Airbrushing Miniatures: A Beginner's Guide

[@raxxor18]

You posted this video just one minute ago and I want to get an early comment in before I watch the video, so I'm gonna say beautiful use of Pale Sand. Probably.

[@DanaHowl]

no pale sand in this video! it clogs the airbrush!

[@Panda]

The staff in the Brighton Warhammer recommended I come and check out your channel and specifically this video. Thanks!

[@DanaHowl]

OMG that's so nice of them!! Tell them I say hi if you're in there again :)

[@GoobertownHobbies]

them bricks are lookin goooooooood! Love the new studio, I'm super happy for ya!

[@quadlazer]

Also essential for a airbrushing station…Eons of Battle on the tube in the background!

[@drowgamer]

It’s also important to note that most compressors with a tank has a small screw/valve on the bottom that should be unscrewed after every use to allow any moisture in the tank to drain/ evaporate. Doing this will prevent the tank from rusting and thus prolong the life of the unit.

[@disposable157]

What's the tank for? My compressor doesn't have one, just a pressure dial. It's an iwata silver jet

[@happninmojo]

@@disposable157 The tank is your air reserve, you can think of it like the fuel tank on a car. The part that has the pressure dial/regulator on most compressors is the motor housing, like the engine of a vehicle. With airbrushing we need relatively little psi (15-25 psi) so airbrushing is pretty much the only hobby/craft where you can use/buy an air compressor with no tank. That makes cheaper compressors for consumers. The downside is constant noise because tankless compressors are constantly running. The drain valve, as stated by drowgamer, is at the lowest point of the tank as this is where condensate (basically water) gathers and usually looks like a brass key ring. This is an inevitable occurrence particularly if you live in a humid area. Before you drain your tank you want to empty the tank of air. Always assume all tanks are full, just like you should always assume all guns are loaded.

[@disposable157]

@@happninmojo amazing, thanks for the info I really appreciate it

[@kenclarke4906]

Do not drain your compressors using the safety release valve! That is designed to blow off tank pressure if exceeding the factory maximum capacity. Pulling that not only weekens the spring but contaminates the stopper with Rusty water vapor. Further more, it's not located at the bottom of the tank where water accumulates. This is where you should find your drain valve, ar the lowest most part of the tank. Drain tank regularly.

[@ErgonomicChair]

@@kenclarke4906 Oh heck I completely misread what you said, and yeah having done pressure B-Welding that safety release should never be triggered that often haha.

[@colinmatter4697]

I have not watched more than 15 seconds of this video but I have INSTANT jealousy for the *spiral* desk setup on display here. Love it. Wish I could have it. Thank you for sharing this glory with us all, Dana. Now on with the watching.

[@patnoon5477]

Very good info especially for new airbrush owners. Just one note: I discovered that using paper towels to wipe out the bowl left lots of little particulate so I recently switched to those “painter sponges” with a handle. They fit perfectly and left no residual paper dust material and soak up the majority of the paint or water or whatever. They sell hundred count packs for dirt cheap too

[@chrisbeau76]

One thing I learned when using my airbrush for priming is that the larger the needle, the less or lack of thinner reqiored. I use Steinelrez and Pro Acryl's Black Primer and they both recommend not adding any thinner and spraying at 30 PSI with a .5 Needle. I tried it and it works perfectly. Just make sure the needle is lubed up with needle juice. I also tend to spray acrylic paint starting at 50/50 Paint to Flow Improver instead of actual Thinner. It prevents tip dry and extends the paint in the cup from drying if spraying big batches of minis. And finally the higher the PSI you can get away with the less chance you risk of getting a clog. Edit: I have that exact compressor and so far so good! For the Airbrush, I use a Badger Patriot 105. I've gone through 5 airbrushes and this by far is the easiest to use, clean and has a feature that lets you pull the needle out without having to remove any pieces. The only issue I come across still is tip dry but I think its the way I use the air brush. I've started rocking the trigger back and forth while spraying and it helps a little. How do I prevent Tip Dry!!!

[@TheMrFishnDucks]

Very nice video. Congratulations on the new office space. Looking forward to future videos. Keep up the good work.

