Advice Please - Airbrush Paints

[tvrtuscans]

Hi All,

Just coming to the end of my first build for years - decades actually - 1/4 scale Pocher Ducati bike - built OOTB with a set of stainless steel fixings to enhance it a tad. It’s taken me absolutely ages but figured it wasn’t a race and I just wanted to enjoy the build. Pretty pleased with the outcome (it’s a fab kit - so with care it’s very difficult not to get a great result I think) and will post some snaps when it’s done.

Next on the blocks is the very old Revell 1/96 scale Cutty Sark. I had this kit when I was a ‘kid’ and wanted to have another run at it. I have bought some after market bits and pieces such as a wooden laser cut deck (the thought of trying to hide the three joins in the assembly of the plastic deck was daunting so the lovely scale deck sorts that I hope). I also will get some wooden blocks etc to enhance the rigging, which, being a pretty rudimentary kit, I figure will be by far the biggest challenge.

Anyhow, I have bought an airbrush so my question is, what paints should I buy. I used to use Humbrol, but have absolutely no idea now who makes the ‘best’ products.

The colours needed are fairly straightforward - copper, black, tan, brown, white, green. I fancy getting a ‘starter set’ if that’s possible.

All advice appreciated including where I might buy said paint.

Many thanks in advance.

[Eric Mc]

First choice you need to make is whether you want to use enamels (old school) or acrylics.

Secondly, it would be useful to know what airbrush you are using and what you are using for an air supply.

[dr_gn]

Avoid Humbrol/Revell Aqua at all costs.

I mainly use these acrylics:

Vallejo Model Colour (excellent for brush painting, especially with modifiers. Needs thinning for spraying. Metallics a bit grainy).

Vallejo Air (pre-thinned for spraying, not great for brushing. Metallics are superb).

Tamiya (not great for brushing without modifiers. Nice to spray but needs thinning slightly. Metallics relatively grainy).

Tamiya is more widely available, but on balance I’d go for Vallejo Model colour for versatility, unless it’s a silver/metallic finish in which case go for Vallejo Air.

I’d use Tamiya grey or white fine surface primer (aerosol) too.

[tvrtuscans]

Thanks both for the prompt replies. I will use acrylics. I have bought a compressor with the airbrush and will get back to you on the make, it’s a well known and reputable manufacturer I do believe.

[dr_gn]

tvrtuscans said:

Thanks both for the prompt replies. I will use acrylics. I have bought a compressor with the airbrush and will get back to you on the make, it’s a well known and reputable manufacturer I do believe.

Did you go for Harder & Steenbeck from Little Cars in the end? I seem to remember you pm’d me about it a while ago? Cant see why the type or air source would be relevant. The key is correct air pressure and paint thinning - plenty of online tutorials, plus trial and error will help.

I built the Revell Cutty Sark in about 1982! Very nice kit. Still got it too, although it’s a mess the way I built it.

I think I’ve got some Vallejo Air copper - I’ll try it later and report back. I’m guessing for the lower hull? Back in the day I used Revell enamel, which was great, but these days it seems a completely different formula.

[Eric Mc]

I asked about the air source because some people start off using compressed air cans or other weirder sources, such as tyre inner tubes - which are less than ideal.

If the OP is using a compressor - fair enough (although there are some variations in that department too)..

[robemcdonald]

Another vote for Vallejo as you can use them straight out of the pot and also have a dropper type thing on the lid which makes loading the airbrush easy.

I use a lot of Tamiya though as they are widely availabile and cheap as chips from hobby craft. You need to thin the for airbrush though. I usually take a new pot and top it up with thinners to about 5mm from the top. Give it a good shake / mix. This seems to work fine for me. The only colours that give me an issue are the whites. I find it a bit difficult to get a smooth flow with these regardless of what I try.

[dr_gn]

Is it this one?



I’d love to see a build thread to see how the aftermarket stuff works. I’ve often wanted to build another one, but properly this time!

[tvrtuscans]

Yes Dr, that’s the airbrush I bought on your recommendation. Yup copper for the lower hull.

