Friday Question #7 Paint Yourself Into a Corner

[Twokidsnosleep]

Friday discussion topic again

Where do you stand in the painting field ???

...you're btw

1. What is your favourite brand of paint; favourite type?
2. Are you a brush painter or an airbrush person? Do you use a paint booth?
3. Have you had a paint disaster? Spill ? Botch up ? tell us
4. Your usual painting steps please
5. Is there an essential tool for painting ? What could you not live without
6. Share your airbrush set up/ paint booth set up. Any insights?
7. Any weird tricks, suggestions or tips you can give for painting ?

[smokeriderdon]

1: Unfortunately the best paints ever have been discontinued. Model Master enamels can NOT be matched. Their colors were spot on. They thinned easily and spray fantastic. Durable etc. I stocked up on them, but looking for a decent NON ACRYLIC replacement. As far as I am concerned, acrylics SUCK. They need to stay in tubes of artists paints. Or maybe as washes.

2:Airbrush and nope. No booth.

3: Too freaking many to count. LOL All over the bench, splash onto the model, into my lap. If you havent, you are lyin.

4:Paint the pit. I do primarily planes, so thats where start. Then wheel wells and landing gear. Then overall painting and touch ups and small stuff and things I missed as final steps.

5: My airbrush I guess.

6: A Grex trigger action with a no name not tank compressor. I dont think I will EVER mess with a double action/non trigger again. That was a total game changer for me. Better control and much easier on my fingers. As for the compressor, a tank isnt needed at all. I mean if you want one, go for it. But these people that scream you have to have one are deluded IMO.

7: Dont build in the nude. You drop a part with super glue on it...

[Twokidsnosleep]

1: Unfortunately the best paints ever have been discontinued. Model Master enamels can NOT be matched. Their colors were spot on. They thinned easily and spray fantastic. Durable etc. I stocked up on them, but looking for a decent NON ACRYLIC replacement. As far as I am concerned, acrylics SUCK. They need to stay in tubes of artists paints. Or maybe as washes.

2:Airbrush and nope. No booth.

3: Too freaking many to count. LOL All over the bench, splash onto the model, into my lap. If you havent, you are lyin.

4:Paint the pit. I do primarily planes, so thats where start. Then wheel wells and landing gear. Then overall painting and touch ups and small stuff and things I missed as final steps.

5: My airbrush I guess.

6: A Grex trigger action with a no name not tank compressor. I dont think I will EVER mess with a double action/non trigger again. That was a total game changer for me. Better control and much easier on my fingers. As for the compressor, a tank isnt needed at all. I mean if you want one, go for it. But these people that scream you have to have one are deluded IMO.

7: Dont build in the nude. You drop a part with super glue on it...

Awesome

[Panzón]

1. What is your favourite brand of paint; favourite type?
I use acrylics. Don't really have a brand preference-- I have Vallejo, Scale 75, Army Painter, Reaper, AK, Stynylrez, Createx, FolkArt, and Apple Barrel in my paint collection, and have used them all with good results, both in an airbrush, and (except for the Createx) with a paintbrush.

2. Are you a brush painter or an airbrush person? Do you use a paint booth?
I use an airbrush (with a paint booth) to prime and base coat, and a brush for detail work, shading, weathering, etc.

3. Have you had a paint disaster? Spill ? Botch up ? tell us
Not had any disasters that I can recall, but then one person's disaster is another person's oops!

4. Your usual painting steps please
Prime models (airbrush) with gray Stynylrez, figures with black Vallejo surface primer or gray Stynylrez. Base coat model sub-assemblies using the airbrush, figures with a brush. Detail painting with a brush. Apply a first wash. Apply any decals. Apply flat acrylic varnish over decals. Weathering, chipping, rusting, etc. with a brush. Dry pigments to finish.

5. Is there an essential tool for painting ? What could you not live without?
I like an airbrush to do the big stuff, but it's not essential. My collection of brushes is essential, though, as is my Optivisor.

6. Share your airbrush set up/ paint booth set up. Any insights?
I use a 40-year-old suction feed Paasche VL (double action) with a number 3 tip and needle (.75mm), a Paasche D3000R compressor with tank (usually set to 30 psi), and a homemade spray booth. I like the larger nozzle of the VL because it allows me to use paint that hasn't been overly-thinned, so I get better coverage with fewer coats, and I can still spray a fine line if I need it. The suction feed both allows for a variety of paint reservoir sizes (1/4 oz., 1/2 oz., 1 oz., 3 oz.), and makes it much easier (to me) to change colors, and clean the airbrush at the end of a session. I completely disassemble and clean the airbrush at the end of each day's painting.