[@mifen5023]

Great timing for me. I've bought my airbrush setup and have yet to open it and get started. Time to take the plunge, thanks for the great vid.

[@kasparbaktat964]

2:20 alone this part was so useful to me! I just got my airbrush and compressor and was really wondering how to get rid of the remaining air in the tank after using it... no other tutorial or the MANUAL of the compressor mentioned those two steps/mechanisms! But the whole video is very informative!

[@powerverto1787]

I just bought an airbrush and compressor so this video has really helped give me the confidence to actually turn it on and use it for my models. Great info on the basics including start up and shut down. And really informative content on steps to successfully painting using one. Great timing! Thank you Dana 🙏

[@predat0rprime111]

You are a wonderful and beautiful person. Thank you for all your advice and information on this wonderful hobby!

[@sonicexpert986]

Perfect timing! I literally just got my first air compressor and airbrush set for my bday, have a respirator mask coming in the mail next week!

[@timmanning5206]

Good vid. For the next one, maybe basic maintenance, removing and cleaning the needle etc

[@Fortunes.Fool.]

I just got a cheap airbrush for priming and varnishing, I’m starting with spraying some sprues to figure it out. The paint keeps flaking off so this will take time to master. Great video!

[@Kodaemon]

Fantastic video. Just got myself an airbrush kit and this covers most of what I need to know right now.

[@severalwhitespaces]

This video gives such insight into your thought processes. You have a wild brain!

[@DumahAtreides]

Great timing for me on this! I just got an airbrush and this helped a lot.

[@Roadkill663]

The timing of this video is perfect, I just started using my entry level air brush and you helped fix my first problem, sputtering. Detail and more refined use are my next white whales, tried to make my zenithal prime lighter around the face to create a focal point and he looks like he's been hit with a custard pie. Love your work 😁

[@jesshasnofilter]

Most helpful by far. Thank you

[@annonomowz4903]

Super helpful video as always! As for the echo you mentioned, it's sound reflecting off hard surfaces in the room. There are a few things you can do. The cheapest one is to fill the room up with more stuff! If you have a hard floor get a nice big rug that kind of thing. Mounting audio tiles to the walls or sound blankets are a couple of options that can help but they can become a little pricey depending on the space. The last one and probably the most intrusive to your current set up would be to use a condenser mic really close up and combine it with a noise gate so that your voice is totally isolated from any other sound in the room. I hope this is helpful and look forward to your next video!

[@kestrel5]

Saving this to remember when I graduate to airbrush level! Thank you for taking the time to go through your steps and tips!

[@richardjones7984]

Thanks for a really helpful tutorial.

[@travelminipainter]

Nice one. Just a note. On a dual action, pulling back the trigger opens the need and this the amount of paint that is sucked out by the air-pressure. It does not widen the cone of spray as such at the same pressure, but the amount of paint that sprays out. You can also control the amount of air by pressing more or less on the trigger, but that will only come, once you get really used to your airbrush.

[@GhostMkrMiniatures]

You can also get a moisture trap that goes between the brush and the hose that catches any moisture buildup that causes the spiderwebbing.

[@longwing]

Regarding the question of power bars and extension cords: It's totally fine to plug into a power strip or extension cord! You just need to know the power draw of the connected devices and the rating of the cord. Most devices will have a published value for their amperage or wattage. Just make sure you're not drawing more amps/watts (they're basically two ways of measuring power) than your extension cords or power strips can handle. For example, that compressor looks like a bog-standard amazon compressor. Those are generally 125 watts when run on a 120 volt (US standard) circuit. That comes out to basically 1 amp of power (look for volt/amp/wat calculator to get easy conversions). Many power strips are rated for 15 amps. The one in your video looks a lot like one I have and that's a 15 amp power strip (check the bottom, it should say). Granted, you don't want to run it right up to the line, so you wouldn't want to plug in 15 compressors, but you'd have to have at least 10 plugged in to that power strip before you're even starting to load the circuit down. It's totally possible to overload an extension cord, but if you use the printed values on cords and devices, it's unlikely. Basically if it doesn't heat or cool (Heaters, ACs, blow driers, hot air guns, soldering stations, etc.), you're going to be fine. Even with heaters it's fine if you check the ratings and don't go too high.

