Shadowing question(s)

[Phins Fan]

I grew the tomatoes to try and do a fullout airbrush instead of using the picture glue or other "shortcuts". All in all I'm pretty happy with the results but I would like to know who has suggestions for shadowing techniques:

All of the black in the dolphin was freehanded along with the "shadowing" in the Dolphins on the hood. Do you guys use different brushes for thinner work or anyone have any suggestions on what I can try differently? I used Pactra everywhere on it. Again still happy with it but a "chef is his worst critic"

 

[FORDSVTTHUNDER]

I don't paint rc body's (yet) but custom airbrushing is my job. I do shading and drop shadows with either a .35 or .20 needle (Iwata airbrushes). I like a detail black because it's made for such things. It's in-between opaque and transparent. I personally prefer auto air detail black. It doesn't need thinning and sprays great. With iwatas,you can get fine line detail by removing the crown cap on the tip. It will expose the needle so be careful when doing this. Takes little to bend the needle tip. Other brands allow for cap removal but some don't. You did a good paint job man. Its harder from what I've seen to shade a body since you have to do it first and then lay down the color after. I'm use to doing the shade last on my jobs. I've got a lot of respect for the guys that custom paint these rc lids. They are doing everything in reverse order. Its pretty amazing. Hope some of this helps you. I might not have hit on the area you were looking for help in but I'll always try.

 

[Phins Fan]

My wife was nice enough to buy me a setup for my B - day back a couple months ago and I've only painted 5 lids total so far. While I love the setup it is a cheap offbrand airbrush (Master Airbrush Model# G22). I will try removing the tip to get a finer spray line but realize I should probably look at an upgraded quality brush that will allow me to do this finer work

 

[FORDSVTTHUNDER]

Man, I started out in 99 with a plastic one from wal mart. Had no clue what I was doing. I had to learn the hard way. Lips were sealed back then about custom tricks. I went through a couple of brands and then I found the Iwata Eclipse. Man you cannot beat that airbrush for all around spraying. I have 3 of those, a few of their hi line brushes and one of their little detail airbrushes. Get the GRAVITY feed. You can literally paint with drops of paint with their airbrushes if it has the g cup on top. You can buy them at hobby lobby but they have almost doubled their price and the gravity feeds are the first to sell. I order all of my paint,supplies and airbrushes from coastairbrush.com

If you're painting that good with the brush you're using,you'll blow your own mind with the eclipse. Best all around airbrush I own. That's why I have 3 of them. Let me know if I can help you out with anything.

 

[Rolex]

Wow, seriously? That's an incredible paint job!
I second the motion on the Iwata and also recommend the Grex.
It's the one with the green anodized handle on top. That one is strictly for fine detail, but all their brushes are first rate.

 

[FORDSVTTHUNDER]

He did a great job on that body. This guy just might be dangerous with some better brushes. The more you spray the better you will get. Once you get to the point where you know all the psi settings for different applications and don't have to think about pressing down for air and pulling for paint....when your hand just does what you think, that's when you get confident and start having a blast.

 

[Phins Fan]

Even the first 1 I did I thought I was Picasso cause all I came from was rattlecans. When my wife ordered it I did tell her the gravity feedcup was the type I wanted as opposed to syphon. I have been checking around and I havent found anyone talk bad about the Iwata's. Thanx for the other tip Rolex on the Grex. I'll have to research them as well. The pics actually do the body justice as the blurryness helps hide some of those imperfections. Just like everything else - the more you do it the better and better you get. When I sprayed my first I would have never thought about attempting something like this just 2 months later.

 

[Rolex]

This is where I get everything...

http://www.tcpglobal.com/airbrushdepot/

The Grex I got through HobbyTown USA.

 

[Phins Fan]

WOW!!!! I didnt realize they were so darn expensive. Would you recommend 1 Iwata that could be a good all around brush for now. I've got no problems going with an upgraded brush but theres no way I can drop a $G note on just 2 ish brushes. Its not that I'm cheap (maybe a little!!) but just spending that much for an airbrush is difficult for me to justify when I can buy a new rig for the same price

 

[FORDSVTTHUNDER]

http://www.coastairbrush.com/proddetail.asp?prod=ECL4500

Like I said,I own 3 of those because they can do anything. Free shipping from above link. Get it with the air hose. I make my living airbrushing and I've used them all and I kept coming back to Iwata. Parts are easy to find and get,they are great brushes. If I had to do a job for a customer and someone said I could only use one brush.....that's the one. Affordable and comes with.35 needle and tip. If you need a larger needle and tip,no problem. They sell a .5 tip and needle for heavier flakes and paint. I just use my .35 though.

Trust me, get this airbrush and remember to thank me lol.

 

[hamz9561]

An airbrush is a tool and you get what you pay for when you buy tools. All of the pros that I've seen discussing airbrushes for detailing recommend the Iwata Eclipse.

 

[Rolex]

One of my brushes is the 4247 in the first pictured brush...

Iwata 4247
An excellent all around tool for almost anything.

I just placed another hundred dollar order with TCP Global last night.

 

[Phins Fan]

Thats a reasonable start. I want to say my wife only spent around the same $ for the complete system (brush/hose/compressor). I'll get it ordered up and see what happens. Thanx guys!!!

 

[FORDSVTTHUNDER]

Anytime man. I don't have much to offer as far as rc's go, but I pay the bills with my airbrushes. Painting is about all I can help with on this site.

 

[Rolex]

Anytime man. I don't have much to offer as far as rc's go, but I pay the bills with my airbrushes. Painting is about all I can help with on this site.

Anything ANYONE can offer on this site is totally appreciated by us.
Thanks for your help.