How to paint scale models with airbrushing ?

Painting for model making designates a playful and artistic activity, nevertheless often technical and demanding, which is applied with airbrushes, on scale models, or models, radio-controlled or exhibition. All kinds of machines can be painted with it, from military models of tanks, tanks, planes, to scale models of sailboats, boats, trains, and radio-controlled cars.

We use fine, quality paints, and sometimes even professional-type paints, to ensure that the paint holds up well against the aggressions of time (the sun, the years, etc.), or the environment ( water, sand, fuels) in which the model is likely to evolve. The fineness is important to pass in the nozzles of the airbrushes: it is not possible to dilute any paint to obtain a fluid paint.

Airbrushes for model making and models

There is no better tool to deposit paint on a support, in a perfect, homogeneous and fast way. The spraying technique also makes it possible to paint in hard-to-reach corners and holes without any difficulty. This extraordinary tool projects a very thin, even layer of paint without brush marks and promotes faster drying.

The airbrush is adapted to the size of the model subjects (vehicle from 4 cm to 100cm). For larger subjects, a paint gun is used :
Similar to how soldiers paint a camouflage pattern on the body of a military vehicle with a large paint gun, one can paint yourself on a 1/30 scale the same camouflage decor with the airbrush. This airbrush is nothing but a mini gun.

Which airbrush choice for model making ?

If you occasionally paint models, it is advisable to equip yourself with a "suction" type airbrush, i.e. with the paint tank placed below, with suction operation paint. This configuration best suits the need to paint and color entire models. The capacity of the buckets is suitable and contains enough paint to paint a complete small plane for example.

Above all, with this type of airbrush it is often possible to change the size of the nozzle and the needle, choosing according to the size of what you want to paint.
Finally, this type of airbrush is suitable for all paints, from primers to varnishes.

For model painting enthusiasts, it is very practical to have several airbrushes, including a finer, more precise airbrush, reserved for miniature decorations and precision work : These are the airbrushes with the tank on top , called "gravity" airbrush.

Basic rules for using an airbrush in model making

Here are the 4 main tips for those who have painted with a brush until today, and who wish to start the amateur practice of airbrushing :

1 – Adjust the mixture of your paint and its fluidity well so as not to clog the nozzle and allow a good spray of paint

2 – Learn how to completely disassemble and reassemble your airbrush. This, in addition to regular cleaning, will allow you to solve all your little spraying problems.

3 – During use, use both hands. Your second hand supports the main hand to support and stabilize it, or even guide it.

4 – Adjust the distance of the nozzle in front of the support, at the same time as the adjustment of the force of the paint jet. If you want a large jet of paint, position yourself further from the support (15cm max), and spray thoroughly using the button. If you want to draw an ultra fine line, place the tip of the airbrush 1mm from the support, and spray as little as possible.

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