To Airbrush or Hand Paint?

[Metal Extremo]

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

Throw the colour from above is the common way to give lights with the airbrush. You can give shadows throwing from below. Depending of the angle of inclination of airbrush with the miniature, are more or less extreme. For the final shadows or lights, 90º

 

[Metal Extremo]

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 don't understand why you want fine lines to shadow. For the stockings you'll nee to throw the shadow form below with a lot of water and low presure, but, why the lines?

 

[peedee]

My only thoughts on this are straightforward.

If you got, it use it !

I would use one to lay down zones of shadows on any figure after base coating then go in and use brush for finer detail and highlights...... IF I had one....I just accept all my brushes have hairs anyway.
When armour and air modellers use airbrush they can highlight cammo patterns easily after base coating and also fade them down with dust colour filters.
This is harder by hairy stick brush, so why not paint zones with a brush for hard edges, then use airbush for filling in, fading and shading?

Painting large areas on large figures is never any kind of problem when you just add a large flat or chisel shaped long haldled brush to your collection.

happy modelling

Paul

 

[Ong]

Thanks again for all the replies and helpful advice.

I thought that an airbrush would greatly benefit in spraying on highlights and shadows. For instance, would a paintbrush achieve these looks of color tones, highlights, and variations in the URLs below?

http://www.scale75.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=56&product_id=405

http://www.scale75.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=56&product_id=124

I know the Operator79 was painted with an airbrush as I saw the painting process on Youtube. However, as many people here have said, sometimes using the airbrush can be a real pain. Or am I being fooled by Photoshop "magic" and the Scale75 figures will not look that high contrast to the naked eye and will look more like the one in the URL below? Is it all camera lighting effects that make figures look that nice, and not the airbrushed painting effects? Thanks again.

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/01/a1/fa/01a1faa4ccecb8d7920664bb6cd2e861.jpg

 

[kagemusha]

Best advice I can offer.....if you don't already own an AB/Compressor set-up....and have never used one....don't waste your money!
As an experienced user I have tried to show how versatile a tool it can be in the figure arena.....but...the key to it is....choose your pieces carefully...by this I mean scale/subject/intricacy.....
Yes....there are people doing 54 mm...but...not to 'paint' them in entitreity....just basic layers...which they then overlay with brush work...
Anybody who thinks it will save them time and effort....think again

 

[Metal Extremo]

I can say Scale75 original minis are more spectacular in live than in photo. And yes, are painted with airbrush (and brush to retouch and details). But Roberto, Samuel and Julio are experts with this tool, so they made in five minutes things that you and me can't do in hours. To take the brush for first time and try to obtain the box-art of Pegaso is impossible. The same with airbrush and Scale75. We need practice to improve and take new skills with our tools. And of course, the first times will get stuck for bad dissolution, spit bad, wrong presure, and spend a lot of time to clean before you end your session... nobody born learned, and in our hobby the progress use to be slow.
About kagemusha advide, i understand what he say, and is true. But if i didn't change my money for a compressor and airbrush to begin to learn some time ago, wasn't writting in this thread now

 

[Ong]

Thanks again for all the feedback!

 

[theBaron]

i don't understand why you want fine lines to shadow. For the stockings you'll nee to throw the shadow form below with a lot of water and low presure, but, why the lines?

Ah, sorry for any confusion, I mentioned that I can't do fine lines with the airbrush, just to give an idea of where my skill level is (very basic). I have a 1/8 anime figure on the bench, and I will paint stockings on her, and I think I should be able to, with the method you describe. I've got Tamiya's Smoke for that.

Prost!
Brad

 

[brian]

An airbrush is the devil's tool

 

[Jim]

I've used three airbrushes over the past 30 years (yes, I am an old f**t). Badger, Aztek and now a Sotar. Each increased in complexity, but once the learning curve was conquered, they were an essential tool. Now, I'm still not accomplished enough to paint figures less than 1/12th-scale, but in larger scales, it gives shading and highlights that just can't be accomplished by brush painting - at least not with my skill-set.

Yes, there are times that it's frustrating to get the paint/air mixture just right, but, hey - it's a hobby and it's just another tool.

 

[anstontyke]

as a relatively newcomer to the hobby i would say that you should use whichever method and tools you feel comfortable with and find the easiest to use.
i use brushes as my preference but that is only my choice. the only thing i would say though is buy the best quality equipment/brushes you can afford as i made a mistake of trying to use really cheap quality brushes to start with and instantly regretted it.

anstontyke

 

[brian]

I used airbrushes in the 1970's for aircraft and tanks,but i feel uneasy of using them on figures, especially as i paint in oils.I've seen some stunning paint jobs in my time but you can tell a mile away that they've been mostly done by airbrushing.It's probably my age but i much prefer seeing a figure/bust, done by a brush.To me the airbrushed figure look all much the same.All very nice,but very boring.Some of the top painters IMO use a brush,especially from South Korea and Russia.So full of character and a joy to watch the process they use with a brush,although there done in acrylics.I once told a well known South Korean painter that the face, he had painted with a brush was so good ,i thought it had been done in oils.
Airbrushing is alright for an undercoat, and for special effects on a fantasy piece,which in some cases couldn't be done with a brush.
I'm now ready to be bombarded by disgruntled airbrushers,but i'm only voicing my opinion lads.

 

[kagemusha]

Each to their own Brian....I remember you once saying that airbrush work left you cold....it's the same for me with acrylics....IMHO acrylics have a 'cartoon' apperance!
But...as you rightly point out....in the hands of the Koreans....stunning results but...again only my personal opinion....acrylics have no 'life' compared to oils.
As you know....I favour the airbrush.....but the main reason is....I personally don't have the upper level of skill with a hairy stick

Ron

 

[Wayneb]

With due respect to all...I think...As with most things in life...It depends on who's behind the brush.
Regards,
Wayne