To Airbrush or Hand Paint?

[Ong]

Do figure painters normally airbrush or handpaint their figures? I've read posts were figure painters handpaint all their figures (I do too) from 1/35 up to 1/16th scale. I normally handpaint everything from flesh to camouflage.

However, I wonder if there's any merits in airbrushing 1/24 to 1/8 figures, and if so, what are the visual benefits? Some modelers may consider airbrushing figures too much of a hassle and instead just handpaint.

I use Vallejo AIR and Vallejo acrylics and am wondering if it's worth the trouble to airbrush my 1/24 to 1/16 figures or just opt for the brush.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Mike Stevens]

I normally hand paint my figures as they are generally 54mm. I took an Airbrush Class at the Tulsa show and see the benefits. Julio Cabo uses a combination. I've seen him base coat the figure and get the initial highs and lows and then hand paint the final highs and lows. I think what ever works for you and gives you good results is fine.

 

[franceso sbarile]

I quote Mike since my figures range from 54 to 90 mm, however when I meet particular situation, i.e. large shields, flags, coats, etc.. is better to me to use an airbrush to apply the base and first shadows and lights since it is very difficoult to obtain an omogeneous color distribution by brush.
Francesco

 

[Babelfish]

I always used to hand-paint everything on my figures, but a couple of years back I attended a workshop by our very own Mark Bennet (Gothic Geek) in which he demonstrated the techniques he uses for airbrushing faces on figures of various scales.

Since then I've taken to airbrushing larger surfaces on figures 75mm and up (including faces on 90mm and up), with additional shading, highlights and touch-ups applied manually by brush as and where necessary.

But as Mike says above, it's whatever works for you, there is no 'right' or 'wrong'.

- Steve

 

[Metal Extremo]

Hi mate.
I used to paint my figures from 54 to 75 with brush, but from a time ago the i'm taking the airbrush more and more. The last one was a 54mm from the zulu wars, and the trousers and the coat were painted with airbrush at base, shadows and lights. The airbrush is a tool, there aren't rules about when you must use it or not. At the beginning i used it just for base colours, and with more practice lost the fear and gave more protagonism. Today is a very important part of my paint process, cause i can paint faster an my time is very limitated, but always finish my work with brush. I can get a good degradate with my airbrush quickly, an uniform colour in a big surface, to use a colour directily from the can to the airbrush without mixed, and throw another in the same way very diluited to obtein transparent layers that mix the colours for me, but the final shadows and highlights to give the "final touch" go with brush. One tool don't replace to the other. I need both to a good result.
About some painters that could think that is not ¿allowed? to paint wiht airbrush... ok, when i see a paintjob here in PF, a competition or at home, apreciate the work, the efects, degradates, tones. Don't care if it's in oils, acrilics, pigments, brush, or airbrush what give it to say "i like, or not like". I care about how was made to learn an valorate if maybe possible to include it in my painting.
I paint with Vallejo model color (don't have vallejo model air) without problem, and the airbrusb is a simply AB300, the cheaper of the airbrushes.

 

[JasonB]

I don't do any figs under 1/16th scale, and do more than a few in 1/9 and larger up to 1/4 scale busts. For the 1/16-12omm figs, I airbrush on primer and many times base coats. On larger scales, I actually do some shading and highlighting with an airbrush, in addition to the basic undercoating. Painting a really large fig with only a brush is a bit of a pain, and its much easier to get a smooth base coat and transitions with the airbrush. But, I did start out painting models with a basic airbrush in my early teens, so I have had the equipment for a while and many years of experience which I would guess that some folks that have been strictly figure painters would not have.

 

[Ong]

Thanks for the replies.

I'm painting a 1/16th figure. I haven't used an airbrush on one in years so I'm wondering if it's worth the trouble. Most times I just handpaint or spraypaint the primer and base coat, but now I'm wondering if using an airbrush would make for a thinner paint job, or at least one with a smoother paint surface.

Would camouflaging a 1/16 figure with an airbrush also work? Since an airbrush sprays in circular streams, wouldn't the camouflage pattern look like thin tube worms instead of the sharp angles and leaves of camouflage?

 

[JasonB]

Unless you have a REALLY nice airbrush and a lot of experience, anything other than base coating in 1/16 scale is probably a no go. Yes, unless you mask a pattern, an airbrush will give you a soft edge, and the smaller the scale, the harder it is to get a nice sharp edge of any kind without masking. Even in something as large as 1/9 or 1/6, I wouldn't do any camo that is hard edged with an airbrush. If it were something like German pea dot camo, I might do the underlying color with an airbrush, but the dots would all be done with a brush. IMHO, in 1/16th, its not worth the effort if you can rattle can the primer coat.

 

[Ong]

Thanks, Jason, I appreciate your insight.

