As the topic suggests, I\'m interested in getting started with airbrushing, and would like some advice on the topic. My aim is to use an airbrush while painting miniatures of a similar scale to GW vehicles, as I can\'t imagine the scale of an airbrush footprint would allow detailing at any smaller scale (correct me if I\'m wrong here?).
Having never used an airbrush before, and not yet owning any related equipment, I wanted to come and ask what I should be looking for in an airbrush? Also bearing in mind a budget of about £200-250 at the top end (is that realistic?).
More specifically, I know dual action airbrushes allow for greater control of the application of paint, and gravity fed ones reduce the size of the paint stock you need to supply the brush with to start (And perhaps allow a wider range of viscosity of paint?). What I don\'t know is what sizes of airbrush I should look for, and how I can go about finding that out? I\'m told that needle size dictates the fineness of line that the brush is capable of, but all that I can find for specific brushes is the nozzle size, which I imagine only dictates the maximum diameter? What size needle should I be looking for for this scale of painting, and how can I find out which airbrushes match this?
Second up is a compressor; what range of psi should I be looking for in this case? What style of compressor? I see references to piston and diaphragm based compressors, oil and non oil lubricated, but do not know the differences between them.
Moisture traps and filtration? How neccesary is this? Is there anything in particular that I should look for?
Paints; at the moment I use citadel paints for all of my work, how much will I suffer trying to get these to work with an airbrush, are there any tricks or media I can use to improve their suitability, or should I look at investing in some more paints from an airbrush friendly range? Which ranges if so?
Masking; I\'m assuming that while airbrushing some scale details, masking off of areas will be required; what would people suggest using?
and lastly fittings, I\'m assuming at the moment that all brushes use a standardized fitting for the hose, but should I be? Pendantic I know, but I\'d rather get these things right first time rather than wait surrounded by shiny but unusable toys while a new set of fittings get posted =P
Lastly (really) is there any more general advice that anyone can offer me? Anything that I might have overlooked or not considered?
Any advice would be appreciated, and thanks to anyone who\'s read this far =p
Having never used an airbrush before, and not yet owning any related equipment, I wanted to come and ask what I should be looking for in an airbrush? Also bearing in mind a budget of about £200-250 at the top end (is that realistic?).
More specifically, I know dual action airbrushes allow for greater control of the application of paint, and gravity fed ones reduce the size of the paint stock you need to supply the brush with to start (And perhaps allow a wider range of viscosity of paint?). What I don\'t know is what sizes of airbrush I should look for, and how I can go about finding that out? I\'m told that needle size dictates the fineness of line that the brush is capable of, but all that I can find for specific brushes is the nozzle size, which I imagine only dictates the maximum diameter? What size needle should I be looking for for this scale of painting, and how can I find out which airbrushes match this?
Second up is a compressor; what range of psi should I be looking for in this case? What style of compressor? I see references to piston and diaphragm based compressors, oil and non oil lubricated, but do not know the differences between them.
Moisture traps and filtration? How neccesary is this? Is there anything in particular that I should look for?
Paints; at the moment I use citadel paints for all of my work, how much will I suffer trying to get these to work with an airbrush, are there any tricks or media I can use to improve their suitability, or should I look at investing in some more paints from an airbrush friendly range? Which ranges if so?
Masking; I\'m assuming that while airbrushing some scale details, masking off of areas will be required; what would people suggest using?
and lastly fittings, I\'m assuming at the moment that all brushes use a standardized fitting for the hose, but should I be? Pendantic I know, but I\'d rather get these things right first time rather than wait surrounded by shiny but unusable toys while a new set of fittings get posted =P
Lastly (really) is there any more general advice that anyone can offer me? Anything that I might have overlooked or not considered?
Any advice would be appreciated, and thanks to anyone who\'s read this far =p
