Need Tips for Airbrushing very fine lines,

Im working on a Panzer with a Kursk Theme, so i need to know how to airbrush very fine lines, I have a Badger 150, and i just got in a Replacement Fine Tip,

Ive tried it before but for some reason, when i begin to spray no paint comes out, and then all the sudden it just splatters!

When i am able to get lines, It looks awful, Its not very fine,

So what do you guys suggest?
What PSI should i spray with?
How thin should it be?
How far should i be from the model?

You might try thinning your paint a little more. when spraying fine lines thinner paint helps. to a point.. to thin and it runs..

also check your siphon paint lid and make sure the airhole is open.. this happened to me once when mine wouldn't spray..

alright, i got somewhat of a problem,

The badger 150 isnt gravity fed, but for some reason my paint cup begins to form bubbles in it when i begin to spray paint?
What is going on?

If you are bubbling in the cup, you have back pressure at the nozzle. Either it is plugged, or partly plugged. Start by completely cleaning your airbrush, not just flushing it.

If you are spraying, and it suddenly starting doing it again, it means the paint is drying on the tip too fast. Thin more, lower air pressure, use a retarder if using acrylics. the guys that use acrylics could probably recommend a quaility retarder.
I normally keep a paint brush and thinner handy, and sweep the tip, every few minutes with thinner, blow off the excess on scrap paper, and continue along. Hopefully the paint is drying on the outside of the tip. If you keep experiencing blockage inside, it is probably dried paint, or lumpy paint causing the blockage. Try straining your paint before putting it in the cup.
I use fine screen on the bottom of my cups..... both the 150, and my 100G, and Iwata HP-B, and have very few clogs.


I also use 98% enamels.... and thin with lacquer thinner. If I find it's drying to fast, I simply add a little mineral sprits to the mix, and this slows down the drying time.

Another reason for air bubbles is the fluid nozzle is not tight enough.

To step out of the problem area..next most important steps would be practice...on an old model...and patience. On paper or cardboard..try to write your name as thought you would with a pen.

Max,

I have recently started to use an airbrush and have quickly learnt to thin the paint a little more than usual to obtain finer lines. Lowering the pressure on the compressor and spraying about 2 to 3 cm from the model helps as well.

It takes alot of practice to get the hang of an airbrush, I am still experimenting and having alot of fun with it.

Mark

Few ideas here:
http://www.scififantmodmadrealm.com/Airbrushing101.html

Learning new tricks is very useful but can be a pain too. LOL
:-)

Good Luck and stick w/ it.
N E O

Wish that guy would change the background and font on that webpage... horrible to read

Max,

I know with my Badger Model 200, when you change tips you also have to change to the matching (fine, medium, heavy) needle. I think I read somewhere that with either the Model100 or 150 you have to do the same.

If that is true of the 150, that could be the cause of the paint stoppage/bubbling if the needle is too large for the tip so no paint flows until the trigger is pulled way back - and by then excessive presure has built up.

As I said, I don't know for sure about the Model 150, but this is something to at least check into.

Hope this helps!

There should be a white teflon washer between the airbrush body and the head (the head is the screw in part that the fine tip is attached to, if this washer is missing or squashed you get bubbling through the paint. You also need the fine regulator, which is the final screw on stage, giving an air gap around the tip. And you also need the fine needle. Maybe you need to tighten the head a bit tighter with the spanner but not too tight.

As the other posts have mentioned you may need to experiment with thinning the paint and air pressures. Most people say the paint should be the consistency of milk, not water and not cream. It's also an idea to check everything is really really clean.

I have a 150 and a 100, sometimes they work very well and others they are real pigs. A final thing to check is that the needle is dead centre and not touching the inside of the tip when the trigger is pulled back.

Ross