Hi Barrie & Dougal,
I found that the acrylic tended to block the brush, so maybe a double action brush would work better - I also found that even after the thorough cleaning, the nozzle was still blocked by a lump of acrylic medium. I am hoping to find some airbrush compatible acrylic medium - I believe Tamiya do it - We had some from donkey's years ago with a set of Rotring pigments, but it has set after nearly 20 years in the bottle. The problem I had initially was not underthinning, but overthinning - initially I got it far too thin, and even with the detergent to break the surface tension, it would not sit on the surface, but flowed into the contours and blobbed giving a very uneven finish - at the moment it is about the consistancy of single cream, which seems OK, but I think the finish needs a little work.
Perhaps in future the secret is little and often.
I am using the Revell Airbrush enamels - mainly Satin White and Matt Grey, though I used satin red for the boat crane and fireboxes. The only problem is that Toymaster in Burton only have a limited range and do not do an airbrush satin coat. I have a couple of bottles of Humbrol bought last time I was in Hobbycraft, but it is difficult getting it thinned right and it settles out really badly. Hmm, I wonder if you can make Sating finish by mixing gloss and matt......
For cleaning, I was getting through a shedload of airbrush cleaner - to minimise the use, because of the smell and the cost, I use white spirit for the bottle cap and pick-up tube. I got some nice long pipecleaners - I dip the end in white spirit and shove it through the pick up tube and it cleans it out a treat. A kitchen towel soaked in white spirit cleans up the outside of the pickup tube and bottle cap. The airbrush cleaner is used for the brush only - now I have the compressor, I turn the brush upside down and spray it with the needle wide open onto newspaper to get rid of the bulk of the paint in the tube. The brush then only needs a couple of quick squirts to get it clean - if ypu blow it through the brush and collect on a towel it can be used to clean off any stuff on the outside of the brush.
I don't know about skill Doug - but certainly I am learning patience. The problem with the photos is that they do not really show up the scabby bits and the bodges - I am hoping that others will see my mistakes and set me right. Tips on how to do the weathering are particularly welcome as I don't want the boat to look like a toy fresh out of the box - I'm trying to do my best but I don't know what I am missing.
I am hoping the next boat will turn out better - I am dragging SWMBO down to Warwick next week so she can buy me my Christmas present - fittings etc will come for birthday. Hmmmmm it is the 20th anniversary next year
, I wonder what I can gouge into her for (all suggestions welcome, though I suspect early parole will not be an option
)
Tim the Wombat