Stock Battlewagon Paint

(sssshhhhhhhhhhh! don’t tell uber I’m over here and not working on Wazdakka !!!)

Actually, I did spend some time on Wazdakka tonight, I got most of the body painted. While I was waiting for parts to dry I decided to give the airbrush I borrowed a try. I’m using my stuck battlewagon as a test bed for airbrushing and to get me prepared for painting some Apocalypse sized toy conversions scheduled for later this summer.

Tada!

A Badger 150 and a little Badger compressor to go with it.

Carefully masked lower half – I haven’t masked off a model in over twenty years!

After doing some online research I found out the Mechrite Red tends towards the pink side when airbrushed to I decided to add a bit of Scorched Brown to try and counter act that. I now have a perfect use for all of the old, used paint bottles I’ve been saving! I mixed this up as Mechrite Red/Scorched Brown/Water – 3/1/2. I was guessing/going on what some other people had suggested for a thinning ratio and it seemed to work at about 1/3 water, for a while….

Here’s the first coat – not too bad. The Mechrite didn’t go pink on me so I feel it worked out alright.

Then a thinned 3/1, Red Gore/water was sprayed on.

For some reason the rest of my outdoor photography went to crap, not sure why. The colors are easily seen though. Then a spray of Blood Red.

I deliberately sprayed the Blood Red from an upper angle, not caring too much about getting a full, even coat as this is supposed to give some zenith shading to the color – a bit of a fade.

Back inside the house under some better lighting and more steady shooting, here’s the final result…

I’m in love with the airbrush. Now I just have to figure out how to keep the nozzle from clogging (with experience, I know). It didn’t happen until half way through the second color. It seems as though the tiny nozzle was gathering paint waaaaay deep inside where I couldn’t clean it easily. Some people suggest “back blowing” tip until bubble appear in the feeder cup but the tip on mine has a crown shape top so I can’t get a perfect seal over it – the air will always come out.

Besides the smooth, even coverage, the thing I’m most blown away with is how much detail is left. It’s almost as if there wasn’t any paint on it at all. I’m imagining the washed will sit deeper and be more crisp and the dry brushing I’ll apply later with really stand out against all the crisp definition.

OK, back to Wazdakka until he’s done. I promise!

Later!