7. Any weird tricks, suggestions or tips you can give for painting ?
Give primer plenty of time to dry or cure: I live in a pretty high-humidity area, and I've found that it's a good idea to let the primers I use cure for 3 or 4 days before base coating. This makes the primer harder and more resistant to damage while painting the base coat.

[digger303]

1..Mr Hobby ( airbrush)and Lifecolor for brush painting
2. Both and yes I use a booth
3. The usual when the airbrush spits and splatters, knocking a paint bottle over and of course spraying with no cup cover and sloshing it out usually over the kit.
4.Prime, base coat, fix my misses, spray again, varnish , decals,varnish again over the decals, weathering.
5. electric paint stirrer.
6. Pro con boy airbrushes plus one soon to be ex H&S , Automotive air-compressor out side running a air hose into the house to the benchvent booth. Regulator on air compresor and another inside with a oil filled gauge ( important ) with moisture traps which are almost never needed for me. Pro con boy.....easy to clean less contamination between colors. Compressor outside because of noise and doesn't take up space.
7. Give at least a day for paint to harden( primer too and more is better ) before weathering and varnish a week.

[BigWall]

1. What is your favorite brand of paint; favorite type?
I like Tamiya acrylics. They started becoming available at my LHS back in the 80's and I liked the water clean up. I used Testors enamel paints before that. My wife couldn't take the smell of those though once I was married. I've slowly added in Mig and Vallejo paints here recently, trying to find something that brushes on easier.

2. Are you a brush painter or an airbrush person? Do you use a paint booth?
I'm airbrushing more and more now. I won't hesitate to grab a brush though for small bits.

3. Have you had a paint disaster? Spill ? Botch up ? tell us
I dumped a gallon of paint on a client's carpet once. Thank goodness they were replacing it after we painted the room. That was almost a disaster. I think everyone has had a spill. Chemotherapy left me with nerve damage in my left hand so I've spilt more paint recently than I'm willing to admit. I've definitely sloshed paint out of an uncovered airbrush cup.

4. You're usual painting steps please
I've never primed a model. I have put down a base coat of say black paint before doing the main painting though. Then main painting, flat coat, decals, flat coat and then on to weathering.

5. Is there an essential tool for painting ? What could you not live without
I'd say the essential tool for painting is a Mister Jar Opener (maybe not quite the right name.) Second, an electric paint stirrer. Third would be an airbrush and compressor.

6. Share your airbrush set up/ paint booth set up. Any insights?
I have the same 30 year old Paasche syphon feed airbrush as Panzon and a Paasche compressor with a tank and moisture trap. I don't have a spray booth.

7. Any weird tricks, suggestions or tips you can give for painting ?
My suggestion for airbrushing is to not make it bigger in your head than it is. Practice and get to know your airbrush, paints and air pressures needed. I started trying to do fine line spraying on the inside, rough surface, of a model box lid and then tried to paint on the smooth outside surface. If you can paint on the smooth side, you've got it pretty much down. With a low enough pressure, you can paint with very thin paint and do well. I think air pressure is the real key.

One thing I just learned is to moisten your brush with the thinner for your paint before starting to paint. This will keep the paint from working it's way up into the ferrule of the brush, making clean up easier.

Edited to add: Don't be afraid of oil paints! They give you so much control over the intensity of the color you're using. Try them out! Please!

[Tomcat64]

7: Dont build in the nude. You drop a part with super glue on it...

[Tomcat64]

