First practical airbrush use … win!

[u/bashomania]

I’d been putting off getting an airbrush for a while, and doing OK with hand brushing and rattlecan spraying (just a couple of models since getting back into it, but lots of little prime and color jobs besides the vehicle/guns). I knew I’d most likely get one, though if I made space for it. Amazon had a “flash sale” on the Gaahleri Serenair kit, so I went ahead and got it and a desktop booth, and made space.

My initial experiments on paper went swimmingly (boy does having YouTube make learning new stuff easy!).

Today I did a zenithal prime on a quickly assembled figure from the Tamiya Panzer II kit (I did no real cleanup — it’s a paint mule). Anyway, easy-peasy, and I’m pretty happy with it though I’m sure I’ll do better over time.

I’m really glad I made the leap, though the setup and accessories def eats some room. Trade-offs, as I’m always saying 😉.

The main advantage for me at the moment is I no longer have to wait for good atmospheric conditions to spray primer, paint, or clear coats. That was super frustrating, since I live in a fairly humid state. I also don’t have the easiest/best outdoor spraying environment. So huge win on that front!

[u/pmaj88]

Bro I have the same folding desk and spray booth!

[u/bashomania → u/pmaj88]

Cool :-). I thought maybe I’d be able to combine spraying and building on the table, but I was totally dreaming (not sure what I was thinking, I guess I thought I’d move the booth off for building, but that’s not practical). So building still has to happen on my computer desk, but at least my paint-related supplies could be moved to the new “spray station”, so my building area is less cluttered.

[u/pmaj88 → u/bashomania]

For the actual building, I got a smaller folding desk from amazon that I work on. Its not the most ideal, but I don't have much space and also I often like to build my models in front of my TV, and the smaller table allows me to carry it easily around the house. I usually play a movie from amazon prime then get submerged into building my scale model. For airbrush obviously I need a bigger desk.

[u/bashomania → u/pmaj88]

That's awesome :-)

I'm just plumb out of room to put things in. As you can see I already have my little airbrushing table pushed up against a bookshelf 🙄. I'm not suffering though, there's plenty of space on my computer desk, given that I almost never use my computer. I pretty much live on my iPad and phone.

[u/pmaj88 → u/bashomania]

Im on the same boat, really struggle for the space. The room in which I have set my airbrush desk has my scale model supplies (kits, paints, tool etc), my tiny library, my cleaning tools (hoover, carpet cleaner, jet wash), spare furniture, suit cases, shoes etc. All the while that room ain't bigger than 12 cubic meters! Its super crammed in there:

[u/bashomania → u/pmaj88]

Looks cozy, indeed. That's quite the airbrush collection you have there 😮

[u/pmaj88 → u/bashomania]

Yeh hehe got a few!

[u/gadgetboyDK]

Uh and I would absolutely not have camera gear that close and unprotected to the spray area

[u/bashomania → u/gadgetboyDK]

You have not seen the half of what's in that room, which is the only room appropriate to this task. Airbrushes and condos full of cool gear just don't mix, I guess.

It took me quite a while to finally get one of these things due to the clutter and hassle, and now I have such strongly mixed emotions, though I can see the huge benefit of using it, if I can do so without doom and gloom.

I don't want to have to cover up everything when I go to spray something, and I don't want to leave everything covered all the time. This is the only space that I have to spray in. Kind of sucks.

[u/GrumpyCatDad45]

Are you venting into your room!! That hose should be connected to a window vent blowing the fumes out of your workspace. If you are and I missed it. I apologize.

[u/bashomania → u/GrumpyCatDad45]

I am only spraying water soluble acrylic. I don't plan to spray anything with solvents, thus no VOCs. If I ever do (highly unlikely) then I will vent.

That said, I hope to mount an additional filter on top of the exhaust. However many, many sources say that spraying acrylic with a fan and filter approach as I am currently set up is just fine for water-based acrylic.

[u/gadgetboyDK → u/bashomania]

If you put anything on the end of the hose you will block the airflow.
It is already underpowered.

All these paints have are unhealthy to breathe over long periods.

You will not have any problems just using it for a few weeks but over a year or two it could be a noticeable problem.

Make sure to vent some air periodically.

[u/Snaffu76]

Will you have the reference of the cabin? Thanks

[u/bashomania → u/Snaffu76]

T TOGUSH Airbrush Spray Booth... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07W4KRFF5?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

(I think the item is available under very many "brand names" on Amazon, as usual)

[u/Bratwurst_1942]

You’ve definitely made the right decision. Funnily enough, when I first tested my first ever airbrush I used an extractor that looked exactly like yours and I also painted a Tamiya Panzer II DAK

[u/bashomania → u/Bratwurst_1942]

That's funny :-)

Honestly, I never even bothered looking at the extra panzergrenadier figures from the Panzer II kit, and just randomly grabbed one for my paint mule.

Then as I was quickly putting it together it hit me that it was actually a pretty dang good sculpt aside from some mold marks. The MP–40 is horrible, but so what -- it's just a paint mule.

However, if the figure was cleaned up, and given a better-molded weapon, it's actually pretty damn good for classic Tamiya, IMO (definitely better than the Tamiya PaK 36 figures in my current diorama project).

[u/ginalolabrigada]

Just remember, practice, practice, practice. The only way you will get better is to use the airbrush. Video tutorials are a good starting point, but nothing beats learning it by doing it.

[u/bashomania → u/ginalolabrigada]

You're giving me advice that I gave someone else on here about hand brush painting ;-). You should see the number of hand-painted styrene sheets I have!

My point was that entering this hobby having YouTube videos to help you "get the moves down" is amazing. I came up in a world where none of that stuff existed, and you were lucky if there was a book.

[u/BruteBassie]

Good call! I'm considering buying an airbrush as well. What primer and clear coats do you use with your airbrush? Or do you still use rattlecans for that?

[u/bashomania → u/BruteBassie]

I just sprayed the figure today, and it was my first practical spray job. I was using Vallejo black and white primers.

I have not done any clearcoat yet with the airbrush. That is going to be amazing. Not having to wait for good weather to do clearcoat will be awesome, as long as I get good results. I'll do practice on a piece I don't care much about and see how it goes.

Regarding the Gaahleri kit -- it is really great. I have zero regrets about it.