Airbrushing for Beginners

The print is done, the supports are off, and you're looking at a plain grey plastic figure. An airbrush gives it the look you had in mind. A starter setup costs around €150 to €250, and after a few evenings of practice you'll get your first clean gradients.

Basics

How an airbrush works

Compressed air flows past a fine nozzle, picks up the paint and atomizes it. A needle inside the nozzle controls the amount of paint. The further you pull it back, the more paint comes out.

Which airbrush?

With a double-action airbrush, you press the trigger for air and pull it back for paint. It takes some practice but gives you the most control. A single-action airbrush only controls the air, which is fine for large areas. For getting started, a double-action with a gravity-feed cup on top is ideal: it uses little paint and sprays cleanly at low pressure.

The gear

You need an airbrush with a 0.3 mm nozzle (€30 to €150) and a compressor with a tank, pressure gauge and moisture trap (€80 to €200). Add a hose, water-based acrylic paints, matching thinner, a cleaning pot and a few pipettes. A complete kit is cheap, but if you plan to stick with it, spend your money on a good compressor.

What you need to know

Safety

Even water-based paint floats through the room as a fine mist. Wear a half mask with combination filters (A2P2 or A2P3) and ideally use a small spray booth with an exhaust. Good lighting, an open window and gloves complete the setup.

Paint and pressure

Your paint should be about as thin as milk. Fine details need around 1 bar from a few centimeters away. Regular painting works at 1.2 to 1.8 bar from 5 to 10 cm, and primer or large surfaces at up to 2.5 bar from 10 to 15 cm. Always test on paper first.

Practice first

Start the air first, then the paint, and at the end stop the paint before the air. Practice dots, lines and gradients on paper or failed prints before you touch your model.

Common mistakes

Spatters usually mean your paint is too thick. "Spider legs" happen when you're too close or spraying too much paint. If the paint peels, the surface was greasy or unprimed. The biggest mistake, though, is impatience: five thin coats beat one thick one.

Cleaning

Flush the airbrush with every color change until it sprays clear. After each session, clean the needle and nozzle, and never force the needle forward.

My first journey

A first project goes like this: sand the print smooth and degrease it. Then apply a thin coat of primer and build up the base colors in several layers. Add dark tones in the recesses and light ones on the raised areas. Paint the details with a brush, and finish with a clear coat.

Stay tuned…