get into your lungs. Work in a well-ventilated area that has constant airflow. A spray booth is great for containing overspray so it does not get on other surfaces around your workspace. It will also include a ventilation fan and filter to keep you from breathing the fumes and overspray. Even when using a spray booth, you should wear your respirator. 4. Basic Airbrush Strokes and Shading
Before you start painting your model, you should take some time to practice some of the basic stokes: dots, lines, fade lines, and dagger strokes. Shading is another important skill to learn for creating realistic paintjobs. 5. Hobby and Model Airbrushing Tips Practice It doesn t matter what you ll be airbrushing, you should always practice first. It s normal to be eager to dive in and start painting your model, but if you take a little time to practice the basics and shading, you ll be better prepared to provide your model with the paintjob you envision. Master the basics first, and then move onto painting your model. Have a Plan Decide if you re going to paint your model before you assemble it, or after. Some swear by one method; others choose to paint some pieces before putting the model together and then the rest once the model is assembled. And still some will switch methods depending on the project. Look at your model and figure out when and how you d like to paint it. There s nothing wrong with a little improvisation along the way, but get a general idea of what you want to do beforehand. 6. Masking and Stencils If you're putting designs or logos on your models, you'll probably end up using stencils. You can buy these stencils from various hobby stores or websites, but it's also possible make them. Refer to our Airbrush Templates ebook for more. 7. Step-By-Step Hobby and Model Airbrushing Tutorial The steps for painting a model car are remarkably similar to painting a real car. For our tutorial, we ll be painting a model car red and giving it some racing stripes down the side. We ll assume you re using a gravity feed airbrush, but the steps only vary for cleaning between colors if you re using a siphon feed airbrush. Siphon feed airbrushes are cleaned by detaching the current color, spraying out excess color, attaching your water bottle, flushing the airbrush, detaching the water bottle, spraying out excess water, and attaching the new color. Preparation 1. For this tutorial, we ll paint the parts before assembling the car. 2. Lay down a piece of cardboard or find another suitable working surface. 3. Gather the paints you ll need. For our tutorial we ll be using red, black and white. 4. Before using each color, make sure that you mix it with an appropriate thinner. Follow manufacturer instructions for ratio of paint to thinner. You might play with it a little as you figure out what flows better through the airbrush.
5. Load your primer into the airbrush, and set the air source to about 20 psi. 6. Wash the pieces with warm water with a little bit of dishwashing liquid, being sure to thoroughly rinse and dry all of the parts with a lint-free cloth. Primer 7. Prime your model by lightly spraying a white primer. 8. Allow the primer a few hours to dry. Clean the Airbrush 9. After spraying the primer, clean the airbrush by first emptying any remaining primer in the color cup into a bowl or bucket. 10. Spray excess primer into the bucket. 11. Add water to the color cup and flush the airbrush by spraying the water through it. 12. Once the water is clear without any primer, empty remaining water from the color cup and spray any excess. 13. Because you re allowing the primer to dry for a few hours, you can also remove the needle, wipe it with a cloth, and replace it. Refer to manufacturer instructions for removing and replacing the needle. Apply the Basecoat 14. Load your red paint into the airbrush (you cleaned the airbrush after you applied the primer). Make sure you have mixed the paint with a thinner, if required. We ll use the red to give the car a red exterior. 15. Mask areas as necessary using tape or parafilm. 16. Apply the red basecoat to the appropriate parts of your model car. 17. Apply a couple of coats of paint, allowing the paint to dry between each coat. Apply the Other Colors 18. Clean your airbrush as described in steps 9 through 13. 19. Follow steps 14 through 17 to apply desired colors to the interior of the car. For our example we ll keep it simple and use black. 20. Once finished, clean the airbrush again. Assemble the Model 21. It s easier to apply a racing stripe down the center with the model put together. It s more difficult to match the stripe from the front bumper to the rear bumper if you re applying the stripe to several pieces individually. 22. Assemble your model per the manufacturer s instructions. Apply the Racing Stripe
23. Once the basecoat has been applied to the exterior parts, the interior parts are painted as desired, and the model is assembled, you re ready to apply the racing stripe. We ll create a white racing stripe down the center of our model car. 24. There are several ways to apply a racing stripe, but for our example we ll use parafilm because it goes over curves and indentations well. 25. You ll need two sheets of parafilm, one to cover each half of the car, leaving an even stripe in between the sheets down the center. 26. Conform the parafilm over any curves and indentations for the best results. 27. Once the parafilm is in place you ll have a gap between the sheets over the windshield and back window. Use parafilm to cover these areas. 28. Use a thin strip of vinyl tape down the center of the stripe to divide the racing stripe in two. 29. With the masks in place, load your white paint into the color cup (you should have cleaned the airbrush after painting the interior). 30. Spray a light layer of an opaque white to create the racing stripe. You ll probably have to apply a few coats for best results. 31. Carefully remove the masks and clean the airbrush per steps 9 through 13. Touchup 32. Chances are that you ll have some blemishes once everything is assembled and you ve applied your racing stripe. 33. Use a small paintbrush to perform any touchups. Apply the Clearcoat 34. Once everything is dry and you ve done your touchup work, you can apply your clearcoat to protect the paintjob. 35. Mix it as required and load it into your airbrush. 36. Spray a light layer of clearcoat, allow about half an hour to dry, and spray another. Two or three coats should give you a good result. 37. Allow the clearcoat to dry for a day. 38. Note: Some may choose to apply the clearcoat prior to assembly. 8. Airbrushing Flames Flames are popular for automobiles and motorcycles, and the same goes for scale models. Our Flames and Fire ebook that gives step-by-step tutorials. You ll use smaller stencils than if you re painting a real size car or motorcycle, but the idea is the same. 9. Cleaning Your Airbrush
You need to keep your airbrush clean to avoid clogging while you re working. Make sure you clean it between colors, as well as when you re done using it for the day. Periodically you should be giving it a thorough cleaning.