Any particular recommendations as to from whom I should buy the paint?

Interesting you have the kit and built it in ‘82!

I used to use cans all those years ago...now have treated myself to a compressor!

[tvrtuscans]

dr_gn said:

Is it this one?



I’d love to see a build thread to see how the aftermarket stuff works. I’ve often wanted to build another one, but properly this time!

Yes! That’s it!!

[tvrtuscans]

robemcdonald said:

Another vote for Vallejo as you can use them straight out of the pot and also have a dropper type thing on the lid which makes loading the airbrush easy.

I use a lot of Tamiya though as they are widely availabile and cheap as chips from hobby craft. You need to thin the for airbrush though. I usually take a new pot and top it up with thinners to about 5mm from the top. Give it a good shake / mix. This seems to work fine for me. The only colours that give me an issue are the whites. I find it a bit difficult to get a smooth flow with these regardless of what I try.

Thanks v much for the advice.

[Eric Mc]

My acrylics of choice are -

Tamiya for general use
Valejo for some other general uses. Their metallic range is excellent (better than Tamiya)
Xtracrylic for authentic aircraft camouflage colours

I started using Alclad metallic a few years ago and they are very good. They have a very wide range of shades. However, I am gradually using Valejo metallic whenever possible.

[dr_gn]

tvrtuscans said:

Yes Dr, that’s the airbrush I bought on your recommendation. Yup copper for the lower hull.

Any particular recommendations as to from whom I should buy the paint?

Interesting you have the kit and built it in ‘82!

I used to use cans all those years ago...now have treated myself to a compressor!

I get mine from model shows or online. No particular preference for me. Vallejo do an extensive range of sets, but not sure if sailing ships will be one.

While you’re at it, get these too:



Acrylics tend to dry on the needle tip, causing spattering and can ultimately block the nozzle. A drop of flow improver mixed in with the thinned paint will delay this.

Retarder medium can also be used, but I use it for brush painting acrylics - again, a drop in slightly thinned Tamiya or Vallejo Model Colour delays drying and allows the brush marks to level out very nicely.

Robemcdonalds point about white is very valid. I once used five bottles of Model Air on an Airfix Sunderland! Lesson learned, I use Tamiya white surface primer for large areas of white - it covers beautifully. A coat of whatever shade of white on top will then suffice.

If you’ve not done airbrushing before, look at online tutorials. It can be very, very frustrating, but it’s worth it. The key is to keep the airbrush and paint (no lumps!) scrupulously clean and experiment with paint thinning. Never leave acrylics in the cup, once it builds up and dries within the nozzle youre screwed - strip down, clean, start again...

[dr_gn]

The Vallejo Copper is good - I tried some today. Pretty much identical in shade to the decades old Revell enamel I used previously.

[tvrtuscans]

dr_gn said:

The Vallejo Copper is good - I tried some today. Pretty much identical in shade to the decades old Revell enamel I used previously.

Perfect. Thanks v much for that.

[tvrtuscans]

Here are some of the aftermarket parts I am assembling: First the deck:


Next two alternate suppliers of decks, opted for Scaledecks on this occasion. Shot also shows samples from the other supplier I intend to use - HisModel:


Bought the kit off eBay - the box has seen better days:

[dr_gn]

tvrtuscans said:

Here are some of the aftermarket parts I am assembling: First the deck:


Next two alternate suppliers of decks, opted for Scaledecks on this occasion. Shot also shows samples from the other supplier I intend to use - HisModel:


Bought the kit off eBay - the box has seen better days:

Wow, that looks great, especially the decks.

Don't worry about the box - it looks like a very early kit, so the moulds won't be shagged (or at least the mouldings will be as good as they can be).

Mine had plastic shrouds (the web like rigging each side of the masts, looks like yours is thread? I think Revell did more than one scale of Cutty Sark, so I wonder if mine is the same one after all?

[tvrtuscans]

This one is 1/96th scale and eye balling the snap of your built kit, I recon it’s the same one. This has web shrouds too.

It’s the Revell version without sails, tho you can see HisModel produces sails which in the flesh look pretty impressive.