 

[Ferris]

I recommend to check out a few of Mark Benett's (Gothicgeek) threads on how he uses the airbrush on 1/16 figs, laying down the base, highs and lows. It's a nice technoque that can save you time if handled well.
Personally I only use the aIrbrush if I have to. It's a great tool, but I don't like the hassle of setting up, cleaning, ventilation, etc, etc.

Cheers,
Adrian

 

[Ong]

For painting 1/20 scale figures and below with an airbrush, would the airbrush spray fine enough so that one doesn't have to mask? Or would the overspray of colors force one to mask?

If using a handbrush from scales 1/20 and below, what kind of brush do you use for the base color...a flat head, candleflame brush, or a thin 0 brush?

I normally use a spray can for the base color and then handpaint my figures. However, I don't have a huge variety of spray can colors compared to bottle paints so I'm weighing the benefits of airbrushing the base color on a 54mm figure, or just handpainting the base color on. Comments and feedback welcome.

Thanks.

 

[Tubby-Nuts2]

An airbrush, is a great tool once mastered! (I failed).

However, you should check out. Ron Clarke, ( Kagemusha) work with an 'Airbrush', many different scales and subject matter .. Plus he has taken the time to break the stages down into an informative SBS.

This I recommend.

Regards,

Mark

 

[Ong]

An airbrush, is a great tool once mastered! (I failed).

However, you should check out. Ron Clarke, ( Kagemusha) work with an 'Airbrush', many different scales and subject matter .. Plus he has taken the time to break the stages down into an informative SBS.

This I recommend.

Regards,

Mark

OK, thanks, Mark !

 

[Monsoon]

Like others here, the only time I've used an airbrush for figures is for basecoating, and that's if I'm doing a large group of figures. Last time was with about five or six WW2 Germans; I airbrushed the feldgrau basecoat. Quick and easy.

 

[Nap]

A good question certainly wish I could get to grips with an Airbrush ..closest I get is using my spray primer .

There are amazing results seen like those mentioned and for female flesh it's got to be Pepa S ..just beautiful results.

But I will continue to gaze in awe at those that can use Airbrushes and enjoy their work but it's the brush for me !

Nap

 

[Ong]

Thanks again for the suggestions and advice!

 

[theBaron]

Yeah, I've seen the YouTube videos showing guys painting 54mm figures with an airbrush, including using an unusual technique of blowing the color down from above the figure. But I can't see how to do it, so I'm with the others who said that if they use an airbrush at all on figures, it's basecoating or similar processes. I still have to rely on applying most of the color and details by hand.

Prost!
Brad

 

[Metal Extremo]

Mate, you can use the airbrush for every scale. The trick is that smaller, more precision is needed. I watched painters using the airbrush for a sword in 28mm. But i can't do it, and not save me time, so i'm not interested in it.
For clumsies like me, one option is to mask the nearest parts to the zone to paint, so is avoid the possibility of destroy the work done before. IMO the best of airbrush is the time that save me in trousers, coats, grounds... for a part of the mini that gonna makes me spent the same time with airbrush or brush, go with brush.
There are a lot of airbrushes, and experts in it uses diferents sizes of ¿nozzles? in function of the effect/size of the part to paint, but the amateurs as i use to paint with a 0,3 nozzle for everything, and play with the presure and water quantity for the effects. Obviously with a good airbrush is easier to obtain great results, but with my cheap one till the moment can paint good enough for me and learn to use it.

 

[oldtrousers]

I have seen people use an airbrush on figures and get fantastic results. I do own a couple of older airbrushes that I have used to base coat shields and the prime the odd figure here and there. For me though, I just prefer to hand paint my figs as I like it, and it is one of the main reasons that I enjoy doing figures over other scale model subjects. Heck, I even hand paint the plastic Maschinen Kreiger kits that I have instead of airbrushing them because I enjoy the exercise. To each his own, use what ever method you prefer or even a combination of methods that you enjoy.

 

[theBaron]

Mate, you can use the airbrush for every scale. The trick is that smaller, more precision is needed. I watched painters using the airbrush for a sword in 28mm. But i can't do it, and not save me time, so i'm not interested in it...

Yep, that's pretty much where I am. Even with my scale models, I use the airbrush for applying paint to large areas, but it's just that I can control the spray a little better than with a rattle-can.

I have the Andrea booklet on painting female figures, and it includes a chapter on using an airbrush. The subject figure is a pinup, with a lot of skin showing, and sheer stockings. I look at that and I can see how the sheer material is done, but I can't do the shading the artist did in the article, not with my airbrush. I still can't airbrush lines finer than about an eighth of an inch, though it's supposed to be possible with my equipment (Paasche VL).

Yep, as Scott and others have said, do whatever works best for you.

I do want to get more proficient with the airbrush, though....