In this article I’ll give a very brief guid to my method for using my airbrush, just for anyone that is interested in getting into the wonderful world of airbrushing. It is for more that just painting virtuosos, but also gamers like you and I that paint to get armies on the table. Hopefully this article gives a quick look at an easy way to get an airbrush setup going.
Uses
Airbrushes are very useful even for folks like me that are not master painters. Priming is the biggest thing I use them for, and the greatest advantage over spray cans is that they’re not restricted to the weather. Airbrush priming creates a really nice base to work over as seen below, and does not go on thick enough to obscure any of the detail of your lovely figures.
In addition to just normal priming, another great technique with the airbrush is what’s called “zenithal priming,” where you prime the miniature a dark color before very conservatively spraying a lighter color from above, as seen in the picture below. This picks up all of the details that light would naturally hit, and if you don’t paint over it too thick, it will show through, creating highlights. Note that this is really only worth it with really detailed 15mm miniatures or 28mm and above.
The last thing I have used an airbrush for in the couple months since I’ve got it is simple basecoating to save time. This really only works if you are spraying over a lighter color, for example olive green, but it can save a ton of time if you can get the olive green coats done for your whole army in 10 minutes.
A Couple Tips and Tricks
You can use a hardware air compressor
In the following section where I put links to what I have, I will not be able to recommend an airbrush compressor, because I do not have one. I instead use a hardware air compressor, and many of you probably have one you could use as well. The only problem is how loud they are, but if you can deal with that, it is a great way to save money. The only thing you need is a pressure regulator so you don’t blow out your airbrush.
Mixing Paints
While there are ranges of airbrush paints that seem extremely nice if you have the money, I do not. The difference between regular and airbrush paint is the consistency, in order to be shot out of the airbrush, the paint must be about the consistency of milk. I thin down my paints with a medium that I will link below. I have a few airbrush primers, but I find even those need to be thinned most of the time.
How I mix my paint is the easy and fun way. I pour the paint into the cup, test it, pour in some thinner, backwash it by putting my finger on the tip of the airbrush and blowing air through, and continue to test and thin until it sprays properly.
What stuff do I need?
Here is the links to the things in my airbrush setup.
The Airbrush
Airbrush Cleaner
https://www.amazon.com/Master-Airbrush-Cleaner-16-Ounce-Bottle/dp/B0BN77JPWP
Airbrush Thinner
https://www.amazon.com/Army-Painter-Airbrush-Medium-Water-Based/dp/B086L54VDR
Black Airbrush Primer
https://www.amazon.com/Vallejo-Black-Primer-Acrylic-Polyurethane/dp/B004BN5RUU
Conclusion
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