Hairy stick or Airbrush?

[Lee]

Just wondering who uses the old hairy stick exclusively to paint their models and why? Is it because you don't like airbrushes, can't get on with them or just can't afford one etc?

[PhildaFish]

Originally I couldn't afford one but then I was sent an old one by a fellow modeller when he upgraded but I have nowhere indoors to use it so it is weather dependant but I generally find I can paint most of a model with a brush in the same time I can get the airbrush set up and the paint suitably watered down... I do like the Humbrol Acrylic Spray rattle cans though.

[Nige201980]

I use the old hiary stick why just because I can't afford one at the mo and to be honest I don't have anywhere to use it. I don'tind using a brush if I'm honest I use humbrol enamels but I thin them down with thinners so I get a better finish. And the only things I can really do are so German cam but never mind. Maybe ill be able to get one then I can step it up a level.

[HobbyModeller]

I still use that good old stick Mainly because of the cost of an airbrush (I do own a cheapy) but also because it makes the whole operation far more portable and versatile... I would like to airbrush as it would really take things to the next level but maybe that's something for the future...

[Kelvgood1]

Hairy stick is best for some things but when I can I airbrush, been perfecting the art for 2 years now, getting better but it's more of a chemistry lesson what with mixing, cleaning etc, I have to spray indoors as no shed and have just got a extractor booth, good job the misses is ok with it because when the compressor and the fan are both working she can hardly hear the telly

Also once you start down the airbrush route if like me you are always on the lookout for different paints, brushes, gizmos etc and it costs a packet so I really envy the guys ( and girls) that brush paint and get a great result

Thinking about it have we any ladies?

[Paul]

Hairy stick is best for some things but when I can I airbrush, been perfecting the art for 2 years now, getting better but it's more of a chemistry lesson what with mixing, cleaning etc, I have to spray indoors as no shed and have just got a extractor booth, good job the misses is ok with it because when the compressor and the fan are both working she can hardly hear the telly

Also once you start down the airbrush route if like me you are always on the lookout for different paints, brushes, gizmos etc and it costs a packet so I really envy the guys ( and girls) that brush paint and get a great result

Thinking about it have we any ladies?

I don't think we do as of yet' hopefully that will change though, plenty of female modellers out there as airfix's Facebook page showed recently.

[Johni044]

Mainly hairy stick with the exception of having to paint largish areas of colours that are the perverbial pain in the bum to paint with a brush, primarily Yellow, White and Red in which case I get out the airbrush.

Reasons.
I find painting with a traditional brush more relaxing and therapeutic a lot easier to clean and put away with reduced risk of lung damage. Also being particularly short sighted wearing a mask makes it difficult to see properly as it interferes with the lie of my glasses.

[Telegraphist]

I use the airbrush for main big parts, I just can never get that same standard of finish when using a brush. I use a brush for the small parts and figures though. You can never get the detail with a airbrush (or at least Dave cannot).
I find using the airbrush a wastage of paint, building only 1:72 scale, not a lot of plastic to get covered but a lot of wasted paint left in the airbrush and needs cleaned out. I have had a lot of issues with acrylics in the airbrush, enamels seems to rule with it.
Dave.

[ChancerNW]

Both have their place. The airbrush is ideal for large areas where surface finish is vital, while brush work covers most other applications especially detail work. Because of the set up an clean up time airbrushing tends to be preplanned and is used when I have more time..

[schweinhund227]

Almost exclusively A/B

Brushes are now only for weathering! Interesting question BTW. And many interesting answers!

Thanks for posting this one!

[bullgill67]

brush all the way for me.

i have never had a go with a air brush so have nothing to compare the brush to.

plus the expense puts me off the airbrush.

michael

[gosselin2112]

Just wondering who uses the old hairy stick exclusively to paint their models and why? Is it because you don't like airbrushes, can't get on with them or just can't afford one etc?

In the US, this might be interpreted as hitting below the belt

I will just say that some the the best model builders in the world can paint a model purely by brush, and do just as good as the top tier airbrushes being produced today. There is a fellow from tamiya that I recall seeing. He was challenged to build and paint a model. One with an airbrush, the other with a brush. Couldn't tell the difference!

This being said, I'm not sure if these builders can truly be called modellers. They are pure artists, who just choose plastic as their medium of choice.

Back to the original question. . . Yup, I use an A/B. But, man! I had a blast painting tanks in the basement as a kid with the old sable brush!

That was an interesting question. I would like to add that we might consider a GB or challenge - paint a model old school - using a brush! Holy cow! That would be fun!

Russell

[coladito1]

I have never used a paint brush, when I started i went straight for the A/B........ I guess Im part of the new school generation!!

