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I've been building model since I was a kid. I started out on 1/1700 scale WW2 ships, then went on to 1/72 planes, then to 1/72 armor. Then WH and WH40k. I've always used brushes for everything. As the release gets closer, I can't help but think I'd like to try my hand with an airbrush. Was thinking about getting an entry level, and maybe going with Vallejo acrylics for airbrush. I've brushed with enamel and acrylic, I much prefer acrylic for brush so I was planning on sticking with acrylic. I've heard Tamiya can sometimes get a little gritty with airbrush do to the way it dries...

Does anyone have experience with airbrushes? If there is I'd like to hear your opinion on airbrushes and type and brand of paint.

On the one hand, I've gotten pretty good with a brush and am confident with it, on the other I'm very intrigued to see what I might be able to get out of an airbrush.

Jerell wrote:Does anyone have experience with airbrushes? If there is I'd like to hear your opinion on airbrushes and type and brand of paint.

Eh... I do. I've been doing the WH40K thing for close on twelve years now, and I've found airbrushes just about useless for anything beyond layering the whole model before detail painting. They're great for large models but have very limited utility for miniatures... at least in my own experience.

My brother, who got into WH40K a few months before I did, has had much the same experience but found using an airbrush was great for certain color effects and particularly for making models look weathered and "battlefield dirty".

Thanks for the info gents.

If I was looking at the $50 Master Airbrush Model VC16-B22, would that be wise for entry level, or is that a total waste (like buying first production runs of 'fine cast' )? Thing is I'm not sure I want to commit to more before I know if I'll like it, or continue to use it...

Jerell wrote:If I was looking at the $50 Master Airbrush Model VC16-B22, would that be wise for entry level, or is that a total waste (like buying first production runs of 'fine cast' )? Thing is I'm not sure I want to commit to more before I know if I'll like it, or continue to use it...

To be honest, I'm not all that familiar with airbrush models (as I don't use the one I have all that much), so I can't be of much help there... I use one of the Citadel Pro ones.

I've worked on 1/72 scale models most of my life. I predominately use spray paint for the majority of the model, and then use bottle paints for some details. One trick I have used for camouflage patters and touch up work is to spray some of the spray paint into a plastic paint tray and use a brush (or toothpick) to apply the paint.

I too have thought about going the airbrush route for the rtt minis, but I'm on the fence.

Jerell wrote:I've been building model since I was a kid. I started out on 1/1700 scale WW2 ships, then went on to 1/72 planes, then to 1/72 armor. Then WH and WH40k. I've always used brushes for everything. As the release gets closer, I can't help but think I'd like to try my hand with an airbrush. Was thinking about getting an entry level, and maybe going with Vallejo acrylics for airbrush. I've brushed with enamel and acrylic, I much prefer acrylic for brush so I was planning on sticking with acrylic. I've heard Tamiya can sometimes get a little gritty with airbrush do to the way it dries...

Does anyone have experience with airbrushes? If there is I'd like to hear your opinion on airbrushes and type and brand of paint.

On the one hand, I've gotten pretty good with a brush and am confident with it, on the other I'm very intrigued to see what I might be able to get out of an airbrush.

I've been asking myself the same thing. I'll probably be trying to get an airbrush simply because of the number of models. It will make basecoating a lot easier and thin I'll be doing details with my brush before ink washes.

sounds about right. 1,000s of pieces sounds like airbrush time to me as well.

Yeah, maybe I should get an entry level model even if it is just for undercoating and base coat. That would probably knock down the time substantially, and I've never liked priming with a brush anyway.

These are going to be way to small to airbrush unless you are extremely good with the airbrush. I would stick to brushes for detail work.