My first airbrushing mistake

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Duder777

Hunter

• Apr 4, 2015

• #1

Well, I blew it on the green/blue layer. I knew last night it did not look quite right with a very sandy texture. Today the outer couple of paint layers wiped off like dust with a paper towel and then I removed all the masking. It is not the end of the world, I will just mask it all and paint the green/blue again. I think the problem is when I went to less thinner my paint was drying before it hit the surface. Maybe I will go back to 1:1. Any tips form you expert airbrushers on getting perfect coverage?

 

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Kuma40

New Hunter

• Apr 4, 2015

• #2

Im going to be starting my first airbrushing soon as well. Going to keep up on this post for useful tips. So you didnt have enough thinner? Or did you have the airbrush too far away? Also what size tip are you using in your airbrush? Does it have a mac valve?

 

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Duder777

Hunter

• Apr 4, 2015

• #3

I think it was probably a combination of things, but I am new to airbrushing so my thoughts are not that credible. My first coat (the dark grey) was the best, and it was a 1:1 ratio of paint and thinner. I think I did not have enough thinner, and had too much psi. I was not that far away, but maybe I should be closer. It was on average about 5 inches or so away. I do not have a mac valve, but a gauge that is easy to read and adjust. It averaged about 20 -25 psi the whole time.

 

Furious

Active Hunter

• Apr 4, 2015

• #4

Make sure you add enough thinner so the paint has the same consistency as milk.

 

superjedi

Sr Hunter

• Apr 4, 2015

• #5

Yeah, a dusty texture can be a sign of the paint starting to dry in the air before it reaches the surface.
I'd recommend doing slow, even passes of fairly light coverage. Let the color build up over the course
of a couple of coats. Don't try to get complete coverage in one pass or you can wind up with drips or runs.

 

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Duder777

Hunter

• Apr 4, 2015

• #6

Thanks guys. I just finished a few new coats really slow and light with the 1:1 ratio (was as thin as milk also), and backed the pressure down to about 18 psi. It has a totally different look now. I think it will turn out alright.

 

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Kuma40

New Hunter

• Apr 5, 2015

• #7

Cool man. I cant wait to start mine. Just waiting on supplies. grrrrrr.

 

alacardkane

New Hunter

• Apr 28, 2015

• #8

I do a fair amount of airbrushing on various things, So I guess my first question is what paint are you using, what air brush, and where and what temperatures you are airbrushing in.

Edit: also are you painting onto metal? i cant really tell from the photos if that is a silver undercoat or if you are painting on unprimed metal.