[@sleestack2723]

Is that an EOB models and memories?? Thats pretty cool!

[@mr.duffield142]

Hey Dana! Double check your links in the description. The ventilation booth link goes to the compressor, and the compressor link goes to the ventilation booth. Love the videos, keep it up!

[@mythrando]

I love your new space!

[@fernandozavaletabustos205]

Great video as always!

[@johnathanrhoades7751]

Great stuff!! Lovely new space. I'm getting more and more comfortable with my airbrush and have had to learn so much!!

[@Asumis1988]

Nice Video about the Basics. Helps me a lot

[@briochie]

I just set up a similar filtering system for my 3D printer! Also recommend.

[@andrewbehrens3540]

This is great! I’d love to see how you do it with smaller minis. Been afraid of my airbrush.

[@JakeDogg-RIP]

U good girl Dana! 🥰❤️🐶

[@lucinawalker3261]

An airbrush is an amazing tool that can also be an amazing pain in the ass at least in my experience, so seeing a workflow vid was very interesting and nice.

[@maxbrandt6]

Congrats on a new hobby space, it's your sanctuary away from a mad, mad world!

[@lolaldanee2743]

New studio? Then thats the reason why youve been quiet lately. Congratz!

[@DanaHowl]

YUP ive been spending all my time moving!!!! Should be back to normal soon!

[@russ5838]

Very infoemative video Dana, thank you and keep up the good work.

[@crazygermn]

Tips for getting rid of echo: Put a rug over any hardwood floors. Record closer to your microphone. Try to speak towards a cluttered or uneven surface like a desk, not a flat wall. If you want to get into the weeds on audio processing, you can probably gate the echo away.

[@jake360flip]

AAA sound designer/Field recordist here. The issue most content creators have is they use large diaphragm Condensor microphones because they are pretty standard. Whilst they are the best in terms of quality. They are best used in controlled/treated spaces because they are extremely sensitive and will pick up everything. The easiest way to remove reverb for the most part is buy a good dynamic microphone and get as close to it as possible. Your voice won't sound "as good" (subjective) It will have way less reverb. The only thing is these microphones don't look as cool and a lot of people think they make them look way less legit. The actual best option but expensive is acoustic paneling. Unfortunately this can get expensive depending how far you want to go with it. Plus Bass traps in the corners. You can get custom panels made or build your own.

[@crazygermn]

@@jake360flip Hard agree on all. I blame the blue yeti people for proliferation of condenser mics. But I can also understand someone who's focus is not purely on audio to want the ease of a USB mic. Definitely cheaper and easier than buying something like an SM58, and a mic stand, and audio interface, etc.

[@markgnepper5636]

Great stuff friend 👏 👍

[@dirkgaffron5456]

you get a better experience when you move the trigger fully forward before you let him go. Without that you might get paint splatters, because some paint will stay in the front section of the airbrush and get dry

[@GeneralKetchup57]

I have the same airbrush and similar tank. Please talk about how far to push the needle into the airbrush when reassembling. Should it be totally pushed forward or should there be slight pull back from totally pushed forward. I've been pulling back a little.

[@julesmartin6972]

Super informative video

[@Brandon-zw3hw]

You also get paint splatter from the buildup of paint shooting from the airbrush due to not pushing the trigger forward before cutting off the air.

[@petecallamaras6887]

Looking forward to it!

[@thom-novi]

Isopropyl alcohol is great for cleaning your airbrush and especially the needle with some kitchen paper. I keep some in a small misting bottle.

[@oliverp3545]

I'd say that you want to ensure that you have a very ventilated room and face covering because it'll really make you feel sick.

[@krzysztofmathews738]

A great overview! One question I have is what might be a good and responsible way of disposing of the waste water in the cleaning jar after that starts filling up. Many thanks!

