• Airbrush

• Paint cup - container for holding colour medium

• Colour medium - including watercolour paint, inks, dyes, food colouring, gouache, reduced acrylics (diluted with water based thinners), enamels, reduced glazes (diluted with solvent-based thinners), lacquers, gesso and varnish

• Compressed air (compressor or airbrush propellant)

• Universal airbrushing accessories suitable for a range of airbrush brands

• Paint thinners and cleaners

• Pipe cleaners / cotton wool buds for cleaning

• Item to be painted

Airbrushes are basically mini spray guns. Compressed air either from a compressor or airbrush propellant is fed into the airbrush and directed over a small hole in the nozzle of the airbrush. As the air is forced through the airbrush it draws your chosen colour medium (e.g. paint) from the paint cup and sprays it in a fine narrow mist. The nozzle in the tapered point of the airbrush focuses the spray and controls the amount of paint sprayed.

The finished result is a surface covered by thin, smooth layers of paint. Because you never get in contact with the surface you are spraying, irrespective of the surface, airbrushing can create professional paint finishes on a wide range of surfaces.

Some common uses now include:

• Model and Hobby applications
• Commercial Art
• Cake Decoration
• Finger Nali Painting
• Airbrush Tanning
• T-shirt and Fabric Painting

There are several types of airbrush and they range in price, however, the majority of hobby airbrushes are either 'single-action' or 'dual-action'. Before choosing an airbrush, consider the factors unique to your particular situation including the type of work the airbrush will be used for and the type of materials that will be sprayed through it.

The list of terms below is designed to help you select the best airbrush for your intended application.
 
Single Action

This refers to airbrushes on which the trigger controls only the air flow. The amount of colour is regulated by turning the needle adjustment screw. When the trigger is depressed, a pre-set amount of colour is sprayed.

Dual Action

This refers to airbrushes on which the trigger controls both air and colour (down for air, back for colour). This style allows for varying line widths while spraying.

Internal Mix

This indicates that air and paint mix inside the airbrush, producing a thoroughly atomised "fine dot" spray pattern.

At HobbyCraft we stock the following internal mix Badger Models: 150 and 200.

External Mix

This indicates that air and paint mix outside the airbrush producing a larger, coarser spray pattern than the internal mix airbrushes.

Gravity Feed

This refers to airbrushes with top mounted colour cups in which gravity draws paint into the airbrush.

At HobbyCraft we stock the following gravity feed Badger Models: 200GF

Bottom Feed

This refers to airbrushes on which paint enters through a siphon tube or colour cup attached to the bottom of the airbrush.

At HobbyCraft we stock the following bottom feed Badger Models: Crescendo, Model 150.

Airbrushes are available in varying needle/nozzle configurations accommodating a range of sprayable materials:

Fine: Best suited to spray thinner materials such as watercolours, inks, dyes, food colouring and gouache.

Medium: The most popular choice, will spray airbrush ready paints and other properly reduced acrylics.

Heavy: Ideal for heavily pigmented and/or higher viscosity materials such as enamels, reduced glazes, lacquers, gesso and varnish.

• Ensure the item you intend to paint is clean, grease free and dry.

• Airbrushing will not cover blemishes on the surface of the item you are painting, so to ensure you achieve a beautiful smoothly painted surface, make sure you have a smooth surface on which to paint!

• Before starting to paint, always test spray the paint flow from your airbrush away from the item you are painting. Test spray onto a non-absorbent surface, so you get a good representation of how the paint is going to cover the surface of the item you are painting.

• Begin spraying away from the surface to be painted and then gradually move into the area to be painted. This helps prevent paint build-up or splatter. Do the same when finishing your painting - always finish away from the surface you are painting.

• If you are new to airbrushing, it is advisable to stick with a single colour scheme on your first project. Start by lightly misting the paint on, holding the airbrush no more than 4" to 5" away from the surface of the item you are painting. For the second coat, move the airbrush closer to the surface and spray an even coat of paint by sweeping the brush over it. Ensure that the entire surface is dry before applying additional layers of paint.

• The best finished results are achieved by building up paint in light even coats. If paint is applied too quickly or too heavily it can form drips.

• When you're happy with your painted surface, leave you item to dry over night. Any missed spots can be retouched with the airbrush, the following day.