First Time Airbrushing? START HERE! | Beginner Airbrush Starting Guide

In this video, we'll take a look at one of the most-essential tools in the scale modeler, miniature painter or general hobbyist's toolbelt… the airbrush!
Learning to airbrush can be the secret to unlocking so much fun & potential in the hobby of scale modeling, and even though it might seem intimidating at first, it doesn't have to be! In this video, I'll take you through the step-by-step setup to get started with your very first airbrush so you can start painting up your own beautiful plastic scale models, miniatures & dioramas in no time at all.
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Need Paints? Check out my "Best Paints for Beginners" video here: • Scale Model Paint Guid...
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[@SpruesNBrews]

Hi, friends! How was your experience airbrushing when you first started out? What do you wish you'd learned sooner? Let's hear it in the comments below! ⬇

[@eclipsehorse8693]

Heh, seasoned builder Here Hank, but Im still getting the jist of the airbrush. I think it's the paint mixture to airflow ratio Im still searching for.. that 'sweet spot' Thx for breaking down the basics for first timers or old timers! :)

[@wesker6593]

Need your professional advice, I'm already use 2(Chine and German) airbrushes and have one questions that I don't see in any tutorials in the internet: is this normal that after some usage all my needles have "different color of polishing" in spot where they contact the nuzzle? looks like the nuzzle scratch a polishing of the needles a little bit, as I can see its not effect the airbrush job, did you have something like that in your used needles? Thanks.

[@Chilly_Billy]

Hank, an airbrush troubleshooting video will be invaluable.

[@Brazpastrop]

Your airbrush skills sucks on this video. Learn and pratice basics skills like dots, lines, blending, dagger strokes,learn trigger control . Too many modelers don't pratice those fondamentals skills.

[@CirWot]

I'd add that putting a single drop of thinners into the pot before the paint will prevent the dry needle clogging before you begin spraying. When you've cleaned up the airbush for storage I'd also suggest a drop of airbrush cleaner into the pot and a quick spray to leave some on the needle that will disolve anything that's caked on. Top quailty starter guide, thanks!

[@williamfotiou7577]

I have a couple of airbrushes, but my favorite is still my Paashe H that my mother (God bless her) bought me on my 19th birthday, 40years ago. It’s still going strong, I’ve only replaced seals twice.

[@sigh_bold8192]

Is the siphon feed one available on amazon the same as the one you have? I have been looking for a high value airbrush.

[@louislaplante7484]

Perhaps a video on how you mix paints with flow improver and thinner? Specifically ratios? I also would be interested in seeing how well Tamiya goes on over Vallejo primer after Vallejo is given a good few days to cure.

[@cP-zx3rf]

Just what I needed thanks, just about to start airbrushing so anything explaining the basics is a real help

[@garypalmer1122]

New subscriber and returner to modelling. This is the best introduction to airbrushing YT video that I've seen - thanks.

[@TheBattleRabbit860]

I just bought this exact airbrush maybe a month ago so I could replace my cheap (in cost and in quality) nameless airbrush that came with a handheld compressor. It is an outstanding addition to my workbench, and I can't recommend it enough to other modelers. I will definitely be buying from this company in the future and thank you for bringing such a fantastic product and valuable skills to more people in the hobby.

[@nimay13]

For newbies, go with acrylic paints. They less harmful compared to lacquer and very easy to clean up. Go with 1:1 paint to thinner ratio (if you don’t have premix). Start with 15psi first. It’s easier to control with lower pressure. Later you can increase to 20psi when you get the hang of it.

[@brzeczyszczykiewicz4476]

Thumbs up from the get-go! Always a useful video from Mr Hank!

[@SpruesNBrews]

Much appreciated!!

[@frankw7266]

Been airbrushing models for better than 35 years, and this is a good intro. The only thing I would recommend different would be to get a compressor with a tank... tankless "on demand" compressors work, but you need to learn to compensate for the pressure surge, where an air tank acts like an equalization buffer. Of course, the ultimate option is I ran an air line from the garage shop compressor into the spray booth in the basement... endless silent spraying.

[@wesker877]

So, could I hook it up to the air compressor in my garage?

[@brianmacdonald4144]

Hi Hank.Never airbrushed, until now! Bit nervous,but I'm sure perseverance will help my confidence. Take care and keep up the good work.