[@Maeyanie]

If it's just acrylics and other similar non-toxic stuff, you can pour it down the drain fine. If you use solvent-based paints and it ends up being a toxic slurry, you'll probably have to consult your local guidelines for disposal, how exactly to handle different chemicals varies. You'll especially want to look for the "avoid release to the environment" hazard symbol. It's worth looking that one up if you don't know it; anything with that symbol should never go down a drain.

[@krzysztofmathews738]

@@Maeyanie Thank you! I've only been using acrylics through my brush at this point.

[@MKempICI]

If you are just getting started with airbrushing, consider buying yourself a small piece of glass and a razor blade. You can airbrush the glass to your heart's content, let it dry, and just scrape the paint off of the glass with the razor and start again. You can find very cheap, small panes of glass in everything from craft store frames to dollar store frames, or at consignment/thrift shops.

[@AceTaxiaGaming]

I highly recommend not doing that

[@Titicanum]

@@AceTaxiaGaming Why ?

[@AceTaxiaGaming]

@@Titicanum sharp razors and glass is a lovely combination

[@RichardJRussell]

Those compressors seem to be sold under a wide variety of rebrands on Amazon. I bought the same one from a small company here in the UK but straight out of the box it wouldn't pressurise. I contacted the company and they sent me a whole new package (it was a kit that came with a regulator and a basic airbrush with 2 different needles & nozzles). Second one worked perfectly, so I did a direct, part for part comparison between the two (to the extent of my ability). The original one was missing the rubber O-ring on the drain valve at the bottom of the air tank. 🤷‍♂️ 50 psi seems quite high for mini painting.

[@BrickInTheHead]

1:16 oh hi EOB

[@richardschwerdtfeger2765]

I hope someone tells Jay that Dana watches him.

[@oliverp3545]

Damn that video came out 2 days ago aswell, Dana works quick.

[@boelens15080]

Nice video very handy. You showed how to clean the airbrush between acrylic paint changes. What is your procedure when finishing a painting session? How does this change when you use varnishes?

[@michaelgeorgeduddy6153]

Hey Dana! Great video as usual, but just a quick thing I noticed I think you mixed the link for the compressor and the booth up! Keep up the great work!

[@willmendoza8498]

My compressor only has one setting (very cheap) but I will try your other advice for reducing speckling.

[@salvation7362]

All... that... table... space! *faints* I'd love to have that setup for my Lego studio. 😍

[@Bluecho4]

13:30 On the flipside, you may _want_ a speckling effect in certain places. In which case, thicken the paint and/or lower the psi to gain the desired effect. The same with spider-webbing, just in reverse. A problem can also be a solution to a different problem.

[@AceTaxiaGaming]

It's better to put paint in a toothbrush and blow air through the airbrush through the toothbrush for more realistic effects

[@Winterydee]

1:36 You say "Make sure it has a tank up top" as you're tapping/patting the silver colored electric motor. The tank is the black cylinder on the bottom. Also you should not be pulling that release valve because that is the emergency release valve should the tank become over pressurized. Yes it should be checked every few months, just to make sure it is still working properly. However as someone else has slightly pointed out in another comment, there is a screw plug on the bottom of the tank which is how one properly releases both the the pressure in the tank along with and moisture which has built up in the tank from humidity in the air being compressed. Sorry if this comes off wrong in any way, but being as I've done construction and dealt with compressors for decades due to that job. I just want not only you but anyone else who invests in an airbrush and compressor to be able to properly maintain and enjoy them for years. An to me that starts with an understanding of the equipment that we are using.

[@Ted8407]

Absolutely perfect timing of this video! I was just about to go digging through your and MWM’s videos for air brush info. Do you have an Amazon affiliate link or something I could use to your preferred tools?

[@DanaHowl]

Thanks!!! Yup right down in the description!!!

[@King1970Mob]

What is your set-up for the gaming area? I'm looking to build similar and would love to know the dimensions and brands used.

[@IlanDavid]

I just found you and I am binging on your videos. I love your style and admire your skills. Would you consider (or maybe you're already doing it) doing some live twitch sessions for miniature painting? I feel like painting live will be entertaining and usefull for watching you paint and asking you questions while you're doing it.

[@Raptor1970]

Don’t forget to open the drain plug under the compressor tank occasionally, water collects in there too.

