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Post by bloodynose on Oct 8, 2014 23:38:39 GMT -5
I am ready to start creating the landscape of my layout and it will be primarily desert and chaparral trees, shrubs and grass. I would really appreciate recommendations for a good air brush setup and the best paints to use. I am planning on using the blue extruded foam insulation type foam board and maybe some aerosol expanding construction foam to build the hills so what would be the best paint to detail the foam surface with?
Thanks, Mark |
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Post by shamoo737 on Oct 9, 2014 8:53:28 GMT -5
Mark, use some cheap paint, because you are not going to see the paint. Cover the paint with Arizona Rock and Mineral dirt, rock, and pebbles. It will look better and more realistic.
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Post by ztrack on Oct 9, 2014 10:05:07 GMT -5
Take a look at the images and scenes oh Jurg Ruedi's website. John Cubbin created the dioramas that are shown. This should give you a good idea how to integrate soils and rocks in your scenery. www.zscalegallery.com/Rob |
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Post by markm on Oct 9, 2014 10:36:24 GMT -5
Mark,
I'm not aware of any air brushes to avoid, but if you are planning to do a lot of air brush work, go for the all metal: you can sink a lot of money into the replacement parts on the plastic ones. Also invest in a good book or video on using an air brush. For scenery, I usually don't both with an air brush except for detail work. A brush or a roller works just as well, since, as Shamoo has already pointed out, you're going to cover the paint with landscaping materials anyway.
I'm not a fan of the expandable foam for model railroading. It does what the name implies, expands, all over the place and is a mess to clean up. Unless you have some sort of mold, you'll have to cut the foam just like you would sheet foam. I found that gluing and cutting the sheet material is actually faster and cleaner than using the expandable foam.
Mark
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Post by emaley on Oct 9, 2014 18:33:16 GMT -5
I have a Badger 150 airbrush that I have used for about 30 years and love it. It is a double action, suction feed. It draws paint up from the cup and you can pull back on the button while depressing it and it will vary the flow of paint. You can set a little screw on it that will sort of set it at a certain amount, but I never found it hard to operate. I have heard some say they preferred a single action which has the paint flow set manually. Pasche also makes nice airbrushes. I would buy a quality airbrush, you won't regret it. You get what you pay for. They also make a gravity feed that can use a lower air pressure and some like it better, although I have never used one. Also make sure you have a compressor with an air tank so it will not have the pulsing you get with tankless and they tend to spit and will ruin a nice paint job. Like mark said a book or video and practice will do wonders. Youtube is a great source for more info.
Cheap paint for base color is best as Shammo and mark said. Good luck.
Trey
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Post by bloodynose on Oct 9, 2014 23:49:12 GMT -5
I greatly appreciate everyone's advice and any more tips will be more than welcome! I know that I will need to do some experimenting with building materials, coverings, and paint before I try to create the layout. My biggest investment here will be a good airbrush and I have done a little shopping around and have seen that an air brush setup can cost from $80 up to $300 (and more) so I just want to make sure I get a good one that is not over priced but not so cheap that I buy one twice!
Are there airbrushes that can handle thicker paint (how thin does the paint have to be)?
Again, thanks everyone, you're a great bunch of guys!
Mark
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Post by Admin on Oct 10, 2014 2:25:07 GMT -5
I tend to use the Paasche H airbrush quite a bit, it's a basic workhorse but can yield very good results. When I began airbrushing I figured my process would be to lay down basic coats of paint, then weather or add accent colors, etc. Very rudimentary stuff. In essence I suppose, I liked the idea of aerosol cans that I could control more than I could control aerosol cans  The Paasche H is a single action, well built and reasonably priced brush. Cleanup is fast and the brush is pretty forgiving. Double action brushes of course allow for greater control. Here are a few kits I've painted with the Paasche H. These were all painted using $1 acrylic craft paints, thinned with windshield wiper fluid to a milky-consistency and strained through a stocking to ensure no craft paint lumps to clog the brush needle: www.raildig.com/z-scale-basics/waterfront-project-building-wrap-up/Lots of good airbrush choices out there, this setup works pretty well for me. John Raildig.com |
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Post by tjdreams on Oct 10, 2014 16:59:20 GMT -5
I'm still learning how to use my airbrush and can't give a whole lot of advice. But the 2 things I have learned are. "1" A good air compressor w/ regulator and moisture trap is just as important as the air brush. "2" Clean your airbrush often and clean it right away when your done painting. You don't want the paint to dry inside it. Also do a web search for "Airbrush Depot" (TCP Global) They have some good Sales on airbrushes and compressor packages from time to time www.tcpglobal.com/Airbrushing-Supplies/ |
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