Airbrushing course, with Anthony James, Iwata

Anthony shows us how it's done before we go hands on

The different types of airbrushes available

Airbrush workshop at Adelaide Moulding & Casting Supplies

Lecturer: Anthony James, Anest Iwata Australia ( Area Manager, South Australia, Northern Territory and Western Australia)

The workshop is a small, informal and friendly gathering, with Anthony as lecturer and workshop guide.

He brings his experience as a modeler of several years, and his own personal airbrush to the course.

 He keeps a relaxed attitude, and encourages questions and observations.

The workshop is built up in a logical series of steps

Intro

Types of airbrush - single action, double action, internal and external mix.

Types of feed, with advantages and limitations of gravity feed, Siphon feed, or side feed.

Paint and the structure of paint; finer grades of paint are required for airbrushing, as compared to coarse grinds for ceiling paint (the comparison to golf-balls to basketballs makes sense)

Anthony walks us through the Iwata series, design features, and advantages and trade offs of the designs. Plus a description of the cup sizes (A= smallest, B= middle, C= larger volume) gives an idea of the volume we can put into a airbrush, and relate it to our projects we do.

Essentially, as you go finer in nozzle size, better atomisation of paint in achieved, however the coverage area shrinks. So you can can do a hairline at thinnest, however you couldn't do any coverage of any large areas. 

The Airbrushes with the finer nozzles also have a MAC - Micro Air Control, a small nozzle adjuster to allow very fine adjustments at the airbrush end for very, very, very fine work. Please thin your paint material accordingly.

Anthony then touches upon compressors, and air sources (with out a controlled air source, any airbrush is just a lump of metal.....) and Iwata do some really clever design features in their line of airbrushes. So handy to know this as well.

Then it's onto techniques; how to avoid splatter, mixing ratios, and a hands on. Everyone has a go. It was surprising to see how much paint was left in the cup after 7 of us (plus Anthony) had a go at airbrushing an A4 sheet.

This was a great example of how great atomisation in finer ways draws less paint then a airbrush not built to such high tolerances. Use less paint, and lay down a finer coat. 

Once all students have had the hands on go, Anthony then gives a cleaning demonstration.  

Like any piece of equipment, proper cleaning is the key to long use, and frustration minimisation.

Yes, Iwata are a higher investment then a entry level airbrush from the hardware store, however if you want to achieve a finer result, better finishes and finer control, then it will be a worthwhile investment. (You cant turn a pigs ear into a silk purse, nor can you paint a masterpiece with a pigs tail bristles either)

Anthony emphasizes using the correct airbrush lubricant; the silicon based one (Superlube) he uses and recommends, needs a minuscule amount, wont contaminate the next load of paint, and keeps the airbrush from seizing up.

There are also quick disconnect couplings, handy if you wish to run multiple airbrushes off the same air line.

Then there's time for a Q&A session, and then home for tea and biscuits.

Good things about the course;

-small groups

- relaxed atmosphere

- lecturer (Anthony) actually uses the product

- hands on, with demo time

- questions answered readily

Possible improvements

- hand out with photos of general cleaning and disassembly & reassembly of an airbrush

I'd  recommend this course for novice to intermediate airbrushes, or anyone looking to get a close look at some advanced airbrushes.

*I did submit a draft of this article to Anthony, and he asked me to include references to three items; the Superlube, the MAC, and the quick disconnect.

I also included how he is a modeler himself, and brings his own airbrush along. Apart from that, he left most of my write up intact.