[@ger5956]

I’ve owned the same air compressor as you for about two years now, I had no idea about the pressure release valve until now hahaha thank you! 🙏🏼🫵🏼🤘🏼

[@BittermanAndy]

Same!

[@alextopfer1068]

i think the issue for plugging into the power board is they aren't always rated for the same amperage for the circuits in your wall. it should be fine as long as you ensure it's all rated high enough, but if you're not sure plug right into the wall.

[@farmcat3198]

The Wood Whisperer here on KZbin would be a good person to contact regarding acoustic panels. He does videos in a large shop, and he's moved several times. He has lots of experience with eliminating echos.

[@thattabletopguy]

I came for the airbrushing tips and stayed to over analyze every little detail of that sweet studio setup.

[@Andyyybeeeee]

quick question as i have the exact same compressor and i mainly paint Warhammer, i have the recommended star max air brush from Squidmars video, I've only just learnt how to drop the PSI, will lowering it further decrease the power because sometimes even at 50 it can be a little much. also I'm not very good at pulling the trigger back a small amount XD

[@GregShaw]

I’ve heard that it’s best to use white inks for zenith priming because white inks atomise better than white primer

[@Fissi0nChips]

It's also a good idea to spray on something like a piece of paper first to make sure your paint is the right consistency (eg: no spider webbing or spattering) for what you're about to do

[@trancedarkdust90]

Where do we send the fumes at -20 and colder? Can we use air filter and send air back into room?

[@benjaminjack867]

Dana Rules!

[@Maeyanie]

7:25: It's not really necessary to wear a respirator with acrylics, but a mask of some sort is definitely a good idea... just because it's non-toxic doesn't mean getting droplets in your lungs is fun.

[@GDPanda69]

What is your go to white primer? I tried to get a good look at the one you used in the video, but couldn't really tell.

[@christianmiller6724]

What was the brown you were using there after the turquoise?

[@YanniCooper]

Pretty much any aerosolized substance is bad to inhale, but some of it is a matter of scale. If you're airbrushing outside or just priming a single mini, or doing a video on how to airbrush the acrylic particals probably won't be very harmful just the one time, but it's definitely good to get in the habit of using a respirator. Note also that you will want something at least N95 ... the particulates the airbrush is putting out are TINY and even with a good vent system you'll end up breathing some unless you've got a really good mask.

[@bgdrewshowers7411]

question where do you buy your miniatures from when you paint them

[@vladimirpalik6697]

Great studio space, congrats :) But You'll definitely need some foam on the walls for better sound quality. Pretty sure this guy from Midwinter Minis could help You (still could not remeber his name ) 😉

[@Bloodfencer1990]

Most who recomemnd mixing your paints outside the brush do so because people tend to put in the paint first and then the thinner. This creates the issue that the paint will start drying and clogging almost immediately. There's no issue mixing in the airbrush as long as you put the thinner in first.

[@paulmumford3397]

good tip, hadn't thought of that

[@ErgonomicChair]

Haha, you mean tank below! That's the compressor up top. You should also alwaya always pull the bleader valve on the bottom out, so you can train the moisture inside the tank, or else it can rust out! Also you can check the actual PSI output by spraying, you'll see the true PSI that it is putting out as it sprays, then you can adjust it there. As per respirator and acryllic... not really too necessary unless there's so much vapour in the air you feel irritated. The worst it can really do isirritate things.

[@Coxi00]

Such a great video to put out while you're getting your studio ready... Will the extractor pump out 100% of the fumes? The only room I can paint in normally has a cat in it and I don't want the particles swirling around. Does yours point straight out of a window? Thanks for all the videos you've helped me find my path to love painting minis!

[@archer1116]

How do you go about fully cleaning the airbrush after a session rather than just changing colors? I have one and since I'm unsure how to properly clean it I haven't used it yet. Great video!

[@MartinODonnel]

I first saw this video and watched it for giggles and poops, three months later my brush arrives today

[@dlh567]

Surprise Eons of Battle cameo!

[@existe11]

Just curious which desks/furniture is that?

