Brush advice sought

Szyp · Post by **Szyp** » Mon Aug 15, 2011 10:00 am

I am at a total loss as to what brushes of painting models with acrylic and/or dope paints. What sizes, bristle materials, would anyone suggest. I want to buy good ones and reuse them. I would rather "cry once than cry every day" oriented. Thank you.

Szyp · Post by **Szyp** » Mon Aug 15, 2011 1:05 pm

You hit the nail right on the head. I remember Grumbler from when I was a child and John Nagy had a TV program called "learn To Draw" sponsored by Grumbacher. Quality lasts.

cliffm · Post by **cliffm** » Mon Aug 15, 2011 8:00 pm

A couple years ago I made some inquiries about brushes and not recieving any replies went through the journey of the perfect brushes. Being the hard-head that I am the process started with el-cheapo deluxe models and ran the gamut to the Grumbachers, Cornel&lowell and another made in china brand called Gam which are right up there in quality with the others and about 1/2 the price. I found myself looking for brushes every where I went, because I live in the sticks and craft shops,LHS's,are few and far between. Amid all this perusing I discovered the airbrush, and this for an amateur painter is the answer to a smooth even finish without needing the experience required in using a brush,which to get a smooth even finish over a large area requires more than a beginners touch, plus the added frustration of the brush hair in the middle of your beautifully finished item. Yes, brushes are a necessary implement and the air brush has become my favorite.

Szyp · Post by **Szyp** » Mon Aug 15, 2011 10:41 pm

I can handle myself with an airbrush; the problem for me is finding acrylic paints in authentic colors suitable for an airbrush, either right out of the container or dilutable, with suitable thinner. I have found a site for fokker red dope and tissue, but prefer acrylic since it will be for static display.

cliffm · Post by **cliffm** » Tue Aug 16, 2011 8:02 pm

Wally world has the least exspensive acrylics available. When using it in an air brush I have found plain water works just fine for thinning and cleaning. If you use alcohol or amonia with it curdling will result. After a bottle has been exsposed to air it will form a film or coating that has to be removed through straining,filtering or carefully skimming away from the paint. When it has been thinned to spraying consistency it's less prone to surface congealment ,but should not be left in your airbrush for lenghty periods. You'll have to experiment with mixing for color choices if they don't have exactly what you want but there is a wide variety of colors. I have mixed elmers in with the paint to aid in sealing on silkspan and it works great . You got to experiment to get a true feel for it and I've been getting better results as my experience grows. It seems that different colors require different techniques and no one technique applies to every application excepting the cleanliness.