by Don Johnson
Airbrush Technique Magazine
Airbrushes can be either internal or external mix, single action or double (dual) action.
SOME AIRBRUSH DEFINITIONS
EXTERNAL MIX - Combine air and paint after they exit the tip of the airbrush. Paint volume is controlled by a knob on the airbrush.
ACTION - How the trigger is used to control the airbrush functions which affect the spray pattern of the airbrush.
SINGLE ACTION - Pushing down on the trigger gives you both paint and air. To stop paint being applied (flowing) just let up on the trigger. Amount of paint applied is controlled by a separate knob (pictured below). Single action airbrushs operates much the same as a can of spray paint but with the added ability of being able to adjust the amount of paint applied and the air pressure. To control the amount of paint the single action will apply when you push down on the trigger you would adjust the paint volume adjustment knob. Turning the knob clock wise decreases paint flow and turning it counter clockwise increases paint flow. Which means during the painting process to adjust paint flow you must stop and adjust the paint volume knob to increase or decrease paint flow. Very slow process painting anything in this manner, very limiting.
The air hose would just screw onto the post marked air hose connection in the picture below. The other end of the air hose screws onto the compressor.
SINGLE ACTION AIRBRUSH
Airbrush Styles
Gravity feed - The most detail oriented airbrush style available. As the paint is stored directly above the airbrush and it is gravity that draws the paint to the needle / tip makes this style airbrush the most consistent and responsive style airbrush. Nozzle size range from 0.10 to 0.35 mm
Siphon Feed - The advantage of this style airbrush is the ability to use many different size color cups and bottles and to change colors quickly. Nozzle sizes range from 0.1 to 0.5mm
Side Feed- The advantage of this style airbrush is the color cup attacked to the side will rotate 360 degrees giving you the ability to work at just about and angle or even over head. Nozzle sizes range from 0.10 to 0.35mm






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DRAGON HELMET DESIGN
DRAGON HELMET DESIGN
by Patrick Charuel
Pats Web Site
This how to covers airbrushing a free hand design with light colours over dark background. To do it, I will use solvent white base and water colours from Createx Auto-Air. THe white base will serve as our under painting over which we'll spray candy colors.
I prepare the helmet with a black mate solvent base coat. After proper drying time the surface is sanded with scotch bright