1. What is your favourite brand of paint; favourite type?
Most of my paint collection are from Vallejo, but I also use Tamiya, Lifecolor, Andrea, AK Interactive, Citadel, Scale Color and probably others that I've forgotten. For Airbrushing I generally get decent results with Vallejo ModelAir although it's taken some experimenting to find a setup that works (most of the time)
2. Are you a brush painter or an airbrush person? Do you use a paint booth?
Both; Airbrush for priming & main coats and brush for details & figures. I have a portable spray booth that I can setup in a few seconds; with Acrylics it works just fine with the filters. It also has the ability to attach an extractor hose out of a window, but when I tried that with some Zero paints on a car I still ended up stinking the house out.
3. Have you had a paint disaster? Spill ? Botch up ? tell us
The biggest challenge for me with airbrushing is patience; I know about applying several thin coats but every so often I'll get impatient and end up flooding an area instead - which obviously ends up in a clean up & respray job. Aside from that I've spilt paint more than once just by not paying attention and trying to juggle too many things at once without enough hands.
4. You usual painting steps please
Pretty much the same as most people have mentioned, prime with usually Ultimate Black or Grey, fix any defects that shows up & prime again. Lay down a base coat after a few hours. Leave for 24 hours before masking & then spray any camo colours. Pick out any details, fix any overspray. Leave for 24 hours before decalling - Model Air generally dries to a satin coat so in most cases decals will go down nicely without the need for an additional gloss coat. Pick out any details, top coat & weather before final top coat. I've also started trying to post shade with the airbrush but still learning there, and I've also applied camo schemes freehand without masking with mixed results.
5. Is there an essential tool for painting ? What could you not live without
Cotton buds & tissues for cleaning up!
6. Share your airbrush set up/ paint booth set up. Any insights?
I use a pair of Ultimate Apex airbrushes - one for primers & one for top colours. I also have a Mr Hobby Procon that I won a few years back that I use just for clear coats. I have a sparmax compressor with a tank which has been a great improvement on the non-tank starter compressor that I started with. Pressures vary depending on what I'm spraying and I'm still learning what works & when. I generally experiment on a scrap of spare styrene prior to trying anything new or revisiting something I've not done in a while.
7. Any weird tricks, suggestions or tips you can give for painting ?
Nothing weird, just don't be afraid to experiment - just don't try it for the first time on your most prized build

[aur0ra145]

1. What is your favourite brand of paint; favourite type?

Tamiya for airbrushing, Citadel for brush painting. Honorable mentions are MMP and Vallejo Model Air. For metallics I Love Alclad II paints.

2. Are you a brush painter or an airbrush person? Do you use a paint booth?

Used to be exclusively airbrush with few exceptions. Since I started mini painting, I've adopted a lot of brush painting techniques and it is much less daunting to me. Though, If I need to cover a large area I default to the airbrush. I use a paint booth if I'm airbrushing.

Use a booth! This is from changing my filter after about 6 months of use.



3. Have you had a paint disaster? Spill ? Botch up ? tell us

Nothing comes to mind other than some minor mistakes and spills. Though, the other day I did try to shake up my primer bottle with the lid open. The garage wall will forever have those black paint specks on it.

4. Your usual painting steps please

For airbrushing: Prime in Badger Stynylrez either black or gray. Spray the other coats starting with the lightest color and working darker.

For brush painting: Prime in Badger Stynylrez either gray or black. Base coat in the most prevalent color for the model. Put on the darkest colors afterwards and slowly blend in the lighter colors. Finishing with edge highlights.

5. Is there an essential tool for painting ? What could you not live without

A Ultimate Apex airbrush and a fine sable brush size 0. The Apex is a seriously good airbrush. It is my workhorse and does just about everything.

6. Share your airbrush set up/ paint booth set up. Any insights?

Here it is, excuse the mess. I keep all my airbrush stuff at the station to include thinners, flow improvers, cleaners and a ton of paper towels. All of my finishes live on a shelf under the spray booth.





Personal lessons I've learned:
1. Having a heavy weighted paper towel stand is really useful, you can rip one off one handed and it doesn't fall.

2. Segregate your thinners from your cleaners, especially when they look the same and are in the same style bottle. I have several models that the paint was thinned with cleaner!

3. Having a spot to hang sprues on when they dry is essential if you are painting stuff on the sprue.

4. An airbrush stand makes everything easier.

5. Have a paint test model. This really helps when determining if you've thinned the paint properly.

7. Any weird tricks, suggestions or tips you can give for painting ?

Just paint more. If you mess up, try it again on a different model. Also, keep the first couple of models you make. It will make you feel accomplished when you look back at what you've done in the past compared to your current projects.

[RangerNeil]

Tricky one for me to answer at the moment due to circumstances - but I'll have a stab:

1. What is your favourite brand of paint; favourite type?

Right now I am using acrylics. Bit of a learning curve still but at the moment my got-to's are Tamiya, Akan and Humbrol. When I was modelling at a younger age I used enamels and almost exclusively Humbrol. They did some great "packs" like WW1 RFC and WW1 German, Napoleonic ships, British Hussars etc.

