Got a New Airbrush

[Brent Gair]

Howdy folks. Sorry I don't post here more often but I'm primarily a modeler and I've only recently started using the airbrush for "art" (if you can call it that :)!). Got some stuff on the go but nothing completed to the point of public posting.

Anyway, I'm kinda' excited because I picked up a new airbrush this morning. Got an Iwata HP-B...also picked up a 10 foot braided hose.

For the last couple of years, I've been using a Badger 155 Anthem which I must say that I really like. I think it's a super general purpose airbrush. But as my airbrushing interests broaden, I figured I could use something new to complement the old AB. I love my 155 but it's not really a detail brush. The HP-B looks to be a good detail brush but not suited to some of my big model building projects. I'm guessing the two of them in combination should make a good team.

Let me add that this was almost an impulse buy. Here in Canada, we don't have quite the access to the great mail-order deals that you get in the U.S.. Sure, all the companies will ship here no problem...but forget about free-shipping and add Customs brokerages, and so on. But I was fortunate to receive a flyer in my mail from a local company selling Iwata ABs (talk about a coincidence).

So I just did about an hour of test spraying. I used Testors Model Master grey enamel (rememeber, as a model builder, this is what I have on hand). I sprayed a series of fine lines, grids, geometric patterns and did some handwriting and numbering. I tested it a pressures from 30psi to about 4 psi. Did most of the spraying around 10 psi (based on my experience with model enamels). I'm very pleased. Everything performed as expected.

I look forward to using the new brush on a real project. I'll probably try it on a model first. Again, that's where my experience lies (30+ years of model airbrushing). Should be fun!

[kahlua]

I'm looking forward to seeing some of your work. I've seen some really cool stuff in my airbrush magazines, mostly frankenstein and mummy's, stuff like that (models). They look really neat when airbrushed. Are these the kinds of models you do or do you do cars and planes? You should post some of your models here, if they are airbrushed, they belong here right?

[Brent Gair]

Funny you should mention those particular models.

For many, many years, I was almost entirely an airplane modeler. I'm 45 years old but started building models as a kid in the '60's and started airbrushing about 1970...so I've been at this pretty much my entire life.

About 4 years ago, just for a change of pace, I picked up a model of THE CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON. I didn't do a great job. I progressed through a few models and did a PHANTOM OF THE OPERA model that I thought was pretty good. I even airbrushed pinstripes on his suit by first painting it a dark grey, masking it with carefully spaced strips of narrow drafting tape, and airbrushing a lighter blue grey over it. I had it on display at a local hobby shop and somebody offerred to buy it. It became my first "professional" sale.

I thought that was rather ironic. 30+ years of building airplane models and the first kit I sell is a monster model.

Shortly thereafter, I built and painted a model of the headless horseman from the Johnny Depp movie SLEEPY HOLLOW. Put it on display at the same shop and it was also sold! Later I built a model of an A-4 Skyhawk with airbrushed camoflage and sold it through another shop (my first airplane sale). I NEVER intended to sell models. In fact, I didn't even realize people bought them. But it's nice to think that people will pay for your stuff

I also won an online contest sponsored by the Polar Lights model Company with a model of "DR.SMITH AND THE ROBOT" from the TV series "Lost in Space".

So my modeling has evolved from airplanes to a mixture of all kinds of pop culture items. I have a Frankenstein model on display at a shop and I have several monster models waiting to be built. I'll post a picture or two shortly (pics are stored on another computer). I actually did post a picture here of my batpalne model a few weeks ago (when the forum was new). Regretabbly, I don't have good pictures of my early Phantom and Horseman models as these were sold before I had a good digital camera.

[Alan Cross]

Thats great and its a good airbrush....so how much did you pay for it and where did you buy it?
Alan :)

[Brent Gair]

I got the airbrush at ARTIST'S EMPORIUM here in Winnipeg. It's within walking distance of my house so that's convenient. They have a decent supply of Iwata stuff...several HP-Bs, an HP-A or two, several Eclipse and Revolution models in the display case (and probably some other goodies that I didn't notice). They also seemed to have a reasonable selection of spare parts. I was also pleased to see a passable supply of frisket material and pre-cut masks (if that's the correct term).

