This is what happened when I had airbrushed Humbrol enamels for the first time. When I rubbed the paint surface, the paint seemed to have turned into a powder. I am using Cellulose thinner and I think I had thinned the paint enough. Is is something to do with the thinner? Any help would be much appreciated. I think my camera is bust too!!

Looks to me you held your airbrush too far away prior to shooting color. When using cellulose thinner (lacquer thinner to me), your drying time is greatly reduced. If you hold the airbrush too far away from the subject when painting, the paint can dry before it hits the plastic.

Try reducing your pressure (I shoot at 15psi), and hold your airbrush about 3-4" away from the model.

When using Humbrol paints, I tend to thin them 50/50 with lacquer thinner. I also shake the hell out of the tin before I thin it to make sure proper mixing. Finally, I also make sure the model is clean of any fingerprints, etc.

Good luck.

Yeah, it looks like your paint dried before reaching the aircraft. Then there was no bite. I can see some rough texture that would also support this.

Have you primed the model first? I find that humbrol is better when model is primed first.

while I do not use laquer thinners with mine I also think your problem was what has already been mentioned.

I use enamel thinners and at a ratio (normally) of 70% paint to 30% thinners. I spray at a pressure of 15pound and hold the AB about 3 to 4 inches from my model. I have never had any problems with the surface not being primed though.

cheers
Cliff

The effect looks typical for dry paint hitting the surface.

Then you have a powder barely sticking to the surface. the best you can do is remove it with white spirit or something like that and start again.

I use humbrol for airbrushing mixed 50/50 with humbrol thinner.

You should be able to airbrush with a pressure of 15psi approx. If that does not work then something is wrong which will not be solved by increasing the pressure.

"Something" could range from a dirty airbrush to paint which is to thick or contains dried up paint from the bottle.

Would I be better of using Humbrol/Revell thinner?

I think the problem is in diluente cellulous, uses diluente synthetic or diluente of the Humbrol.