Hi - Just curious if there are any others out there brush painting only? I have had attempts with airbrush and have purchased a couple over the last 6 months but find it very frustrating. The results I have had with hand painting with layers of very thin humbrol seem to work well and generally very pleased with outcome - and getting better which makes me reluctant to perservere with the airbrush. Any one else in a similar situation or is it just me? thanks Shawry

I also would hand brush..until my first air brush and alot of practice..still am at the learning faze..once use to the airbrush though the paint brushes are for small parts and touch ups only...practice makes perfect.

I hand brush only as well. Right now, I don't have the space and setup to use an airbrush, nor do I really have the extra money to buy one. I've been brush painting for a few years now and it seems to work just fine for me. Who knows, I might buy an airbrush some day, but for now, I think I'll just stick with what I'm used to.

Chris

I brush-only paint. The cost of an airbrush is way beyond me. The models aren't the best, but I'm pleased with them and enjoy doing them, and that's the important thing.

Dave

I do all my tools hand painted and also use humbrol paints. Do not mix the paint with the thinner they give you in the tin. Use Humbrols' enamil thinner, it's vastly superior over the mistery fluid given in the tin. I had a friend who would hand paint sections of models, and you couldn't tell which was airbrushed and what was hand painted.

Frank

Dave,
That is a great statement that I always use to others, if I am pleased with a model when it is completed then I am satisfied whatever. I would love to know what other artists would have thought about the work of other premier ones ie Monet about Picasso and so on.

Regards,

John

Thanks for the replys and pleased I am not the only one "hand painting" I get great fun in model building especially the painting, weathering etc and yes I am pleased with the results - this is why I am so reluctant to pursue the airbrush route and perhaps why I am no good at it. I think the only area I struggle with is on camo esp on german armour - but hey like Dave says as long as enjoyment is had and are pleased with the finnished job. I find by the time filters and weathering is done the nice spray job is probably not seen anyway.
thanks Shawry

Its so refreshing to hear that brush painting is still alive and well. There is a bit of an attitude out there that if you dont airbrush, you suck.

A long time ago I bought an airbrush (a very basic Badger 350) after a bad experience brushing a certain enamel. I did a couple projects with it bit in the long run, its been more pain than anything. I've never been able to afford a compressor (I used a spare tire) and probably wouldnt want one now anyway as the the prep, cleanup, and so on involved with airbrishing is such a bother.

last year I decided to force myself to learn to brush acrylics. Long story short: its all in the thinning. Paints like Tamiya's MUST be thinned just a little with their thinner (which is also a retarder) and then its just a matter of learning how to apply it. Not to thick (obviously) but not to thin either. Usually two coats and results can be excellent. I'm also starting to experiment with Vallejo which also, when thinned a bit (even with just water) provides great results after two coats.

Only time brushing doesnt work real well is on very large flat areas of one color (think: wing of a large scale airplane). In such cases a small rattle can of the key color as a base coat is the solution with a brush used for everything else.

My airbrush is officially packed away, likely forever...

I have just recently returned to modelling after many years away from the hobby. I have always drooled over the many models I've seen with airbrushed finish. As a teen I lacked the resources and did all painting by brush, never really being satisfied....think a lot had to do with the patience and improper technique relating to thinning and so forth. Anyhow, my first project since returning to hobby has been Tamiya's Me262 a1 and have generally been well pleased with using my new Aztec airbrush.

I screwed up my attempt at applying a mottled camo pattern but attribute this to lack of skills which surely need time and practice to enhance and equipment issues....have a compressor but lacked pressure regulator when trying the camo pattern. Long story short....too late - LOL - I suspect that an airbrush takes much seasoning and because kits are so expensive and you really don't want to mess 'em up a lot of folks give up before they have reached that point.

Ultimately it comes down to each individual and if the end result brings that person joy and satisfaction. After all ian't that what a hobby is supposed to be about.

Of course I suspect there are a lot of folks like me that strive for perfection and find it elusive, and thus come away, more often than not, fustrated....well there's therapy for that!!!!!!

Keep on keepin' on.

same here John although I use a brush to get to all those hard to AB areas before I do the AB'ing.

Cheers
Cliff

I have brush painted for many years and have been very happy with my models. I have used Vallejo paints for quite some time now as I feel they cover larger areas slightly better that Humbrol. I use Humbrol for washes and dry brushing along with oils.

I have recently bought an airbrush to help with some of the larger kits I have yet to build.

Mark

for the last 3 years ive brush painted.the only thing i dont like is how many layers and touch ups i have to do which some times recks the detail also hand painting gives you a very steady hand to.


cheers
matt