Just got a Badger 150 pro

[4DMNYC]

So I've never airbrushed anything in my life. I've always used the rattle cans. But my girlfriend bought me a Badger 150 pro for Christmas so I plan to learn how to airbrush. So is there any tips I need to know? Is it hard to learn? What compresser should I use with this airbrush?

[LD3Furious]

Two things I can suggest from things I have read...
1) Compressor...basically it sounds like any basic compressor will work.Just make sure you also have a moisture trap. This thread will likely help...You might also want to look into one that is designed to operate quietly. A friend of mine has a small one and lemme tell ya...this thing shakes the walls...even for it's small size.

http://forums.radiocontrolzone.com/showthread.php?t=210162

2) For practice...a couple ideas. One would be to save all clear plastic soda bottles you have and use them. A second, you can probably pick up sheet lexan at your LHS.Practice techniques on these before you drop $25 or so on a body.

[-=ADA$=-]

i might be getting airbrush soon, i waited so long mainly because i wanted to get good compressor with it (one with tank), so i can use it also to clean cars.
And since i might be getting compressor from my girlfriends father, i might as well get airbrush, and i plan to practice on soda bottles BUT, let me ask You if i should paint on outside?? or cut them, but if i do they fold ;(
Thanks alot for help

[JamminJay]

Adam...

One suggestion, go to your local hardware store and get a 12"x12" piece of plexiglass, you can paint either side, and clean it off easily with fuel or w/e.

[Farwar]

Practice doing different size dots and lines first. This will get you familiar with your airbrush and you will be more confident using it. It isn't that hard to do dots and lines but using that doing freehand work takes practice.

http://www.howtoairbrush.com/
^^ that is a good side to read through. It shows lessons and how to clean your airbrush.

[LEADFOOT]

but that airbrush on eBay and buy an Iwata...


-best advice you'll ever get

[4DMNYC]

Thanks for all the info peeps. That "how to airbrush" site is great! As soon as I get a post worthy body painted, I'll show you guys.:) Right now I'm just practicing and getting used to how an airbrush works.

[Piggy89373]

4D, welcome to the addiction!! That site is a great source of info. Now comes the frustration and practice. Use the tutorials on there with some cheap water based paint to learn dots, lines, and dagger strokes. Old newspaper taped to cardboard is a cheap canvas that works great. I recommend you set yourself up for practice by setting a number of exercises to do, kinda like repetitions. Start with a hundred dots and work from there. You'll get tired of them around your 10th dot, but when done, you'll see a huge increase in skill. Do the same for lines and dagger strokes.

Those three exercises are the ones you'll use the most, so practice, practice, and practice some more. You'll get bored, but keep at it. Mix things up later on by creating dots in specific pattern. This will help you readjust your aim for precision.

Do the same for dagger strokes. Try doing a funky pattern using dagger strokes of different sizes. Make lots of palm trees with dagger strokes.

Once you run out of newspaper, then look at getting some lexan or plexiglass to practice on. I recommend you practice on lexan/plexi long before you try it on a body. You'll have to overcome the urge to take your new found experience and skills and mess up a body. Painting on that smooth of a surface is completely different than on newspaper. Get used to doing the same exercises on plexi. Eventually, work in your polycarbonate paints to get used to them.

I keep harping on this, and will continue to, but get a notebook. Take notes on what pressures you're using, pigments, thinning ratios, how fine the detail you can get with it, the whole enchilada. Take lots of notes, and refer to them often. This will help you learn your paints and what it takes to use them. I still refer to my notebook fairly often. Go through these and other forums and pick out some techniques and tricks. Organize them to create a FAQ sheet for easy reference. It'll help you tremendously and you'll be surprised at what can be used for painting.

After several hundred dots, lines, and dagger strokes, pick up a body. Take your time with it. Don't rush things. If you're like me, you'll get tired really quick of the exercises and pronounce yourself trained and immediately screw up a body. So, don't be like me, take your time and do things right.

Lastly, it takes a tremendous amount of skill to produce stuff the pros do. You will have a good bit of frustration and will fail at times, it's part of the learning process. Don't get discouraged, stick with it and stay focused. Learn from your mistakes and the mistakes of others and you'll do just fine. It won't be long before you figure out some of the tips and techniques of the pros by breaking down their paint jobs.

When you do finish your first body (hopefully sometime in Feb or March after much needed practice), post it up. Don't be shy. We've all got some goofs we're not too proud of for first jobs, so I'm sure yours won't be the worst. :D:D

[4DMNYC]

Thanks Piggy, I'll definitly be practicing and taking my time to learn airbrushing the correct way. And you can bet I'll be posting bodies once I start painting them. I may even enter a competition :cool:
Watch out now :cool: LOL

[Piggy89373]

I may even enter a competition
Watch out now LOL
Bring it on, brother!! I look forward to you beating me!

In the meantime, get some practice in! Since you'll be heading out to Michael's soon for cheap paint to practice with (or to pick up some of the Createx line of paints), pick up a color wheel. Get used to using it. It'll do wonders for you! It'll be one of the best 3 dollar investments you'll ever make. ;)