[@jecclesdrennan]

It appears you use Vallejo thinner with Citadel paints. I’ve seen other places where people swear that you should never mix brands. Have you had problems with using Vallejo thinner with any other brand of paints? Thanks.

[@samuelvasquez8170]

What needle size were you using?

[@JasonM69]

With that EOB video is the background that means you recorded and edited this video fast!

[@AceTaxiaGaming]

No flow improver to slow tip drying?

[@belmarduk]

Power strips aren't rated for the amount of power draw that most heavy appliances draw - they often use improperly gauged wire and either won't have a failsafe in place for overdrawing (which is a significant fire risk) or they will have a failsafe and it will either come in the form of your power being throttled (causing drops in pressure gain) or it will just switch off entirely. On a tanked compressor you'd probably never notice power throttling on the compressor, but you probably would on everything else on the circuit (lights, etc will dim every time the compressor engages)

[@AVikingNerd]

Note: The affiliate links are a bit jumbled., the spray booth link is actually the compressor, and the compressor link is the booth.

[@Hobbies_of_JB]

Hi Dana! I was inspired to begin miniature painting about 1 year ago when I discovered your channel. Thank you so much! Two weeks ago I bought an airbrush setup very similar to yours. Some questions: [1] I’m still figuring out how to paint details with the airbrush. I tried to paint a Stormcast Eternal’s armor gold and the entire mini came out gold. Do you have any more advice on painting details? I seemed to do a little better painting many dots but I’m not sure that’s the solution. Maybe practicing on a larger piece of terrain as you recommended is the way to go. [2] I tried using Liquitex Acrylic Ink Essential Colors and found they weren’t as transparent as I expected. Can I make them more transparent with airbrush thinner or glaze medium? I also found the inks ran horribly when I used Army Painter washes over them. Should I have varnished first? Do you know if these inks work OK with testors dull coat or gloss coat? [3] I saw your video using Army Painter Speedpaints in the airbrush. Did you thin them with airbrush thinner?

[@oliverp3545]

1. There's a little dial at the end of your airbrush that controls how far back you can pull it, which should help with that, but generally you can get away with a little bit of airbrushing over other details if the colour is thinner, you can always correct it with a regular brush. 2. Acrylic inks can be thinned down with water so you can use acrylic mediums like glaze mediums. 3. They're rich in pigment so they will maintain their coverage even when thinned to an extreme degree worth testing for specific ones.

[@skankinupastorm]

I got an airbrush like 5 years ago, and honestly it's been so finnicky I've never once been able to get it to work correctly. I'm hoping this video will help ease my pains!

[@HerbertMiniatures]

Hi Dana, great video and helpful overall. I havn't been using an airbrush for a long time and currently mostly use it in place of cans for undercoating minis, but looking to branch into other things. I have used a respirator and an extraction booth (very similar to yours) and having both doesn't hurt. Did you have any recomendations in relation to general maintanance and upkeep of an airbrush and what model of airbrush would be a good one to consider going forwards? The one I have is a very bare bones generic airbrush and I am thinking of investment in another, so any pointers you may have would be appreciated :-).

[@michaellanker8573]

I've been considering learning to paint with an airbrush so this was a welcome video. Is the expensive airbrush you use worth it or would a $20-40 one be sufficient as a complete beginner? What are the advantages that the expensive one has over the cheaper ones?

[@atillakarman9298]

In my very limited experience: an airbrush works with a very small tolerance (we are speaking about nozzle size of 0.5 - 0.15 mm). I guess the more expensive the airbrush the more precise the manufacturing it took to produce. A more expensive airbrush should behave more consistently. But i could be completely wrong.

[@aresking4332]

Hey, so the links for the compressor and the booth are swapped. I would double check those links to see if there are any others that are also swapped.

[@cwj138]

Most important thing to prevent clogged nozzle was always start and finish by blowing air, don't take your finger off the trigger until it is all the way forward.

[@Mupersega]

EOB consumption, like video.

[@chucklamb3496]

Thanx Dana

[@timsplinter1321]

So cool / kinda weird to see Eons of Battle on in the background

[@PixelatedPenfold]

It looks like the link to the compressor is labelled as the Ventilation Booth and vice versa.