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AFV Painting & Weathering
Answers to questions about the right paint scheme or tips for the right effect.
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"Hairy" paint problem
Ploup
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Alpes-Maritimes, France
Joined: September 20, 2004
KitMaker: 10 posts
Armorama: 0 posts
Posted: Sunday, September 19, 2004 - 02:56 PM UTC
Hi guys,

I have a problem when airbrushing, so I'm asking you for advice.

I'm using acrylic paints and most of the time, airbrushing result is just fine. But sometimes, paint projected on the model becomes what I would call "hairy". A bit like grainy, but as if grains were vertical.

Did you have this problem? What causes it? And what is the solution?

Thanks in advance for your help,

Cheers,

Laurent
AJLaFleche
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Massachusetts, United States
Joined: May 05, 2002
KitMaker: 8,074 posts
Armorama: 3,293 posts
Posted: Sunday, September 19, 2004 - 07:41 PM UTC
This is caused by the dreaded Airbrush Gremlins .

Seriously, it soulnds like the paint may be drying too soon and acrylic pigments are often not as fine as those in enamel you may be getting strange build-up. . Try thinning the paint a bit more.
steeldog51
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England - East Anglia, United Kingdom
Joined: September 04, 2004
KitMaker: 1,114 posts
Armorama: 0 posts
Posted: Sunday, September 19, 2004 - 08:03 PM UTC
Hi Ploup!
Al 's right on with that
it used to happen all the time to me
about all you can do is thin it more try some acrylic thinners , or alcahol (not whiskey LOL)
just thin it right out! almost the consistancy of milk .
good luck K
gkicsak
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Western Australia, Australia
Joined: April 21, 2004
KitMaker: 50 posts
Armorama: 26 posts
Posted: Monday, September 20, 2004 - 05:46 AM UTC
I've been using laquer thinner with acrylic paints lately with good results. It's a lot cheaper than brand thinners and produces acceptable results to match.

Cheers,
Gabe
gkicsak
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Western Australia, Australia
Joined: April 21, 2004
KitMaker: 50 posts
Armorama: 26 posts
Posted: Monday, September 20, 2004 - 05:48 AM UTC
I've been using laquer thinner with acrylic paints lately with good results. It's a lot cheaper than brand thinners and produces acceptable results to match.

Cheers,
Gabe
AJLaFleche
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Massachusetts, United States
Joined: May 05, 2002
KitMaker: 8,074 posts
Armorama: 3,293 posts
Posted: Monday, September 20, 2004 - 10:43 AM UTC

Quoted Text

I've been using laquer thinner with acrylic paints lately with good results. It's a lot cheaper than brand thinners and produces acceptable results to match.

Cheers,
Gabe


You're lucky to still have an airbrush, mate! I've heard of using laquer thinner with acrylics creating a permanently gummed up airbrush.
As the car adverts say, "Professional driver on a closed course. Don't try this at home. Your mileage may vary."
I always avoid mixing solvent based thinners with water based paint. The only exception might be in using a toluene based product (nail polish remover type products) to clean crudded up bristle brushes.
Ploup
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Alpes-Maritimes, France
Joined: September 20, 2004
KitMaker: 10 posts
Armorama: 0 posts
Posted: Monday, September 20, 2004 - 03:39 PM UTC
Thanks a lot, guys!

Laurent
steeldog51
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England - East Anglia, United Kingdom
Joined: September 04, 2004
KitMaker: 1,114 posts
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Posted: Monday, September 20, 2004 - 05:21 PM UTC

Quoted Text

I've been using laquer thinner with acrylic paints lately with good results. It's a lot cheaper than brand thinners and produces acceptable results to match.

Cheers,
Gabe


Oh no! its o.k. ?
i tried this with a paint brush full of acrylic ,and dipped it in laquer thinners ,my brush went rock solid in about 10 secs!
be carefull wit that one! gabe
Plasticbattle
#003
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Donegal, Ireland
Joined: May 14, 2002
KitMaker: 9,763 posts
Armorama: 7,444 posts
Posted: Tuesday, September 21, 2004 - 03:01 AM UTC
Pressure could be a little too much, or spraying distance too much... are two other factors that might influence this. Thinning would be the obvious one of course, as the other guys have mentioned!
3442
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Quebec, Canada
Joined: March 23, 2004
KitMaker: 2,412 posts
Armorama: 1,174 posts
Posted: Tuesday, September 21, 2004 - 07:40 AM UTC
say! what kind of acrylic paints! i found out that any acrylics you dilute with water just doesnt work. you want to save a few bucks but you end up ruining your paint job! testors acrylics, model master enamels work perfectly with my badger


Frank
Ploup
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Alpes-Maritimes, France
Joined: September 20, 2004
KitMaker: 10 posts
Armorama: 0 posts
Posted: Tuesday, September 21, 2004 - 03:55 PM UTC

Quoted Text

i found out that any acrylics you dilute with water just doesnt work. you want to save a few bucks but you end up ruining your paint job!


Hi Franck,

I actually had the hairy paint problem with Lifecolor paint thinned with water as well as with Tamiya paint thinned with genuine Tamiya thinner...

I'm sure a better control over consistancy, pressure, and spraying distance will fix this.

By the way, thanks again for the help, folks!

Laurent
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