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airbrushing
Tips and techniques for getting started
By Cody Grivno Photos by Bill Zuback
W
hether were modeling a prototype railroad or operating a
freelance line of our own creation, we want our equipment to
look prototypical and have a sense of individuality. One way we can
achieve this goal is by painting our structures, freight cars, and loco-
motives with an airbrush. On the surface, airbrushing may seem like
a difficult and intimidating task, but it really isnt. With practice,
patience, and the right techniques, airbrushing can be a lot of fun.
Ill show you just how easy it is to get started with an airbrush.
82 2009 Kalmbach
Model Railroader Publishing Co. This material may not be reproduced in any form
modelrailroader.com
without permission from the publisher. www.ModelRailroader.com
Structures, freight cars, and locomo-
tives are just some of the things that
can be painted with an airbrush.
Assistant editor Cody Grivno shares
some basic painting techniques that
will help you get started.
the paint, spray it, and adjust as neces- With the prep work done, you should only one color, such as a boxcar. When
sary. Weathering mixes must be thinned spray the model with an undercoat, you feel more confident, try painting
more than regular airbrush mixes. How- which ensures that the final color or models with multiple colors. To prevent
ever, pigments settle fast in paint thinned colors are even throughout the model. the second color from getting onto the
for weathering, so stir it regularly or add Light gray is a good, all-purpose under- first, the model will have to be masked.
a few drops of flow enhancer. coat color. Regular 3M masking tape or the firms
blue painters tape work well. However,
Prep work and priming Painting and masking masking tape doesnt have a perfectly
Before you paint a model, clean it to Before you start spraying a model, straight edge, so youll need to put a
remove any impurities that might af- test the paint on a similar material. piece onto a pane of glass and cut it
fect paint adhesion or detract from the This way, if the paint mix is too thin or into strips using a new blade in a hobby
overall finish. The easiest way to clean not thinned enough, you wont ruin knife or a single-edge blade (fig. 6). Use
a model is to wash it in warm, soapy your model. Once youre satisfied with the freshly cut edge to mask the separa-
water. I prefer Ivory liquid as its almost the paint flow, start spraying. tion line. Make sure the tape is pressed
pure soap and doesnt contain lotions. Hold the airbrush between 3" and 4" down into grooves, over rivets and exte-
Keep an old toothbrush handy to clean from the model and apply the paint rior posts, and window openings.
any hard-to-reach areas. with a smooth, even stroke, as shown Once the separation line is masked
After the model is clean, shake off in fig. 4. Start spraying beyond one end and the tape is snug, finish covering
the excess water, put it on a lint-free of the model, smoothly move the air- the model with full strips of tape. Then,
towel, and set it in a dust-free place brush across the model, and stop spray- to help keep the separation line crisp,
such as a cabinet. Plastic, metal, and ing beyond the other end. Apply the paint lightly spray along the edge with the first
some resin models can be cleaned with in light coats, overlapping the edge of color. After the paint has dried, apply
this technique. each stroke until the model is evenly the second color. Repeat the masking
Commercial cleaners are also avail- covered. The paint should go on wet and painting process until all of the
able for the various modeling mediums. and shiny but dry quickly. If you apply colors are applied.
Polly Scale manufactures Plastic Prep, the paint too heavily or dont let it dry Paint should be given a full 24 hours
an alcohol-based cleaner that removes completely between coats, itll get thick to dry. When you remove masking tape
mold release, silicone, and grease from and develop runs. If it goes on dry, from a model, pull it up and away from
plastic. Tarnished brass models can be youll have a rough finish. the last color applied at a 45-degree
cleaned with powdered copper cleaner, You may need to rotate the model angle to prevent the paint from lifting,
available at most grocery stores, and while airbrushing to get paint into as shown in fig. 7.
an old toothbrush. hard-to-reach areas, and thats where
a paint handle proves helpful. The han- Safety first
More on our Web site dle shown in fig. 5 is produced by GB No matter if youre using solvent-
You can learn more about airbrushing Engineering, but you could also use a based paints or acrylics, paint fumes
in our video Airbrushing with acrylic wood block. and particulates are harmful to your
paints. Watch a brief clip on our Web To gain experience with the air- health. All painting should be done in a
site www.modelrailroader.com brush, start with models that require well-ventilated area, preferably a spray
Testor Corp./Aztek
440 Blackhawk Park Ave.
Air and paint volume control
Rockford, IL 61104
Nozzle Needle lock nut
815-962-6654
www.testors.com