"Painting by hand over using an airbrush" Topic

So, I'm just about to pop open a box of PSC Pz IV's and I thought to myself…"am I doing my models a disservice by NOT using an airbrush"?

Looking at various blogs and seeing gamers use an airbrush on their armor I can't help but drool. They looks stunning. But, are they playing a game or building a diorama? Am I just kidding myself and ignoring the fact that I'd suck at airbrushing? Am I just being cheap? I'm gaming, not model building, right?

I've seen some youtube videos of people painting 15mm by hand and they look nice.

Why do you choose to paint by hand over using an airbrush?

I use an airbrush and find it extraordinarily handy, for far more than painting armor. Just sayin'….

But I've seen lots of models painted gorgeously by hand, and it's clear that they are far from necessary.

I paint by hand and get results I'm satisfied with. I occasionally spray paint vehicles with the use of masking tape if I have the right spray paint colors on hand.

I don't have an airbursh and doubt I'll buy one, but that's just me.

It's not mutually exclusive. Airbrush is another tool in the toolbox and those exquisitely airbrushed miniatures you see are usually finished by brush.

It also takes a lot of practice to get handy enough with one to do anything but basic base coating.

BUT! That basic base coating is incredibly useful and time-saving. And if you build any terrain or buildings, it's great for that too even at low skill levels. By careful angling you can get some really nice shading for free with your undercoating alone. Why argue about black vs white undercoat when you can do both on the same mini?

I'm 100% with Anthropicus.

I'm a recent airbrush convert – still very much a novice user, but where it makes a huge difference for me is in time saved priming and base-coating. The outcome pretty much looks the same as when I brushed everything since I still finish by brush, but in less than half the time.

I want to use an airbrush, but don't have one currently, and have the same concerns over lacking skill with it, once acquired.

Spray cans can be a happy medium, especially for base coats.

Okay…airbrushing…my favorite! So up until over a year and half ago, I had an older Badger single action airbrush which I got marginal results with. I was mostly using it for aircraft. But since the WWII bug has bitten me, I knew if I wanted my German vehicles to look good, I needed to airbrush them. I've done some hand-painting in the past with very good results, but very time consuming.

If anyone who knows me, I don't do anything small…I do projects in bulk/mass. So with my Hobby Lobby app for 40% off, I bought and introduction Iwata double action airbrush and new compressor with tank for relatively cheap. So long story short, all my vehicles which require something other than the base coat, I airbrush. To be honest it takes me more time prepping and post cleaning than airbrushing itself. I also use regular spray paint cans for the base coat, then another one for the main color of the vehicle. I use the "Off-spray" spray technique to still give the black undercoat the shadow look.

As far as being good with an airbrush…yup takes practice. But, here's what I do. I always seem to have extra paint left over and just practice on an old piece of foam board with dots and lines. Look at any video on YouTube and they will always start with the dots and lines. A double action airbrush can give those nice tight dots and lines.

I hand-paint my figures (15mm, 25/28mm and 1:48), but I do know a professional painter who does use an airbrush on them…not for me.

Bottom line I like the full visual of everything on the table; terrain, figures, flags, bases and vehicles. So I vest time into all aspects of my gaming table.

Good luck!

P.

Yes, an airbrush is just another tool in the box. I build 1/35 scale armor models too, so using an airbrush for wargaming stuff was a very natural thing for me. I very often (read: nearly 100% of the time) basecoat armor with an airbrush. Not only are the colors available much more extensive than the rattle cans I have access to, but airbrushing tends to get much better, smoother coatings than spraypaint.

And while yes, these are wargaming figures, intended to be used in gaming, I don't accept the idea that one should compromise in the paint quality just because they are being used in gaming. One of the best, most epic aspects about minis wargaming is that in the middle of the game, using well-painted armies, I can step back from it and it becomes a mini diorama of a battle that is unfolding. That is what I aspire to, so I always look for ways to improve my models and painting.

Damon.

I agree with Garand. I'm a 1/35 builder also so I've had an airbrush for years, mostly for tank camo. A few years ago I started basecoating my 6mm using it, to prevent detail being lost through spray can use. It's an investment though (airbrush, compressor, spray booth). I do try to make my airbrushed vehicles look good (nowhere near some people's skills) but I also look at it as a way to practice painting/building skills without risking a $50 USD+ model.

If I were doing anything larger than 1/72-76 scale I can see an airbrushing being something of a necessity but if all I'm doing is 15mm is the detail that big of an issue? Yes, basecoat/priming is going to be easier with an airbrush especially if you're painting an army, but I'm not doing more than 3-5 AFV's at most.

Thees questions are coming from someone whose never gamed much and never in this scale.

Thanks for all the comments

I find the airbrush handy for painting armor even as small as 6mm scale. 15mm is big enough to free-hand the camo and with single-color uniforms you can save time on the infantry too.

Agree. I airbrush armor whether it is 15mm (my "preferreed" scale) or even 6mm. It helps to have a few lined up in the queue for painting, but even if I am just doing a platoon of vehicles, I'll airbrush. I once airbrushed a QRF T-64A as just a single item. It was worth the effort.

In 6mm though I am usually painting an entire company of tanks.

Damon.

my wife bought me a crescendo airbrush back in the mid 1990's.

It was a beautiful gift. A great airbrush.

I never got the hang of using it, so it sits in then box.

I paint by hand. I guess I have to.

You can compromise by using a spray can for the basic colour then complete the model with hand painting , washes and chalks

Thanks for all the comments.

Going forward I think I'm going to just work on my hand painting skills. Once mastered (or I get to a point where it won't get any better) I look at where I am and decide then if an airbrush is needed.

an airbrush is a lot of fun and painting is actually faster than doing everything by hand. You can also play a bit more with color variation.

The downside is that you have to clean the airbrush which is a bit more tedious than cleaning brushes. However, with a bit practice, it kind of become an automatism.

I came to wargaming from a scale modeling background and started airbrushing in the late 70's.

I use it in all my wargaming projects.

The learning curve is steep (for performing detail work);additionally, different airbrushes (needle / nozzle combination) are required for specific applications.

That the use of an airbrush is scale specific is not true. I have airbrushed 3 tone camo on 1/285 vehicle models and weathering on 1/600 aircraft models.

It is really another tool in the tool box but unlike any other comparable tool it requires a dedicated level of training / practice to get the most out of it. It's really a matter of how willing you are to learn.

Joe

That couldn't be more true. Thank you.

It makes me realize I want to game, not build models.

Hand painting will be more than enough for me.

Thanks for all the insight folks

I would like to get an airbrush, but it's not worth it as I've already painted most of my WW2 vehicles by hand.

My PSC 1/72 21st Pz MkIV's.

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Acctingman1869: understood. One way to get an airbrush 'effect' without an airbrush is to apply a filter coat over hand painted schemes.

Paint cammo (or even single scheme) with a brush. Let dry and then use a spray can and very lightly (from a distance) mist it on.

Pick a readily available color that complements the base color – not the cammo colors.

The key is how you spray: not the usual side to side while holding the nozzle down.

Here you are spraying in very short bursts and 'connecting' them as you go over the model.

This will tone down all the previous colors applied and diffuse the cammo providing an atmospheric effect.

It takes practice because it is counter-intuitive but the learning curve is quick.

Wrgmr1: nice work!

Thanks Joe.

this guy is the best at handpainting
link

but otherwise I would say you are doing a disservice by handpainting. just my opinion. love my airbrush!

try stippling with thin paint or make multiple passes with thin paint. and then give them a wash or filter to blend them in!

good luck