2. Are you a brush painter or an airbrush person? Do you use a paint booth?

Still primarily a brush user although I am venturing into the world of airbrushing more and more. My biggest problems with the airbrush is getting it clean afterwards, tip drying etc. - but I am getting there. Slowly

3. Have you had a paint disaster? Spill ? Botch up ? tell us

The obligatory spills including an airbrush decanting its pot onto the living room carpet!! Painting the Tu-144 I had a very bad paint reaction between enamel and acrylic that necessitated the paint being stripped off back to the plastic...

4. Your usual painting steps please

These days - prime everything either on the sprue or as assembled sub-assemblies with Ultimate primer via air brush or Tamiya via rattle can. Then apply top coat(s) followed by a gloss varnish if decals are going in the a matt or satin varnish and weathering washes.

5. Is there an essential tool for painting ? What could you not live without?

Good quality brushes - sable for preference - and a warm dry dust free place for drying. Once we are sorted in this new place I want to set up dedicated painting workstation.

6. Share your airbrush set up/ paint booth set up. Any insights?

Airbrush is a Fengda compressor and brush - cheapy from Amazon whilst I learn plus a better quality airbrush one of the members here kindly donated to an absolute beginner. Handbrushes - I can't recall the brand now but I go to a local hobby/art shop and get their mid -range sable brushes in sizes 000 up to 5 with long hairs - H&S brand if I recall correctlu.

7. Any weird tricks, suggestions or tips you can give for painting ?

Keep pets - esp. nosey & curious Greyhounds - away when painting. Its a PITA removing nose prints from primer/topcoat but that is nothing compared to getting paint off the Greyhounds nose!!!

[Twokidsnosleep]

1. What is your favourite brand of paint; favourite type?
Brush: Citadel and Model Air, AK True Metal
Airbrush: Tamiya acrylic and LP, Mr Hobby/Mr color/Mr Surfacer, Stylenrez/Ultimate primers,
Splash paint and Splash 2K clear. I am sure some others too
Oil paints: mostly Windsor and Newton

2. Are you a brush painter or an airbrush person? Do you use a paint booth?

I use both. Mostly airbrush but I do hand paint quite a bit. Been using oil paint as well more and more. See below for booth

3. Have you had a paint disaster? Spill ? Botch up ? tell us
New house, drop bottle Tamiya red and get some on bottom of sandal…track it through the house


4. You usual painting steps please

So for a car body:
Wipe down with airbrush cleaner and let dry
Primer, usually Stylenrez, overnight dry if I can
Colour layers sprayed thin and multiple layers
Put in cupboard and let dry couple days
Splash 2k clear back into cupboard no touchy couple days


5. Is there an essential tool for painting ? What could you not live without
Mr Hobby Levelling Thinner, MLT
Benchvent spray booth…let’s me freely spray anything without stinking up the house

6. Share your airbrush set up/ paint booth set up. Any insights?

Main two airbrushes
This little H&S is my favourite; the Apex used to spray big stuff or Clear coats
I have a Mac valve, quick release on both and a secondary filter on the line…important with 2K clear spraying to prevent any line moisture.
They are all kept surgically clean and I strip them down after every painting round. I have a YouTube video cleaning apex and the H/S.



Newer fancy pants Infinity airbrush…meh


My Benchvent Spray booth…an awesome addition. This is when you get serious spraying anything you want as you can control the fumes

I only have a cheap Grex compressor. A tank compressor will come in some day when this dies.

7. Any weird tricks, suggestions or tips you can give for painting ?

*Stylenrez (or Ultimate Primer for UK) work extremely well with brush painting. I have used it numerous times as a final colour
*Decanting Tamiya spray cans is a favourite way to get good quality airbrushable paint. Lots of videos on it. You can add a touch of MLT to it if it is a bit thick.
*Another is to use lacquer thinner with Tamiya acrylic paint. It makes them spray super smooth. Use MLT or Tamiya Lacquer thinner. I do not use Tamiya X20A thinner other than for softening a stubborn decal
* I make my own Airbrush cleaner and put it in a lab squirt bottle from Amazon
* the most weird thing I do is use glass pipettes for thinners and sometimes paint. This way I am throwing away less plastic and I feel like a lab rat again.

[Tomcat64]

7. Any weird tricks, suggestions or tips you can give for painting ?
* I make my own Airbrush cleaner

[MrBowcat]

1. What is your favourite brand of paint; favourite type?

I'm pretty much a Tamiya man but have changed from acrylics to lacquers. I have also recently started using Hataka and Mr Color lacquers.

