Airbrushing for the Beginner #2: Workspace and Paints

[Hummingbirds2009]

Thanks for sharing!!!!

[mozzmann]

I doubt you would have too many issues with Low Voltage PC fans in a home brew spray booth, with arcing causing a fire especially with water based paints, solvent based I would excercise caution.

The volume of air moved by PC fans would be low in comparison to a regular house fan or bathroom exhaust fan.

[dmayne123]

have u ever used createx or wat do u think for a beginner

[Hawkertempest1]

Hi,

What is the correct thinning ratio for spraying Tamiya acrylic paints?

Cheers

John

[paulntraci99]

Nice of you to share your experience with us. I Thank You

[jige21]

sir , you used laquer thinner for acrylic tamiya paints? please enlighten me...more power SMC,,your vids are awesome

[hefty88]

what about the Model Expo Spray Booth by Model Cars Magazine is that one a good for 139

[vstol]

Excellent video. Your advice on spray booths and thinning Tamiya paints is of special interest to me and much appreciated.

[TinyArts]

Chuck Norris shoots paints out of hes airbrush without thining.

[bakabomb45]

2 thumbs up bro!{5 stars}

[TheScifimodeler]

You mentioned that you buy most of you stuff online. Unfortunately we here in NY State have no place that carries anything good in the modeling field accept those little Testers bottles which are usually the crappiest colors you can imagine. I found one place online that shows individual Vallejo paints but do not sell them anymore. Can you please recommend a website where I might be able to purchase supplies? I would like someplace to but paints (Vallejo and Tamiya), pigments, washes, etc.

[SMConsortium]

@TheScifimodeler there's a couple of places. I'll review some in a round robin but check out:

spruebrothersDOTcom

miniautremarketDOTcom

elmcityhobbiesDOTcom

Our upcoming store for awesomepaintjob will carry vallejo paints. I'm not sure if our supplier carries Tamiya's but I'll check later on that.

[fireknigh5]

@SMConsortium Try hobbylincDOTcom I order some tamiya paints there for cheaper than those places. I don't think they have vallejo so I don't know how good it will do for you. but over all their prices are really good give them a look if you get time.

[crazyglocknyc]

@TheScifimodeler hey how can i contact you?

[mozzmann]

@TheScifimodeler Google is your friend SciFi there are MANY places that will sell domestically in the US and export to other countries, I use to buy from the US until I found a supplier here in Australia.

[XB429]

@TheScifimodeler

Yeah NYC laws are pretty irritating. Stuff like insulation foam isn't legal building material (It's flammable) so getting it is incredibly hard

[granander]

The windex you are using is just regular windowcleaner? I would be intrested in what it contains to see if what you can buy around here is good enough. (yes, I could try, but I'm lazy :) )

[SMConsortium]

@granander Someone posted a home made recipe on one of my comments:

Dude you can make your own windex: 4oz of .5% ammonia, 16oz rubbing alcohol, 1tsp dishwashing liquid (for perfume). Water that down to a gallon and you should be set. Windex is basically ammonia mixed with alcohol and water solvents.

[dougeagle]

One thing about Vallejo Model Colors...they are more for military modeling such building a German WW2 Tiger tank or a military soldier. I currently use these with my airbrush and I get it to the the consistency of milk and then there is no problem. One thing you can add to any Vallejo paint is their Satin Varnish, which seals the surface while you airbrush.

BTW, awesome stuff so far. Very informative for those beginners. :)

[SMConsortium]

@dougeagle Very good tips.  I'm save these discussions on mixing and stuff when I get to that video :)

[badgrendels]

A much needed series of videos!! Thank you for this and the shout out.

[SMConsortium]

@badgrendels NP dude! :)

[yambam26]

Hi again :)

Im planning on using acrylic paints and thinning them by water, I noticed you mentioned normal tap water would leave residue, Can i filter the water using a brita filter of coffee filter?

