Why it's not always necessary to airbrush airplane camo...

[frank2056]

Because sometimes hand brushing looks as good (or better than) airbrushing! I was looking at some South American aircraft and I found these pictures.

I don't know if it's a combination of weathering and paint application, but the EMB-326s look like they were painted with a wide brush. The only way I can think of easily accomplishing a similar look with an airbrush on a model would be to weather it with pastels after painting. Handbrushing might be simpler.

[The Rat]

Agreed. Sometimes I take a look at the stuff I did 40 years ago, like a 1/72nd Frog Hurricane hand brushed with Humbrol enamels from a tin, and they look fine to me. Even colour, smooth surface, fine details showing through. Nowt wrong with bristles! 

[GTX]

Forget the brush - sometimes you shouldn't even try to be neat.  Remember this photo - specifically take a look at the invasion stipes painted on this Mustang!




Regards,

Greg

[frank2056]

Forget the brush - sometimes you shouldn't even try to be neat.  Remember this photo - specifically take a look at the invasion stipes painted on this Mustang!

But can you imagine the grief you'd get from modeling buddies if you painted a Mustang to look like that? And there's a big glue blob on the leading edge of the wing!

[GTX]

It could be interesting to do a real world model of the Mustang and display it at model shows - when people criticuse the quality of the paintwork, pull out the photo.

Regards,

Greg