Hi folks, looking for some advice. I live in a very small house and don't havea room to dedicate to modelling. My hobby area is in the same place as my big TV and it really doesn't have very good venilation (I also will definitely mess up so don't want to ruin my TV). So I've built a few models and really want to start painting but all the guides and suggestions say I must have an airbrush. So...

1. Do I really need an airbush to do a decent job painting and especially priming?

2. In my situation if I must - what sort of steps can I take to make it realistically usable keeping in mind that I'm sure I will make a mess.

Hello Andy

First thing I'll say is I've seen some very nice builds that were hand painted, and when I started I did my first few builds with a combination of rattle cans (spray cans) and hand painting.

The main thing about the rattle cans is you do not have very much control, they spray in basicly on pattern with a set amount of paint. So if your not careful your paint can go on thicker than you like and obscure things like panel lines and small details.. this can be made worse when you use multiple coats... (this is just my experience, I'm sure there are people out there much better than me at using the rattle cans.. ) I don't know what you build but many soft edge camo schemes would be almost impossible with a spray can.

Next up

I can relate to your problems as I live in an apartment, and had to get creative to find myself a model building room. Here is my Model building room. I tell the wife when I'm going to work, I'll be down in the basement.. LOL



Its out living room closet which is 4 foot by 3 foot. I got creative with the space and built a desk into one wall with my toolbox in the back.

I've been teaching myself airbrushing for a few years now and my wife couldn't stand the fumes in the apartment so I did my airbrushing outside on the front porch on days that were warm enough but not too hot, and not to windy which limited my painting time to basicly good weather. this can be a hassle but it worked as I'm not really a power builder..

I've recently traded for a model expo spray booth and I can set it up in my closet and I have it vented to the dryer duct and my wife doesn't have any problems with that. So now I can paint in my closet. Many people build their own spray booths at fairly low costs and vent them out windows or such when they use them.. the main thing with a homemade airbrush booth is to use a non sparking type of fan. (you can do a web search on that topic)



just showing the pics to give you an idea of how I use my space..

If you decide to learn to airbrush I will recommend one of the Badger 155 variants, The Badger 155 has been around for a while but they have recently redisgned a gravity feed version called the Badger Patriot that has been getting great reviews.. In the beginning I tried out the testors airbrushs.. they were sold in stores around here and were cheap.. today I wish I hadn't wasted the time or money on them.. (No offence to those who use them and like em..just my 2 cents worth.)

If you have a harbor frieght tools store in you area they have small compressors with pressure regulators (a must for airbrushes) at very reasonable prices.. (my first hobby compressor cost $200 at a hobby store. the one I use now cost $35 on sale at harbor frieght and works as well as the "hobby" one.


the main thing about airbrushing or even painting is Practice, Practice, Practice... lol

laters
Delbert.

I started modelling using only rattle cans for the base and primer coats and hand brushing everything else. These models turned out satisfactory, but never had the "professional" edge. Since starting airbrushing, the results are extraordinary. If you want a cheap but quality airbrush, you can pick one up at Harbor Freight. I now have a Badger 150 and only hand paint detail items that would otherwise be impossible with an ab. I have seen many great models done entirely with hand-brushing. I think it is rather a matter of opinion. Some people like airbrushes and others prefer hand brushing. Go with whatever you feel comfortable doing.
By the way, nice spraybooth Delbert.

Yep Matt its nice..

LOL best trade I've made on here to date... kudo's to you, last week I airbrushed my airplane in the closet with the spray booth.. the wife was at the computer 15 feet from the door and never smelled a thing.. so it passes for me.. thanks again...


btw I have one of those harbor freight airbrushes and found it to be a bit sub par.. I could use it for practice, but It tended to spit a bit at random times, but that could just be that I got a bad one, and since I also have 3 Badger's now I may have hight expectations... lol

here is a link to a comprehensive review on the harbor freight airbrush.. there are other reviews there too, such as one for the Patriot and also others. its a very good basic airbrushing 101 site so check it out..


reveiw of harbor fright airbrush


Delbert...