So you have your new airbrush and compressor ready to go and then disaster with the paint finish…. What can I do to correct this?
This is a brief guide to help you resolve the issues.
Spiders from outerspace
This spider pattern normally happens when one of two things take place: The paint has been thinned down to much or the air pressure is to high. This happens when the air pushes the paint about so either move the brush away from the model or reduce the air pressure.
Dusty splatters
This splatter pattern normally happens when one of two things take place: The paint has not been thinned down correctly, or the air pressure used is low. Basically the paint is drying before it reaches the model.
Normal paint flow
The paint flow should cover the model surface uniformly with a slight dampness when viewed from an angle. The paint should dry quite quickly after application.
All compressors and airbrushes are different but as a guide I use the following settings:
- When using Tamiya paints I tend to use an air pressure of 12 to 15 PSI
- When using Vallejo airbrush paints I use between 10 and 12 PSI
The real challenge comes when using Vallejo fluorescent colours as these are translucent and can clog up in the brush, so lower air pressure should be used and multiple coats of paint will be required.
These are just starting points and further testing on your part will be required, and some practice is recommended before working on your model.
If you would like any guidance fell free to contact me.
