Beginning Airbrushing

13 May 2002, 11:38 AM

hello again!

I have seriously considered ( more now than ever) learning how to airbrush paint in regards to painting tissue covered Balsa-wood models. Has anyone done this? If so, what kind of results were had? I am curious to know, simply because i want to get great looking results, to increase the beauty and accuracy of aircraft markings.. Any ideas??

thanks,

dtenney

wolfenbill · 13 May 2002, 07:13 PM

Darrin, It's a great way to paint these models. Just like painting the real ones. In fact I cover tissue models the same way the real ones are done. I brush on the initial layers of dope. Some gentle sanding (with 400 or 600 grit sandpaper) is required between coats to keep everything smooth. I usually use enamels as the final layer because so many different colors are available. This is airbrushed on for sure. Use frisket paper to make your masks. Clean your airbrush thoroughly between each application.. Just like doing plastic models. Just like doing the real McCoys.

14 May 2002, 01:21 PM

Bill,

thanks for the tips, I'll keep you posted on how it turns out. I can't wait to see the results for both balsa models I'm working on... both the Fokker Dr.I and D.VII. Thanks again...

dtenney

wolfenbill · 15 May 2002, 05:36 AM

Darrin, if you really want to get into some 1/16 scale wood and tissue modeling you ought to check out the plans available from Cleveland Model and Supply (formerly in Cleveland but now in Indianapolis). They have a fabulous selection of all kinds of WWI aircraft (and also of other eras). You could keep building until you're an old man. Admittedly some may not be perfectly accurate, one I recall being a Gotha bomber, they still make fine models and the company has been in business since the 1930's if I recall correctly.

15 May 2002, 06:55 AM

Bill,

Thanks for the advice. I am building these planes as another way to kill some time, while doing other things!

I will check them out. Any word on if they have a website??

dtenney

15 May 2002, 07:04 AM

ok, i did find the website after doing a search on Google. What a site! Tons of models.. here's the address link for anyone else thats interested:

www.clevelandairline.com

Enjoy!!

dtenney

15 May 2002, 12:04 PM

Hi

Do you intend to build flyers? If so, paint is both too heavy and too opaque. If you are using a glow motor, the thing you propose is not fuel proof.
For my FF flyers, I use inks on tissue which airbrushes well and adds minimal weight.

Rocky

DavidErrol · 15 May 2002, 02:37 PM

ProfFate,
Too opaque? Seen many translucent airplanes lately?

Dtenny,
I regularly airbrush paint my rubber and CO[sub]2[/sub] powered free flight scale models. This works fine, models are not too heavy and fly great. I use coloured nitrate dope, Floquil model RR paints, and enamels thinned with dope thinner (to adhere to the clear dope underneath). I have taken first place in a Flying Aces WWI peanut scale competition with a completely painted (Floquil) D.H.5. Airbrushing allows the paint to be put on to whatever thickness / coverage you like and obviously the thicker the paint, the heavier the model and the faster it must fly to remain airborne. But don't let anyone tell you that painted rubber powered FF models can't fly well. I have a number of models to prove that to be not the case. Just use common sense and put on only enough paint to do the job.

Oh and by the way, bigger models tend to fly better. I build my rubber powered scale models to 1:12 scale.

DavidErrol