Well folks, Christmas is over. Just finished a nice lunch with my daughter and wife at the top of the CN Tower in Toronto. Excellent meal, excellent service and a great view.......including
watching a self unloading laker maneuver into the Redpath Sugar dock.
Time to get moving on this airbrush tutorial. As I said before, I'm posting a "course outline" to begin with. I believe I've encompassed the requests made by all in the initial postings. I'm going to cover each numbered topic on a minimum once a week basis. That way I can field questions originating from what's been written, and it gives me time to get the next section done properly, with pictures.
As I mentioned at the start, I've custom painted model railway equipment, primarily, for over ten years. I did it both for hobby stores and for my own client base. Eye sight weakening as a result of age has caused me to stop doing it commercially, however, I still do my own work. During that time I developed techniques that served me well, and most importantly, repeatedly, to the satisfaction of my customers. I'm going pass on what i know here. There are many other extremely competent painters out there and hopefully they'll be able to put some of their ideas forth here. Stavros mentioned "Voyageur", as an example. His weathering was fabulous. Maybe he can add to some of the areas in this tutorial.
Throughout this tutorial you will, no doubt, come across terms and products that may not be available out of North America, or a re called a different name from what we are familiar with. If so, speak up and we'll try and sort the language out.
Here, now is the "course outline". I'm going t try and get the first installment out later this week. Also some pictures of what I've done in the past.
John
P.S.
.......and one picture for Stavros (knowing he's a body man) , a picture of my truck that I rebuilt and spray painted myself with an HVLP gun. Not an airbrush, but it was quite an experience.
MAYHEM AIRBRUSH TUTORIAL
Course Outline
1) types of airbrushes – external mix, internal mix, single acting, double acting, advantages, disadvantages, manufacturers commonly used
2) paint containers – bottle, open cup, use of, advantage and disadvantage
3) parts of an airbrush and how to disassemble it, cleaning brush, troubles to look for and how to correct
4) air supply – compressor, aerosol can, other, pressures to use
5) air brush safety – ventilation, breathing protection
6) types of paints that can be used, advantages and disadvantages of different types, how to mix same and thinners to use
7) spraying with an airbrush – basic airbrush handling during spraying, different patterns, how to get them, how to get proper coverage from an airbrush

how and when to mask the object to be sprayed, types of masking, how to make them, tips and techniques
9) proper decaling techniques for models, using other forms of lettering methods on models
10) other tips on model painting and finishing. – including weathering techniques