[@SchmidtJim]

Really nice intro and primer! Airbrushing had added so much enjoyment to my model making. A lot of times I’m still using it as a glorified spray can for primer or base coats - but doing mottling, camo, or highlights brings so much satisfaction - I switched to Ammo paints from Tamiya for airbrushing a little more than a year ago after watching your videos and really happy with them - thanks for all you do!

[@chriswobcke7271]

Finally, somebody did a simple straight-forward airbrush tutorial for nubes like me. Thank you very much.🤓

[@MorrowindES17]

I just got my first airbrush a couple of days ago thanks for the video love theses guides.

[@Chilly_Billy]

The best investment you can make in this hobby.

[@MorrowindES17]

yh agree @@Chilly_Billy

[@bobrivett7645]

Very nice basic how to about sir brushing. And your comment about opening a whole new aspect of modeling by using an air brush. I whole heartily agree with that. Been using an air brush pretty close to 20 years, and my subject painting is 100% better, more realistic than when I used spray cans and brush painting. PS. Gaalheria air brushes are very sweet. I now have two of pistol air brushes and love them. My first air used canned air, a single action siphon feed, by Badger. Very easy to clean, I kind of took to it pretty quickly, sprayed a couple of Japanese Zero aircraft, the first was the naval gray the Japanese used with a black cowl. The second was upper JN dark green with hair spray underneath, light JN gray under surfaces. I thought it came pretty good. I did practice a lot on cardboard before spraying my aircraft models. Five years ago I moved up to double action and haven't had trouble till I tried spraying water based acrylic paint. Tip dry was the problem, took me while to figure how to get around that.

[@chrispacer4231]

I can’t tell you how much I appreciate this video…. I have a BADGER 350 series airbrush… PANCAKE COMPRESSOR… it works just fine…. BUT ( there’s always a button) I want to improve my technique… I’m looking for a new airbrush Haven’t decided yet… REALLY, thanks for putting this together… GLAD I SUBSCRIBED………. CHRIS 🇺🇸

[@chrispacer4231]

( but there’s always a but )

[@Chilly_Billy]

Hi fellow Gloo Trooper. Check out the Gaahleri line. I bought a model 39 like the one shown here. It's one of their least expensive airbrushes and I am very happy with it. It comes with .35 and .50mm needles.

[@bobrivett7645]

Ya man you can't go wrong with Gaalheria, there very nice air brushes and their prices are wonderful, recently they running a 35% disconnect on every airbrush. Free shipping if spent +$100. Oh, their customer service is second to none.

[@ef7andapp170]

Nice video for those just starting out! I was going to suggest making a video on maintenence and cleaning, but it sounds like you've got that covered 😊

[@SpruesNBrews]

Thanks very much! And I've gotta get started on that next one ASAP! 😅

[@jjab99]

Very useful and interesting, many thanks.

[@setoredan]

Thank you, I have gone with your recommendations. Been waiting for the weather to warm up to crank up my airbrush.

[@KGmodels]

Hey Hank,How you doing,I have been using an airbrush for almost 2 years,but I still get things wrong half the time,so a great video,which will be useful,and honestly,I don’t think anyone could explain the Basics easier! ;)

[@BunnyFooFooOG]

I honestly wasn't expecting that starter kit to be the price it was thanks for sharing that!

[@mikemyers2626]

I just got my first brush. Glad I found your channel.

[@psychopenguin3821]

best tutorials clear and proper pace thanks for taking the time and effort on teaching us

[@johnw4659]

Thanks !

[@SpruesNBrews]

Thanks for watching!

[@armoredsaint6639]

All good stuff, just make sure you've got plenty of extra o rings for that particular air brush.

[@alext367]

Hey Hank. I was wondering what bristle brushes you use? Mine are getting old and I’m looking for some new ones. And great video by the way!

[@KeithFletcher-po4wy]

I've had two air brushes, both from Chicago Tool and Die. I really never got to use the first. Then I moved to Michigan City, IN and a friend let me use his and his was a Passche and I liked it a lot I even taught him some things, his was a single action trigger and if you dialed it down really far it worked beautifully. I would recommend it over double action air brushes for newbies. My brother bought a Iawata that's problematic at best, he never dropped it, but it somehow got a bent needle. He bought a replacement for it, but it still has a paint dripping problem. So, my newest airbrush is a double action Chicago Tool and Die air brush, $17.50 at Harbor Freight. Works pretty well, it's a couple of years old when I got it and needs a replacement syphon( old plastic), but sprays pretty good.

