Hello, my name is...

T

TanukiPDX

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Hi, I am Brent (Tanuki).

I want to learn to airbrush on helmets and possibly other automotive projects. This seems to be a pretty active forum, so I thought I would join up and see how I learn.

I currently do not own an airbrush, and I think I have used one a time or two. I am very new to this, and am excited to learn.
 
Hey Brent, welcome from New Zealand. What part of the world are you in? Do you have any idea of budget? We generally recommend avoiding beginners kits as they lead to frustration. Check put the tutorial videos on the airbrushtutor website. Heaps of good info there.
 
Hey Brent, welcome from New Zealand. What part of the world are you in? Do you have any idea of budget? We generally recommend avoiding beginners kits as they lead to frustration. Check put the tutorial videos on the airbrushtutor website. Heaps of good info there.

Thanks! I am from Portland, OR. I am happy to spend a little more for something I will grow into. Ideally I would like to buy something that I can use for a long time. I don't want to spend $500-600 on the brush, but yeah just a good working brush.
 
Ok cool. That is a reasonable budget for a good set up. Even if they is your whole budget. Airbrush would be about 1/3 of total set up costs. A really reliable and popular brush is the Iwata eclipse.
 
That is about what I was thinking. Maybe around $200 on the brush or somewhere in that area.
 
It looks like the HP-C Plus is a good brush as well.

What size tip do I need to be looking at to paint on things like helmets? the detail wont be as small and precise as a model, and I will still need to be able to cover areas with color around the helmet. Is there a good all around tip size for that work? Think of work similar to my profile pic, but on a helmet.

Everything I do looks about like that. See more here: www.brenthcheney.com
 
It looks like the HP-C Plus is a good brush as well.

What size tip do I need to be looking at to paint on things like helmets? the detail wont be as small and precise as a model, and I will still need to be able to cover areas with color around the helmet. Is there a good all around tip size for that work? Think of work similar to my profile pic, but on a helmet.

Everything I do looks about like that. See more here: www.brenthcheney.com

Welcome to the forum from Scotland:thumbsup:

You can't go wrong with the HP-C, it is thee most recommended starter brush and having had the side feed version I quickly found out why, it is a great all rounder and incredibly easy to maintain, I reckon you'll have lots of fun with it and if you decide to upgrade in the future it will be your best back up brush, you may be able to find other brands in the same class cheaper but I wouldn't bother, if I ever buy another brush it will most likely be the eclipse again:)
 
Hi Brent, the eclipse and similar are 0.38mm - practice is the key, I have done images at business card size with the eclipse.
 

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Hi Brent, the eclipse and similar are 0.38mm - practice is the key, I have done images at business card size with the eclipse.

Thank you both! I think I will be doing a lot of masking as well as free hand. I will have to see who has the best sales locally. Hopefully I can just find someone who was going to get into this and never did. They always make the you the best deals :)
 
I found the HP-CS Eclipse in a kit with 4 bottles of paint and a filter for $125. I think that is probably about as low as I will find that brush brand new.
 
I found the HP-CS Eclipse in a kit with 4 bottles of paint and a filter for $125. I think that is probably about as low as I will find that brush brand new.
Oooh, do you have a link? That is a good price. Paint might not be good but at that price it shouldn't be too bad.
 
Yes indeed. The com-art is a good paint as well. Do you have a compressor? Here are some good thoughts for purchasing one.
 
Yes indeed. The com-art is a good paint as well. Do you have a compressor? Here are some good thoughts for purchasing one.


Thank you guys!

I will watch the video when im able to listen. Currently I am rotting away at work.
 
Welcome from the UK. That's a great brush, and good paint. Not sure how it holds up to auto type work, regarding being lightfast etc, but think it should be good with clear coat. Hopefully some of the guys who use it can help with that.

If you want to paint helmets look into how to prep them properly as that will save headaches when you get to painting, and get used to drawing, masking etc on a curved surface. It can distort images, or not line up wrap around designs etc and is worth practising.
 
Thank you! I have done a few helmets so far using spray, brush, and other creative ideas, but I want to do them the right way. I added you on facebook just now as well.

You know the hardest helmet to paint that I ever did, was a valentino rossi replica. It is of a soccer ball. You may think this is an easy replica, but it was incredibly hard to replicate the geometry on a non spherical shape. The center helmet below and the oil painting above are my work.

_Muo-lzFprJ4_z5WGvKAMUFAduJgXJqMbVtRCAYbLxyNLeYPR-euBwzkOUNkvrWKYTAfDDJWekP9WlPSky3xs2F94Kpsi1-gp765kd4yYo4oGaDHEebsiMrHedM2qc6JiqN-0HXDttmVPJDewbw6WDMWqmrf-mkgPSA5GeavYl4P1RALh1spAvv_leFbjcilZaiQI-IpjNujj5AYUCLw7nk6NGYrfA5JWz49kHiLCMWJq7yZz7NrLlrkds8vkJTu8a64SgbOEedHy2mM_ATUE2JDIAWsfoulgio8VcEkltGOlZzzIRgkcvCr1R9mwIRMFR7CiCAnbqlvE6L9p06dvlA_fULNL6uUVW89fWQa43lo6Fkm3vNqEpVlanIO6hGJP-X8PScFUCTBUH_zKdoRtzXcOU_xwZJoQyrW0ZWbSZpkLJkndihWSrDgqhsc2hWigJ3Ff_v6Z2N2LkHarMs-xRtdZ6wHcoFAYIn5SLxPrjCfocfZv-1ycUfMiCt1dn0-Sr_Rre5dd4gFtMgqctzyM5W27_LDbk7IFzY_VJrxV-91dFpP51BXpWR6nwDOOrUvseNUcCwa1mkwY5Rr3nCROZR_g-Vv01CKN6j75h-nxAWDPu2fW_5S=s890-no
 
Welcome from Australia,
with the talent you already have with oils, you'll only have to learn the new application of the paint with the airbrush rather than art as well.
 
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