2. Are you a brush painter or an airbrush person? Do you use a paint booth?

Mostly airbrush, other than the odd bit of detailing with a brush. I have a relatively cheap air booth from Bartsharp which does the job and is compact.

3. Have you had a paint disaster? Spill ? Botch up ? tell us

Not really. I've had a problem with an aftermarket mask set leaving residue on a finished paint job, but no significant paint spills or botches. The only thing that really stands out is when I was back washing my AB with thinners and managed to get some in my eye. That hurt. A lot.

4. You usual painting steps please

Parts are mounted on sticks/clips/clamps/whatever and wiped down with with IPA or thinner. Latex gloves donned and parts primed, usually with Mr Color 1500. Leave an hour to dry (main reason I switched to Lacquers) then hit with top coat. This tend to get left longer to dry (usually a day) before whatever next steps are necessary (decals/varnish/weathering).

5. Is there an essential tool for painting ? What could you not live without

Well obviously an airbrush, compressor and booth, but other than that I do find myself using a Badger paint mixer a lot, and a Mr Hobby cap opener is extremely handy for stuck jars, although not used very often. Other than that, pipettes. I'm a bit OCD with paint so count drops, so I buy pipettes from Amazon, 500 at a time. They work out so cheap that they can just be used and chucked.

6. Share your airbrush set up/ paint booth set up. Any insights?

I'm a dining room table modeller, so my set up gets put away after every paint session. The only insights I could add are a MAC valve is very useful if you can get used to it, and an inline water trap is a life (well paintjob) saver.

7. Any weird tricks, suggestions or tips you can give for painting ?

Keep your airbrush clean, many painting problems are caused by tiny bits of paint that haven't been cleaned out. Keep your good detail brushes seperate from your weathering brushes. Destroying a Kolinsky by using it for pigments is annoying. Test if you need to change your booth filter by putting a bit of kitchen paper against it while its on, if the kitchen paper falls off you need to change your filter. Don't get thinners in your eyes, it hurts a lot (see above).

[Twokidsnosleep]

7. Any weird tricks, suggestions or tips you can give for painting ?
* I make my own Airbrush cleaner

Meep meep
I love Beeker

[DRUMS01]

1. What is your favorite brand of paint; favorite type?

It used to be Testors Model Master (enamel or acrylic, didn't matter). Now that it is gone I would have to say Tamiya, followed by Vallejo.

2. Are you a brush painter or an airbrush person? Do you use a paint booth?

Both, airbrush for the main applications and brush to pick the details or dry brush. I do not use a paint booth.

3. Have you had a paint disaster? Spill ? Botch up ? tell us

I believe that anyone who has been in the hobby long enough will definitely have one or more types of painting calamities. I have tipped over a bottle of opened paint. I applied the wrong type of clear over a painted surface and the reaction destroyed the paint (and the decals too).

4. You usual painting steps please

-remove seams from parts
- fill any gaps or inperfections (including any sanding)
- re-scribe details if needed
- clean the surface (hot soap and water with toothbrush)
- I prefer to blow dry the water from the model (no spotting or lint from towels)
- mask as needed or apply pre-cut masks to clear surfaces
- apply first coast of primer and check for errors from previous steps
- if errors are found repeat first four steps
- if painting armor or aircraft, pre-shade panel lines or marble surfaces
- airbrush first application
- check paint coverage / inspect
- if OK apply second coverage if needed
- should fading appearance is desired, apply it now
- pick out with brush or dry brush the details as desired
- if decals are being used, gloss clear coat, let dry, and apply decals
- apply another gloss coat the seal the decals
- if polished PE or bare metal foil is needed apply now
- apply the desired weathering mediums including panel line enhancer
- paint with desired final clear coat, gloss or dull depending on the model subject

5. Is there an essential tool for painting ? What could you not live without?

I would have to say paint is essential for painting (just kidding). If I had to pick just one thing, it would most likely be some quality brushes, but that is closely followed by a good compressor, airbrush combination. I suppose if the tool is me, then I would say good eye sight and a steady hand.

6. Share your airbrush set up/ paint booth set up. Any insights?

- Mine starts with a compressor with a dual piston engine with a storage tank, regulator, and moisture trap. I use both single action and a double action brushes. The single action is a Paasche H set with all three heads, while my double action is an Iwata Eclipse HP CS with a 0.35mm tip.