[@serialdiecast4298]

Great video, thanks :)

[@joemoore4027]

If you are really interested in getting the most out of building a kit, buy the best equipment and practice, practice and practice ! For the price of a number of kits, beg or borrow the bucks ! I started with a cheapo airbrush and suffered for years learning until I invested my hard earned money into an IWATA airbrush ( custom micron C ) and one of there top compressors ! Things took off from there ! For the price of kits today ( $$$$$$ ) start with equipment that will TEACH YOU and not hinder you from learning the art of airbrushing. Great video Hank, keep up helping our hobby !

[@ravensfootball52]

I too learned from a cheap brush and switch to an Iwata eclipse. I’ve only built one model with it but it was so much easier to create fine details. Definitely not cheap though

[@MottysMilitaryModels]

THERES ALWAYS ONE ! This time it's a MILLIONAIRE. HANK, thank you for taking time out of your busy day to not only record your project but to share it with us. Ignored The Plonkers that can't help themselves but to nit pick, moan and complain as they think the world owes them something. They complain, cry, stomp their feet( AHH bless them) and drain many a persons, confidence, excitement and then go have the utter disrespect to mention the future of our hobby !!! They don't have the Jewels to post their own work, projects etc, incase they get a taste of their own, cowardly, boring and zzzzz !!! Again sorry Hank you keep doing what your doing, hold your head high and dnt let it drop for these "Dipsticks" Thank you and please stay safe, family too !

[@JackBQuick79]

I'm a beginner myself and had ordered a cheaper kit, within 3 days I ordered the Iwata eclipse and just received it today, when I do use it I'm almost sure from what I have heard I will notice the difference.

[@KGmodels]

I guess same here,although I have only been airbrushing,I have started with an airbrush coming from a kit with a compressor,which I made many mistakes/learned with,then I went to another one which I couldn’t clean properly and now I have my trusty Fengda FE180K,which for the price is amazing,recommend for anyone with a tight budget! ;)

[@joemoore4027]

@@ravensfootball52 It's a great airbrush ! Just keep it clean and check out IWAT's U-Tube videos on maintaining it and you will enjoy every minute of using it ! Good luck and happy spraying !

[@MGB-learning]

Great video

[@goforitpainting]

Cool tutorial. 👍

[@RACNSNAKE]

Brilliant mate! I have wondered for a year, what pressure you spray Ammo Mig 🤙

[@user-yc9jb5fr7u]

Hey Hank love all your videos but looking back did you ever finish the church diorama ? like to see how you painted it

[@ravensfootball52]

Maybe a tutorial on how to create fine details using the airbrush? I’ve seen build videos where they make tiny lines and it appears they have the needle exposed by removing the cap? Paint tutorials are great but I hardly see them explain the airbrush setup to achieve the results

[@christopherjordan5423]

How do you handle the water that comes through your compressor? That was the first big problem that I ran into.

[@SpruesNBrews]

Good question! The compressor I’m using here has a moisture trap, which in three past 6+ years I’ve been using it has been extremely effective at keeping any unwanted moisture out. As long as you keep tabs on it and drain the collected moisture, it works wonders. If your compressor doesn’t have one, maybe they have some aftermarket additions!

[@bobrivett7645]

Below the air pressure regulator was a water or moisture trap.

[@LemurKrazy]

In places of high humidity even a trap isn't enough. Had one these spitting water after about 15 minutes. Only solution for me was a tank.

[@christopherjordan5423]

@@SpruesNBrews mine has one as well. It still has problems during the summer here in Missouri.

[@rickgregory9616]

Shouldn't you always replace the needle from the front rather than the back to avoid damaging the needle tip?

[@bobrivett7645]

No. Never definitely not with this brand and model air brushes. I have seven air brushes now, the needle is removed from the rear, and re-installed from the rear as well.

[@LemurKrazy]

Even the best airbrushes have tiny tips with delicate threads that you would need to constantly remove if going out the front.

