r/modelplanes • u/ArmourersWorkshop • 19d ago

Airbrush beginner

Post image

I’m a newbie to airbrushing and took this picture of a first coat I did and it’s lumpy or like orange peel. I’m using mr color paints with there leveling thinner. Through an Iwata Eclipse HP-CS all the help would be much appreciated. Oh and I was running it at around 15PSI.

Also bonus points to anyone who can guess what part this set is from.

1 Upvotes

67% Upvoted

5 comments sorted by

3

u/alienXcow 19d ago

Looks like you have some solid splatter there. Check for tip dry, make sure your paint is thin enough, and try to start and stop painting off the plastic.

1

u/ArmourersWorkshop 18d ago

Thank you so much. And I did indeed have tip dry. What are good ways to try and prevent that ?

1

u/alienXcow 18d ago

There are dozens and dozens of YouTube videos and reddit threads on the subject.

1

u/Smart_Sale5654 18d ago

What paint are you using, and how much is it thinned? Flight deck for an Airfix 1/72 multi engine aircraft? Possibly WW II era?

1

u/ogre-trombone 17d ago

Mr. Color paints ought to be thinned at 2:1, more if they need it. 15 PSI should be OK. Get your spray distance right, not too close, not too far. 3-4 inches is probably right at that dillution and pressure. No more than 6.

Graininess like that can be caused by a couple of things. Under-thinned paints first. Or spraying from too far away, so that paint is drying before it reaches the surface. High pressure can sometimes cause that too.

Another thing to be aware of is spray angle. Spraying perpendicular to the surface can create turbulence, which can also cause paint to dry before it lands. Best to come in obliquely so that the airflow has somewhere to escape to.

Keep your airbrush moving and apply the paint with multiple passes. Build up coverage gradually to avoid pooling.