[Coen]

When I first started airbrushes weren't really easy to find or to buy. I hadn't even heard of one until sometime in the late 80's. When I got back into modelling I was all about the brush. Everything was hand painted. I went to my first model show with my son and a buddy, video taped the whole thing. Even caught myself saying that airbrushing is a cheat and I'd never use one, after my friend pointed out that all the models looked like they'd been airbrushed.
Now I own four of them. A cheap Badger that came with it's own compressor from Testor, a Badger Crescendo that I hardly use, some so name thing that I won in a competition that I now use all the time, and my newest one, a Badger Anthem (nice all around brush for not too much money (less than $80 Canadian with shipping). My compressor also hardly makes any noise and also cost less than $100. So I lucked out there.
I lived in an apartment until recently so right from the beginning I knew that I needed to control ventilation so I built my own spray booth and fan system in my office out of empty kit boxes, some dryer hose, and a window mounted fan. Worked great and it was quiet and cheap.
So now I do the first quarter of my work with the airbrush and the rest with the hand brush. All tools, stowage, weathering, and figures get hand painted. Shadow coat, main paint, and camo are all airbrushed.
I've tried to use the airbrush to add the effect of dry brushing, but I never much cared for it. The only thing that I dry brush is figures. I've never dry brushed any of my armour. I've never cared much for the way that it looks. I'll use washes to bring out details in recesses and let that off set the highpoint detail.
So Hairy Stick and Airbrush please.

[Paul]

90% of what I paint is done with the airbrushes. I batch all the parts into colour groups and then spray them together . I enjoy brush painting but you can't beat the finish and ease of using an airbrush.

[PhildaFish]

I just love the way that we all have such different approaches with different tools to get similar effects.

[rodders]

i have total respect for hairy stick users. your work is amazing, but i prefer an airbrush as i can't brush paint to save my life. except for detail painting.

[Modelpro72]

Just wondering who uses the old hairy stick exclusively to paint their models and why? Is it because you don't like airbrushes, can't get on with them or just can't afford one etc?

In the US, this might be interpreted as hitting below the belt

I will just say that some the the best model builders in the world can paint a model purely by brush, and do just as good as the top tier airbrushes being produced today. There is a fellow from tamiya that I recall seeing. He was challenged to build and paint a model. One with an airbrush, the other with a brush. Couldn't tell the difference!

This being said, I'm not sure if these builders can truly be called modellers. They are pure artists, who just choose plastic as their medium of choice.

Back to the original question. . . Yup, I use an A/B. But, man! I had a blast painting tanks in the basement as a kid with the old sable brush!

That was an interesting question. I would like to add that we might consider a GB or challenge - paint a model old school - using a brush! Holy cow! That would be fun!

Russell

Oh Yeah!!!!!

That sounds a cracking idea. The air will be blue with colourful language. Well on my bench anyway

Lenny

[Modelpro72]

I can honestly say that I would make a right pigs ear of my model if I used the hairy stick again.

I do use the hairy one for small work and detail painting but the airbrush for everything else.

Have a group build devoted to the hairy stick???????? I think it's a cracking idea.

Lenny

[muskegman]

I only handbrush all my models, one day i would like to try airbrushing but at the moment money is an issue and also im renting here and have no way to vent the fumes outside and i dont think the landlord would like it if i cut a hole through the wall. My preference is Humbrol thinned down a bit with thinner and putting on a few coats seems to do the trick for me.

[Johni044]

I only handbrush all my models, one day i would like to try airbrushing but at the moment money is an issue and also im renting here and have no way to vent the fumes outside and i dont think the landlord would like it if i cut a hole through the wall. My preference is Humbrol thinned down a bit with thinner and putting on a few coats seems to do the trick for me.

Same for me, learnt the hard way not to put thinners in the pot, it works initially but the paint goes off in storage quicker.

[ModelingMatt]

Mostly airbrush but I use the hairy stick for detail painting. To you fellas the use the hairy stick to paint the whole model my hat off to you. You are real artists.

[modellingmadness]

I would love to have an airbrush but I'm 12 and it's not the easiest thing for me to buy. I just use a good old hairy stick.

[SuperDryBeef]

Air brush are not that expensive, go see Veda airbrush, that's what I use and it work perfectly, next you will only need a little can of air and there ya go airbrush set up for less than 50$.

[UKscalemodeller]

I am half way through my first ever model with an airbrush. I never got one because of cost/space issues but a small lump sum came my way 6 months ago so I went for it.

I'm loving the finish you get but of course the brush still has its uses.

[Gav0909]

I use an airbrush now for base coats, camo patterns etc. However for anything smaller I tend to use a brush still as my airbrush isn't good enough to use on smaller details. Plus its not very efficient with paint meaning that I can't just put a few drops in for small areas etc, which means a waste of paint and time cleaning etc.

I intend when funds allow to upgrade my airbrush, and when I do I might find more uses for it.

[NovYank]

I use mainly the hairy stick. I say mainly because for bigger jobs I typically use larger Tamiya spray cans. Then for smaller jobs (and everything else) I use the brush. This is until I can obtain a quality airbrush and compressor combination.

[RED]

Spray cans ..... I'm not a big one on the correct shade of paint that was used, I just go for whatever is close to the box art whether proper tamiya cans / auto spray cans or even the cheapies I can get at the local two dollar shop, I do have an air brush and compressor set up just have to fire it up one day and go for it I spose ....

I also have an assortment of hairy sticks as well for small work / detail work etc

I would definitely be in for a GB using just a stick