Airbrush start to finish

[snap]

Here we go!
I'm going to cover how to mark out, cut, stensil, and airbrush a foamie. The tools and tricks to getting that awsome job is not as hard as you would think. You don't even have to know how to draw! So heres a taste and tuesday I'll start with a step by step so that by the weekend you can be showin it off at the field.

[bzrogers]

That looks great!!!

Good Job!

[3DCrazy516]

Osm what kinds of paint and how thin is too thin?

[Lowkey3D]

I bought a air brush a while back but have not used it. I think my next foamy project will get
a little paint. What paint do you recommend?

[macanaw]

Sweet timing, I just got my first airbrush and was about to start messing around on foamies with it. MORE DETAILS on paint thining etc......

[flyboyz43]

Well I don't know what Snap uses, I have been using Createx T-shirt paint with a lot of success. It is water soluable and you don't have to thin it, just pour it out of the bottle into the airbrush and spray. You can clean out the airbrush with water. On foam after I spray a color I dry the paint with a heat gun on low setting. Works great and hope this helps. Oh you can get Createx paint at most craft stores like Hobby Lobby (not the model hobby place) or Michaels.

[flyboyz43]

Snap....Nice work BTW!! Hey where did you get the lettering your using for your foamie. I know its a brush script font...did you cut it out yourself of get it from someplace. I'd like to try that myself.

[snap]

First, I use Golden paint heres the link ,http://www.dickblick.com/zz006/38b/ I will also get their airbrush medium for thinning. to thin the paint it is 1:1 ratio some cadium colors and will use a little less medium. A quick test is to dip a stir stick in the paint and lift. A drip every sec. is good. If it takes 2 sec for a drip to come off your to thick and it will clog your brush.
Stencils we'll cut, letters I'll use any thing I can find. The ones in the photo are cheap letters picked up at stapels.
Now lets get started. First you need a template of the plane. I went to Stapels and picked up a pack of 10 poster boards for 4.95$ next I layout my plane and out line the parts. Now cut , I use an exacto with a new blade please change your bade often.

[snap]

Next I'll draw my design. You can be creative or copy somthing with tracing paper. If you use tracing paper attach it to the poster board with some tape. Be sure to remove it before painting.
I'm going to do scallop flames and over lay them. First I marked were the fusalage is going to lay so I don't have to paint there. I drew my flame on one side of the wing then I cut (new blade) it out. Flip it over onto the other wing and trace the pattern. then cut (new bade) it out. your cuts donot need to follow the line perfectly stay close but cut fluid. When you get to a turn adjust your work to keep the cutting smooth. Don't rush it!

[snap]

Now that we have a nice flame stencil I'll use it to mark the fuse, and the tail. Position it how you want on the elevator
mark the flip your stencil to the other side and repeat. Now cut (NEW BLADE) Mark the fuse and cut(NEW BLADE) you get the idea. Mark your canopy and pilot and cut. Now you have a complete set of templates.

[snap]

As you can see in the pic I take a certain amout of liberty with my cutting.

[snap]

Ok so now comes the fun part! here is a basic list of things to have handy.
1 Windex ; this is your cleaner cleans yor brush and all Acrilic paints
2 Paper towels cut ito 4 pieces . A small piece used to wipe out you feed cup on the airbrush will save time and windex.
3 hobbie cups for mixing
4 stir sticks
5 T-pins (small)
6 Paint and reducer or any good airbrush paint My prefrence is Golden as listed and linked above it seams pricey but by the time you reduce it its on par with most Airbrush paints.
7 Airbrush I'll be using a single action Internal mix Iwata hobbie brush