[@ErckleC]

Really great video thanks! Would you consider a spray booth a necessity for starting out with Airbrushing? Trying to find space for such a large (physical) investment and any vents required can be a real road block into adopting to the technique.

[@LemurKrazy]

You can spray outside. Barbatos has a solution of venting into a bucket. Before I had a booth was strictly using ammo mig paint - not durable but claims it's the least toxic. A disposable face mask should catch most particles if you keep spray pattern small.

[@eclipsehorse8693]

Airbrush modeler here- I have a spray booth i shoot a lot of my stuff in, as It's in a confined area, it helps keep the paint from spraying other things. mine has a couple charcoal filters that will catch paint particulates and keep everything neat and tidy. It folds up into a next to nothing size when Im done painting or need the workbench for other things- def a must have!

[@ErckleC]

​@@eclipsehorse8693what kind of booth do you have?

[@ErckleC]

@@LemurKrazy I live in a fairly wet climate, so spraying outside isn't always an option. I saw Barbatos' video on the makeshift filter and it is something I've considered, but not necessarily finalised on. Thanks for your recommendations though :)

[@LemurKrazy]

Important tip - learn how to straighten a bent needle. The AIR space channel has the best video on this. Involves rolling and dragging the tip under the edge of a glass. Because you will bend the tips. Even the way the nozzle was unscrewed in the video is risky.

[@virtuosomuso]

my airbrush is double action , but when i depress the trigger and don't pull back , paint comes out instead of just air ?

[@humlakullen]

Awesome tips, but where’s your beer 🍺? It would be more entertaining watching you starting out each video with a filled up German glass boot:-). You keep sipping that beer and by the end of each video it’s empty!

[@CFster]

I’m of the opinion that you don’t recommend cheap Chinese equipment to newbies. Not when excellent products can be had for a little more money. I’ve seen so many novices just give up on airbrushing altogether…

[@SpruesNBrews]

I’ve been using this exact gear that I’m recommending for years now and have managed to build this entire educational channel with these products - I’m not trying to shill cheap products to anybody; I genuinely believe these are great tools to learn with 👍

[@CFster]

@@SpruesNBrews Gaahleri airbrushes haven’t even been out for “years” and they never were and still aren’t ready for market.

[@SpruesNBrews]

The Gaahleri brush is brand new, as I said in the video, for demonstration purposes. All of the other products listed in the video description are very well vetted by yours truly. I wouldn’t ever recommend anything I didn’t trust or was fully demonstrating in front of my audience. My main point though, I suppose, is that I believe folks should start with value products to become familiar with the concept until they’re ready to move on to more expensive, high-end gear. Use the value products until you figure out what you like & what you really need… and then invest big. I do appreciate your concern, though!

[@CFster]

@@SpruesNBrews what’s high end though? It doesn’t have to be $300. It can be a $74 GSI PS-289, which is essentially an Iwata HP-CH. I always recommend something like that instead of a brush that’s going to start falling apart after a couple cleanings.

[@LemurKrazy]

​@@CFster105 and PS289 would be my recommendation to any modeler. All you'll ever need unless stepping up to iwata micron or ps771

[@Brazpastrop]

Too many modelers doesn't master the basics skills of airbrushing like dots, lines, dagger strokes, blending. Trigger control is the key !Also I recommand a compressor with a tank and finally, stay away from the Chinese crap like Gallleri. Buy something from Sparmax, Iwata, H&H, Grex, Badger, Pasche. Again stay away from Chinese crap.

[@TheAirbrushProfessor]

You literally recommended the worst possible things to ever get.

[@Isaac-ww5ys]

What would you recommend? I have ordered an airbrush and am curious

[@cjdavis2684]

This was awesome I'm getting ready to actually airbrush a 172nd scale hellcat which will be the first time I have airbrushed one. So this will be helpful. I do have a question for you though I have a full-sized World War II Navy helmet, that is already painted in the gray that these were however how do you paint white lettering for captain or XO on it without ruining the paint job that's already on the helmet and to have the lettering come out the way it should look?

[@TourneySteve]

Great video Hank, some good tips and advice! By the way I messaged you on Instagram a couple of weeks ago and I don't think you have seen it, may be of interest to you! Keep up the great work.