The price for the HP-B was $187.50 Canadian. That equates to maybe $139.00US which certainly isn't a steal but seems very reasonable (not that I'm an expert)...considering that I didn't have to deal with any shipping issues.

I was just using it again this morning and I've put some pretty heavy practice in with it. In fact, since my intial test on Friday, I've been spraying thinned artist's acrylics: Liquitex High Viscosity (!)paint thinned with a touch of water and mixed with some Liquitex airbrush medium. It sprays beautifully (pretty good considering that the high viscosity paint isn't ideal airbrush material).

I'm making a little "test piece" that I hope to have finished to a postable state shortly. It's little 8x9" picture. The basic airbrushing is done but I'll have to brush paint ome fine detail.

[Caterwallin']

Hey Brent, my start in airbrushing began when I bought a Paashe VL to paint RC model airplanes! I have never built or painted the smaller versions. I think it's great that you can sell them! This may be a great market for you!
This is for infromation only! I bought my Iwata HP-B, brand new, from eBay for 55.00US with an extra 13.00US for S&H. I had to watch and bid on several auctions before I got the deal I wanted! This is not for everyone! It is a nice option if you can use it to your advantage!

[Brent Gair]

I've actually built a lot of very big RC stuff...so big that the paint jobs fall outside of the airbrush category. In fact, I have a Badger 400 detail, touch up spray gun for the big stuff.

I built a 1/4 scale Piper Cub kit (the Sig kit) with an 8 foot wingspan. I actually painted the model at Standard Aero Limited where I was a spray painter. Used some left over yellow polyurethane from a military project (technically, the paint job on the Cub was paid for by Canadian taxpayers...but it was excess paint that would have been tossed out otherwise).

Though I wouldn't begin to consider myself an airbrush artist by even the broadest definition, it's odd to note that my life seems have revolved around spraying paint :).

[Alan Cross]

Thanks for the info Brent thats pretty good but Sam you got a steal....I will have to check ebay out...
Alan :)

[Caterwallin']

Brent, did you ever do any artwork on the planes? I love Cubs! Did you ever fly RC?

[Brent Gair]

I never did any "art" on the rc planes other than what was required of a scale model (like the lightning bolt stripes on a Cub). The closest thing to art I did on the RC models was actually on my big ship models (yeah, I do ships too). I used simulate weathering and that required some airbrush work.

Yes I used to fly RC.

I also got a great deal of practice in the art collecting hundreds of tiny expensive pieces after they impacted the ground at 100mph. That's why I switched to ships!

[Penny220]

Are you doing the reverse painting on the clear RC's or are you painting them as you would the actual vehicle? I'd be interested in seeing some of your small planes, there has been some interest in me painting the tails of a Piper and a Cessna locally. I've never flown RC but I have flown the Piper :D

FYI $139 US is still a good price on the HP-B. Ordering anything from the US to Canada is tough because they hit you both on customs and GST and sometime you get hit a third time on the exchange rate. Ebay will work great for you IF you live close to a border drive down and pick one up from a friend or have a friend drive one across for you or a friend mail one to you. When taken through customs the airbrush is "used" and it was a "gift" therefore there is nothing to declare, that's IF they ever ask, besides I think the airbrush is under the declaration requirement. Customs is looking for large items and abuse of declarations, I use to purchase from duty free shops a few times a year. I've never lied to customs, I always have it in the back of my head that these people are GOD and I will have to go back someday but they are quite fair and liberal. I was once given a bottle duty free because they saw it was my friends birthday.

It's not fair, I can come back into the states and be refunded all of the GST I pay, I have to declare very little. Canadians pay our sales tax (no refunds), have to pay customs and their own GST. There are Japanese and Chinese ebay sellers that will ship anywhere, they may have a cheaper duty rate and cheaper declaration rate. There is also a large Asian population in Toronto that might be able to help you.

Penny

[Brent Gair]

The RC stuff I do (both ships and planes) is painted on the exterior just like the real item. Clear bodies are usually limited to RC cars and I'm not really big into that (I've actually built a couple...but that was quite awhile ago).

I'll post a picture or two in the next couple of days. I know that model painting is a bit out of the realm of general interest here and I've been reluctant to clog up the board with it. On the other hand, it's not like we're getting a dozen new meassage threads everyday :).