7. Any weird tricks, suggestions or tips you can give for painting ?

- Don't be afraid of the painting process or the use of an airbrush.
-Identify the process that works for you for preparation and paint.
- write down the thinning medium and mix ratios for each brand of paint.
- Experience..... the more you use them the easier and more confidant you are.

Ben

[ForeverPlasticKits]

1. What is your favourite brand of paint; favourite type?
My favorite brand is Tamiya but i also use Gunze/Mr. Hobby. I have a few Revell too, and my next purchases will be MiG sets.

2. Are you a brush painter or an airbrush person? Do you use a paint booth?
I use brush for small details, diorama and figurines, airbrush for the big parts (full models). And i have a paint booth because blow paint for minutes after using an airbrush isn't a good experience!

3. Have you had a paint disaster? Spill ? Botch up ? tell us
Not really but one Gunze paint was completely rotten, i used it for a diorama ground.

4. You usual painting steps please
Primer, paint, varnish, pastels, oil wash, dry brush, mat varnish.

5. Is there an essential tool for painting ? What could you not live without?
The airbrush is fantastic even some difficulties to master it.

6. Share your airbrush set up/ paint booth set up. Any insights?
It's the Paasche Talon.

7. Any weird tricks, suggestions or tips you can give for painting ?
Be patient and clean your airbrush very carefully. Also use appropriate thinner for your paints.

[Quax]

1. What is your favourite brand of paint; favourite type?
AK Real Color (even if the spelling is incorrect....) MRP lacquers, MMP (for big areas like dunkelgelb on tanks) and Tamiya. I also have a few Vallejo and AK acrylic sets for figures

2. Are you a brush painter or an airbrush person? Do you use a paint booth?
airbrush mostly - the Apex saved my sanity as I was struggling with a H&S evolution, the Apex allowed me to start to get the feel for airbrushing and whilst I am still not fantastic it is much less frustrating and I can now use the H&S without throwing it at the wall

3. Have you had a paint disaster? Spill ? Botch up ? tell us
no nothing major, its nearly always glue I knock over....

4. Your usual painting steps please
Ultimate primer
swear because now I can see how badly I built the kit
base coat
swear
because I decide its not quite the colour I wanted so remix another colour that still looks odd but now its ok because A) "the weathering will fix it..."
swear
because the blotches\lines \camouflage\streaky bits dont go how I want them but see A) above...

5. Is there an essential tool for painting ? What could you not live without?
paint & vodka - depending on how the paint goes depends upon how much vodka is required to dilute the pain...

6 Share your airbrush set up/ paint booth set up. Any insights?
nothing out of the ordinary although I do hang a rosary bead set on the airbrush the night before as any help is gratefully received !

7. Any weird tricks, suggestions or tips you can give for painting ?
someone already said this but have an old model thats a hack, it does seem to help with the muscle memory giving a similar shape a going over before you hit the real thing.

cheers

Paul

[Stokesy44]

1. What is your favourite brand of paint; favourite type?

For spraying it has to be Tamiya acrylics for sheer ease of use and texture once laid down.

2. Are you a brush painter or an airbrush person? Do you use a paint booth?

Airbrush, definitely and yes I have a small cheap booth but I want a BENCHVENT!!

3. Have you had a paint disaster? Spill ? Botch up ? tell us

I've been surprisingly lucky. Any mistakes I've made have been redeemable so far. I have a decent airbrush and I use good paint. Hopefully that protects my from myself!

4. You usual painting steps please

Prime, base coat, camo, decals, matt coat to seal, oil filters, gloss coat, dirt wash.

5. Is there an essential tool for painting ? What could you not live without

Experience! And decent paint

6. Share your airbrush set up/ paint booth set up. Any insights?

I prime at 30psi and I paint at 20psi.

7. Any weird tricks, suggestions or tips you can give for painting ?

I have a cotton bud dipped in airbrush cleaner to wipe the needle if there's any sign of tip drying paint during a spray

[bfrd]

Favorite Paint

Well, it depends...

