Undercoating without spraying

[mmcv]

I used black gesso for a while, it works well enough but I do find I use the Vallejo primer paint more now, as I find it a little easier to pick out details afterwards, though fairly small difference between them.

[Noktu]

I've started to brush on Vallejo Black Surface Primer mixed with Vallejo German Red/Brown Surface primer, so that I get a nice lush dark brown.

Brown is a great medium to work up lighter colours into the mix. And as I use the tried and tested block all colours and wash. It also enhances the dark brown crevices to be a tad more darker, almost black. And gives overall a bit more earthy look.

[Orcs]

The reason for not spraying is very mundane.
I am now in a 2nd floor flat, and the only downside (apart from distance to my Regular) is spraying is now difficult.

Can I sugest you look into getting an airbrush and a small compressor. You can then use water based paints without any issues. Overspray is virtually non existant. When I had a flat I spray painted in my Kitchen.

You just put a large sheet of card behind  or use three sides of a box to go round them.
A reasonable 2 stage airbrush will allow you to paint the tracks on a 10 mm tank and not get  the paint on the wheels or hull.

[Ben Waterhouse]

Can I sugest you look into getting an airbrush and a small compressor. You can then use water based paints without any issues. Overspray is virtually non existant. When I had a flat I spray painted in my Kitchen.

You just put a large sheet of card behind  or use three sides of a box to go round them.
A reasonable 2 stage airbrush will allow you to paint the tracks on a 10 mm tank and not get  the paint on the wheels or hull.

Any advice on a good cheapish airbrush starter set?

[Raider4]

Any advice on a good cheapish airbrush starter set?

This chap tries the cheapest available on Amazon:

You'll also need a compressor though.

[Raider4]

Alternatively, try a portable one with rechargeable compressor:

[Ben Waterhouse]

Thanks Raider, food for thought.

[Raider4]

Thanks Raider, food for thought.

No problem. The portable one is suddenly looking very appealing . . .

[John Cook]

Any advice on a good cheapish airbrush starter set?

My airbrush is a Badger bought several years ago and still working fine.  There is, honestly, no such thing as a 'good cheapish' airbrush.  You get what you pay for and there are loads out there to chose from.  I'd avoid anything under £50 and look at ones around £100 that include a compressor.  Some do not come with a compressor and that has to be bought separately.  You'll need a cleaning kit too.  Look on line, there are tutorials and reviews.   

[Ben Waterhouse]

Thanks John

[mmcv]

I'd agree with John, I made the mistake of buying a cheap one a few years back and hardly ever use it now as it clogs so easily and gives really poor control, so worth investing in something a little better. It is handy for priming large batches indoors if you can get a decent spray on it. Though it depends on your workflow, good if you tend to do big batches of painting in the same project, but probably faffy if looking to only do a few at a time as have to dissemble and clean each time.

[Orcs]

I bought a Badger 360 Airbrush and a Paashe compressor with a 2 litre tank ( makes less noise than a tanless type) for about what the Airbrush would have cost in the uk. They even supplied a 240 volt powersupply with the compressor and I just changed the plug to a British one. Then it was almost $2 to th £1 though

You want a dual action gravity feed brush.

Look at trader below, they are often at wargames shows.

https://barwellbodyworks-shop.com/

You could try one of the Chinese sites like Temu

[Raider4]

. . . makes less noise than a tanless type . . .

You clearly bought the 'pale & pasty' version, aimed at nerds who live in their parents basement and never see sunlight.

[Orcs]

You clearly bought the 'pale & pasty' version, aimed at nerds who live in their parents basement and never see sunlight.

 

Read my comment again   "I bought a Badger 360 Airbrush and a Paashe compressor with a 2 litre tank ( makes less noise than a tanless type) "
so the type I bought was not a Tanless type.

I therefore should be a nice orange colour 

[Last Hussar]

I have met Orcs.

Trust me, NO ONE would let him live in their basement.

Even Frank N Furter

[Last Hussar]

Undercoated Pendraken ECW by brush with watered down white acrylic from Works (not the ice cream Works, the other one) today.

This is of note because it means I'm reestablishing my painting mojo. Even painted trousers on 30 of them. Might be 24, but still, something has tilted right.

[paulr]

    

[Norm]

My understanding is that an airbrush carries its own perils and that an air filter booth is an important addition. The acrylic spray that doesn't hit a target stays in the air as a super fine dust.

I have my booth out in a utility room, vented through a window and I still wear a mask.

For primer, I prefer brush on Vallejo, which seems to work better on plastic than metal. For metal I used to use Hammerite primer, but is a bit thick and smelly, especially once the tin has been opened and it starts getting a bit older, even that stuff will rub off metals, so needs careful handling (i.e none!) until paint and varnish are on.

[Orcs]

My understanding is that an airbrush carries its own perils and that an air filter booth is an important addition. The acrylic spray that doesn't hit a target stays in the air as a super fine dust.

I have my booth out in a utility room, vented through a window and I still wear a mask.

For primer, I prefer brush on Vallejo, which seems to work better on plastic than metal. For metal I used to use Hammerite primer, but is a bit thick and smelly, especially once the tin has been opened and it starts getting a bit older, even that stuff will rub off metals, so needs careful handling (i.e none!) until paint and varnish are on.

In my experience the paint dust is not an issue, as its dry and is just dust of a different colour. Overspray can be an issue, but at 15psi it does not go more than a few inches over the subject, particularly if you are spraying downwards, as you normally are.

[Last Hussar]

I undercoated by brush. It was time intensive,  but at the moment nothing I couldn't handle; it's quite quick, j7st needed up with white paint on all my finger tips.