[dougeagle]

@yambam26 - I use distilled water sometimes, as a thinner. Distilled can be bought or just boil a kettle and let cool. Or...some professional modelers also use regular Windex as a thinner. I have tried it before and works quite well. Tamiya recommends that you use their thinner, which works well, better than water. What I do with my Tamiya is when I get a new bottle, I thin it right away...ready for airbrushing. Hope this helps :)

[SMConsortium]

@dougeagle You actually capture the steam to get distill water. Just boiling doesn't take out everything in the water but seriously, you can just get a gallon of the stuff for a buck or two lol :)

[yambam26]

@SMConsortium Ill have a look around some of my local stores for it! thanks for the help :)

[yambam26]

@dougeagle Ty mate for shedding some light on the matter i really appreciate it!

[granander]

@yambam26 A coffee filter will do nothing for that residue unfortunatly. If you are lucky you live in a place where the water is clean enough. Here I use regular tapwater with no problem. If you can't do that destilled waters is easy to buy, it's what you put in car batteries, so any gas station or home depot (or something similar) should be able to help you. Make sure to read the label though so they haven't put any aditatives in it :)

[yambam26]

@granander ah just a guess you never know aye :) Ok ill have a look for some .. probably worth trying normal tap water first and see how it performs :) thanks for the advice!

[SimpleModels]

is 1/1 thinner easy to do or hard because I don't understand it :s

[SMConsortium]

@SimpleModels Those are ratios. When I say 1:1 it's one part paint, one part thinner medium. If I say 1:2 it's one part paint and two part thinner medium. :) Does that help?

[SimpleModels]

@SMConsortium errrrrrr I still don't know what this 1:1 stuff is and how to measure it, you must think I'm really dumb but its my first time using an airbrush so I'm really unsure

[SMConsortium]

@SimpleModels It's ok. 1:1 is one part paint and one part thinner (whatever you're using to thin your paints). So if it's 1:1 then you're just using a drop then one drop of paint and one drop of thinning medium. If it's 1 gallon of paint, then your mix one gallon of thinning medium. Equal mix. If it's 1:2 and you're using a drop of paint then you mix it with 2 drops of thinning medium.

[SimpleModels]

@SMConsortium ohhhh right thanks so much it just didn't make sence to me before

:)

[SMConsortium]

@SimpleModels It's ok. Never be afraid to ask if it doesn't make sense. I'll help you understand. :) Everyone starts somewhere.

[scorpionman12]

Thanks once again great information .

[SMConsortium]

@scorpionman12 You are welcome :)

[77ExarKun]

Same question on your Wargaming channel (that was a "clever" idea, now you have to post videos twice... and i have to ask questions twice ;))

Why are you using Tamiya lacquer thinner rather than tamiya thinner, with acrylics?

And i'm not really experienced with airbrushes, so i'm taking Tom's word, going for cheap ones while i'm learning.

[SMConsortium]

@77ExarKun Oh geez, just ask the question once on any of the channel. I will answer it regardless. lol But for consistency:

The short of it is that Tamiya isn't really acrylic paint or something like that. Using the lacquer thinner gives the paint more bite to the plastic and give it a smoother lay. Suppose to harden better too. I'm not too sure about the logistics but when I tried it there's a definite difference. Something I picked up over that the Promodellers forum.

[ModelManTom]

@SMConsortium What that might to lead to less duplication of effort on your and viewers part, is on one channel or the other, (primary, secondary) devote the Favorites to the other channel and feature that video on the off-channel's channel page feature video. Maybe something like that. Either channel can be primary/secondary depending on the topic. Vids relevant to both channels gets tricky. I dunno. Maybe a third channel which Faves both channels uploads...

[SMConsortium]

@ModelManTom yeh but favorites don't show up on the subs. I have no problem with doing multiple channels. I have to do the RPG one next year anyways and some other channels for other projects.

[ModelManTom]

Horror Story: I used the wrong thinner on my enamels once. Once!

The thinner turned the enamel into a literal wad of 'gum'.

Result: $25 single action airbrush thrown away. No saving it. Very glad I screwed up on such a cheap brush -and an excellent reason not to go expensive on your first brush!!! Learn on a cheap brush, go pro when you are more competent.

[SMConsortium]

@ModelManTom OH NO! lol That's horrible :(