| Do you love to paint your model cars? Have you | | | | you might want to wear a smock or an old shirt |
| been painting them by hand but now want to | | | | in case over spray gets on your clothes. Also, |
| learn a new technique? Why not learn to airbrush? | | | | you should do your painting outside. The over |
| Airbrushing your model car is something that is | | | | spray that vents through fan can be blown all |
| actually very easy to learn. You can get the | | | | over the place and can make quite the mess. |
| basics down quickly and with a little practice you | | | | Some of this can also be prevented by loosely |
| will get the advanced techniques as well. | | | | wiring a piece of cardboard over the side of the |
| Before you begin there are several items that | | | | fan that is outside the box. This will allow some air |
| you will need. Most of these can be picked up at | | | | to blow out but most of the paint should collect |
| a local hobby shop. Some of the local retail stores | | | | on the cardboard. Once you have built your simple |
| even carry kits that come with several of these | | | | paint booth you should be ready to begin. |
| items as well. The first thing you will want is a | | | | Make sure that you have properly assembled |
| basic airbrush kit. It should come with the nozzles, | | | | your airbrush and are using a paint that is |
| hose, jars, covers, etc. It may or may not include | | | | compatible with the model's construction. It may |
| a small compressor but your best bet is to find | | | | be that your model requires a particular type of |
| one that does. Just tell the salesperson what you | | | | paint. Also, you should make sure whether or not |
| are looking for and they should be able to point | | | | you need to use primer for your model. If it is |
| you in the right direction. | | | | then you will start your project by priming each |
| The next thing you need is personal protective | | | | piece. One thing to watch for is that most |
| equipment. These items will protect you from | | | | adhesives have an issue with sticking to primers. |
| accidental inhalation as well as protecting your skin | | | | You may want to carefully scrape away the |
| from the paints and cleaners. The items you need | | | | primer from the area that will receive the glue. |
| are latex gloves, safety goggles, and respiratory | | | | Before you actually begin to airbrush your model |
| protection (breath mask). Painting supplies that | | | | car you should practice your technique. Using a |
| you will need include airbrush paints, wet and dry | | | | piece of scrap metal or plastic try painting with |
| sandpaper, rubbing alcohol, airbrush cleaner, and | | | | the brush a couple of times. One thing you will |
| drafting tape. It is a wise idea to also pick up a | | | | want to remember is that if you want to get a |
| small cheap bathroom fan to use for ventilation. | | | | good even finish then you have to spray with an |
| Once you get everything home you are ready to | | | | even stroke going from one side to the other. |
| build your paint booth. | | | | Make sure you do not release the trigger until you |
| Take an old cardboard box that is big enough for | | | | have gone a bit past. |
| you to work on your model comfortably and cut | | | | Once you have airbrushed your first few models |
| out the top and one side. On the side opposite of | | | | you will be ready to try some more advanced |
| the one you removed cut a hole big enough for | | | | techniques. Before you do make sure you |
| the small fan to fit in. Place the fan in backwards | | | | practice whatever stroke it is that you are going |
| so that it will vent air out of the box. This will | | | | to attempt. With enough practice you will have |
| provide adequate ventilation while you are | | | | little trouble picking up these advanced techniques. |
| airbrushing your car. Once you begin airbrushing | | | | |