Car bodies & Bike tins: Splash Lacquers
Metal bits: AK Extreme metal
Everything else: Vallejo Model Air

Uh thats two questions

I use both (as I am sure most of us do).
Yes, I have a booth

Biggest Disaster

My biggest screw-up was more booth-related than painting. Very early on I tried to use an Air-Eraser (small sand-blaster) to remove a dodgy NMF on a Mustang. It failed miserably and I had a booth full of abrasive powder. I took out the vacuum cleaner in an effort to clean up. I started at the back and accidentally go too close to the filter. The filter got pulled off. By itself that wouldn't have been a big deal. What was a big deal was that the extractor was still running. As soon as the filter was gone all of the powder in the booth was distributed with malice about the room. If you have ever worked with abrasive powders they are truly evil and stick to everything imaginable. Almost 5 years after I am still finding powder.

Painting Steps

I am admittedly a terrible painter when it comes to process.

Here is what I would do in a perfect world...

1. Clean the booth thoroughly and remove anything that isn't necessary for painting.
2. Prepare the parts by cleaning them with IPA.
3. Use an anti-static brush to make sure the part is free of dust.
4. Clean the brush out and spray the appropriate solvent to make sure it is ready.
5. Carefully load the brush with the correct paint through a filter.
6. Build up the paint in nice thin layers until it is fully covered.
7. Store the freshly painted items in a dust-free enclosed environment.
8. Clean the brush out for the next time.

Here is what usually happens...

1. Move all of the crap in the spray booth over to one side.
2. Look at the part and say "Looks good to me" and give it a perfunctory blow of air from the brush.
3. Grab the brush and realize that it still has gunk in it from the last time.
4. Load up some paint and start a thin layer.
5. Decide that the paint is covering really well and I can just finish it up with one coat.
6. Leave the parts in the booth until they are dry.
7. Maybe clean the brush.

Essential Tool

Patience...Let me know if you find a place that sells it.

Setup

Pace Peacemaker booth


Hitachi EC28M Ultra Quiet Air Compressor


Airbrushes (in order of purchase)...

Master Airbrush Master Performance G233 Pro Set [Since junked]


Paasche Talon


Harder & Steenbeck Infinity


Ultimate Apex


GSI Creos Mr. Procon Boy LWA Trigger Type Airbrush, 0.5mm

Tips

Don't do what I do!

[digger303]

Unforunately I do AND MAYBE WORSE

[Pacman9a]

1. What is your favourite brand of paint; favourite type?
I use tamiya in my airbrush and Vallejo for brush painting
2. Are you a brush painter or an airbrush person? Do you use a paint booth?
I use both, I don’t have a paint booth, it’s on my wish list for when I get a room of my own, I’m currently an unwelcome interloper in my wife’s craft room. Currently, waiting for my daughter to find her own place so I can convert her room to my man cave! I’m not pushing her out of the house but………..
3. Have you had a paint disaster? Spill ? Botch up ? tell us
I managed to get paint on the dining room ceiling, still not sure how, a bottle of Vallejo paint turned into a little fountain
4. You usual painting steps please
Prime, pre shade, main colour, then I try to do some oil weathering
5. Is there an essential tool for painting ? What could you not live without
I
6. Share your airbrush set up/ paint booth set up. Any insights?
It’s just on the floor next to my work area
7. Any weird tricks, suggestions or tips you can give for painting ?
If in doubt, go to YouTube, there’s loads of videos of people explaining how they have got some brilliant results

[chops1sc]

I somehow missed this one!

1. What is your favorite brand of paint; favorite type?
For airbrushing I am using Mission Models and for brushing I am using regular Vallejo. I use Ultimate primer.

2. Are you a brush painter or an airbrush person? Do you use a paint booth?
I try to airbrush all I can but sometimes a brush is needed for added details. I use my homemade booth (a box fan and ac filter the majority of the time.

3. Have you had a paint disaster? Spill ? Botch up ? tell us
I do fairly well to not spill paint. The worst I do is make a couple drops come out of the paint cup.

4. Your usual painting steps please.
Tanks: Prime, paint, camo, decals, chip, weather
Aircraft: Prime, mottle, paint, decals, weather
Cars: Prime, sand, fill, sand, prime, sand, paint, clear

5. Is there an essential tool for painting ? What could you not live without
Thinner. It would be near impossible to airbrush without it! Even brush painting benefits from a few drops of water.

6. Share your airbrush set up/ paint booth set up. Any insights?
I currently use a CO2 tank. It makes things so much quieter! My box fan with filter works well. I recently added a removable shroud. I will be making changes to my work area soon.

7. Any weird tricks, suggestions or tips you can give for painting ?
Shake it shake it shake it! The better you can get the paint mixed up the better the paint job will be! I use a homemade paint shaker made from a jigsaw and a clamp.