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What is Plastic Weld?
Posted in: Assembling and gluing
28th November 2024
Plastic Weld from EMA is an indispensable adhesive for scale modellers and hobbyists working with plastic kits. Its...
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What is a superglue activator?
Posted in: Assembling and gluing
27th November 2024
A superglue activator, also known as a cyanoacrylate (CA) accelerator, is a chemical agent designed to speed up the...
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What is HOf?
Posted in: Rolling stock
26th November 2024
H0f (or H0f Feldbahn) is a specific scale within model railways, representing a blend of two key characteristics: the...
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How do I add smoke to a model building?
Posted in: Power and control
25th November 2024
To add smoke to a model building, you'll want to create a realistic effect that enhances the overall display. Here's...
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What is the purpose of a backscene?
Posted in: Scenery
22nd November 2024
A backscene is an essential component of a model railway layout, providing a visual backdrop that enhances realism...
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We are dispatching daily apart from bank holidays.

We are open as usual, but closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day.

The shop will close early at 2pm on Christmas Eve and 3pm on New Year's Eve.

What is an airbrush?

An airbrush is a small handheld tool powered by a small compressor or can of air, that provides an alternative to aerosol cans for spray painting models.

One advantage to using an airbrush is that you can adjust the nozzle. This allows you to easily achieve different effects, whether you are applying large areas of solid colour to your locomotives and rolling stock or weathering your trains, tracks, bridges and tunnel portals by applying faint washes, airbrushes are a very useful tool for the job.

Another benefit is that you can use any colour you like as you can mix it yourself and not be reliant of availability in the aerosol can range.

Despite the initial purchase cost, airbrushes are in the long-run cheaper than aerosols too. They can be used with either acrylic paint or enamel giving the modeller flexibility and choice when it comes to the finished effect.

It is always best to have a little practice with your airbrush on a piece of card before turning your attention to the subject to be painted. But mastering the art of airbrushing doesn't take long and the effects on your models are sure to impress.

Maintenance is simple too: acrylic paints can be simply flushed out of the airbrush using water while enamel paints are easily cleaned away using thinners.

Airbrushes have revolutionised how professional modellers paint their models and scenery. For anyone that is feeling a little apprehensive about using one we would strongly advise talking to some modellers at an exhibition. The realism that airbrushes can bring to a layout is priceless.

Posted in: Painting

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