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Tools & Supplies: Airbrushes
Talk about airbrushes.
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Airbrushing acrylics
Obiwan3
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Posted: Thursday, December 28, 2006 - 08:20 PM UTC
I've been hand brushing acrylics for some time. I've never tried airbrushing them, though. I put a lot of Floquil and Scalecoat through my airbrush, but never shot any acrylics. I
've got a 2 part question.
What pressure works best for Pollyscale and Xtracrylix.
Any special handling for either of these (thinning, etc)
TIA
matt
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Posted: Thursday, December 28, 2006 - 10:59 PM UTC
Make sure there's NO moisture in the Line...(have a Moisture trap as far away from the compressor as possible) As to Pressure.... There's Variables... and yo ujust kinda need to try it and see what's gonna work with you're Setup.

HTH

Matt
Shadowfax
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Posted: Friday, December 29, 2006 - 07:57 AM UTC
I have always treated both media the same with regards to airbrushing. Thin them 50/50. For detail work, thin more, and use less pressure (10-15psi)

I have gone over to Tamiya paints exclusively, and use 99% Isopropyl Alcohol for thinning. It's a lot cheaper than Tamiya thinner, dries more quickly than water (be aware of this), and can still be cleaned up with soap and water. Make sure your work area is ventilated.
pipesmoker
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Posted: Friday, December 29, 2006 - 07:59 AM UTC
Ken,
As Matt says, air pressure is an experiment. Everyone has their own preference depending on airbrush, compressor, paint/thinner.
As for thinning, I use Windex for PolyScale. Seems to work fine and I also use it to clean the airbrush, no smell.
I have no experience with the other paint you mentioned.
HTH
warlock0322
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Posted: Sunday, December 31, 2006 - 12:49 AM UTC
I mainly use the Polyscale only.. The pressure as mentioned before is really up to you. I know with the Airbrush I use I know that 5-15 psi is enough to do most jobs.

As for thinning I use either Tamiyas thinner or Isopropyl Alchohol to thin the paint. The only other thing I add is a drop of an Acrylic retarder/extender to slow the dry time of the paint down so it cuts down on tip dry of the airbrush and gives the Polyscale time to level out on the model.

Hope this helps
zeus60
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Posted: Thursday, January 25, 2007 - 12:29 AM UTC

Quoted Text

The only other thing I add is a drop of an Acrylic retarder/extender to slow the dry time of the paint down so it cuts down on tip dry of the airbrush and gives the Polyscale time to level out on the model.


I have seen retarder mentioned before. Do you add a drop to the paint cup on the airbrush, or to the jar of paint? Stupid question, I know, but it's not clear to me.

Also, I seem to recall the bottle of acrylic retarder I have at home says to dilute it before using. Do you add a drop of diluted retarder, or straight from the bottle?

I have switched back and forth between acrylics and enamels. I would love to use Pollyscale if I could get it to dry more slowly.

Thanks.
Phil_H
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Posted: Tuesday, January 30, 2007 - 04:48 AM UTC

Quoted Text


Quoted Text

The only other thing I add is a drop of an Acrylic retarder/extender to slow the dry time of the paint down so it cuts down on tip dry of the airbrush and gives the Polyscale time to level out on the model.


I have seen retarder mentioned before. Do you add a drop to the paint cup on the airbrush, or to the jar of paint? Stupid question, I know, but it's not clear to me.

Also, I seem to recall the bottle of acrylic retarder I have at home says to dilute it before using. Do you add a drop of diluted retarder, or straight from the bottle?

I have switched back and forth between acrylics and enamels. I would love to use Pollyscale if I could get it to dry more slowly.

Thanks.


Add a drop of retarder to your read-to-spray mixed, thinned paint and mix well.

Don't add the retarder to your jar of paint as it will change the properties of the paint and may reduce its overall usable life.
zeus60
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Posted: Wednesday, January 31, 2007 - 11:33 PM UTC

Quoted Text


Add a drop of retarder to your read-to-spray mixed, thinned paint and mix well.

Don't add the retarder to your jar of paint as it will change the properties of the paint and may reduce its overall usable life.


Thanks!
propboy44256
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Posted: Thursday, February 01, 2007 - 06:19 PM UTC
Polly scale acrylics, I dont thin at all. One thing about acrylics, they have to be well stirred/mixed
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