HelividD
Senior Heliman
Location: Auburn Hills, MI, USA
| Well, I can't say on the Nelson's and the price. I will just say that that is what I paid for mine(I actually confirmed that with the gf because hey, I am human. I could make a mistake every now and then.. LOL). I will just say that maybe it will be more expensive for you... Sorry dude..
And yes, it's work, but if your lazy then your in the wrong hobby. And the pink canopy, I did that one in three hours. From start to finish. Yes, it took me longer(like 4 days of putzing and playing) with the first canopy, but that one, I didn't have the flow, and it was brand new to me. For something complex, yes, anytime you do it the first time, it is difficult, but as you get better you learn tricks. I learned and learn each time I pick up that brush.
I will use you for example and the canopy you showed on your other thread. I would never begin with something like that. It is complex to a certain extent and after all the time invested with frisketing/masking, etc, if it doesn't turn out right, then your going to be heavily discouraged. And that is what it sounds like to me from the way you replied. Nothing against you, but it does. For me, I figured I would start simple, with fades and the like.. The first canopy I did was a solid color with a stripe on it, with clear.. That was to get used to the paints, the flows, etc.. Then I did a fade. I also did some model cars just to play with the airbrush I had at the time.. Each time I used it, I learned a little more control and flow and those things minimize time. I also as goofy as it sounds, painted the back of my aquarium solid blue with autoair.. Why? to practice on large surfaces getting a nice solid color and coat..
The canopy that has the blue on it that took me a few days, honestly is about the 4th or 5th I have done.. Thats it. It took a long time because I was impatient and kept spraying thick coats. I then had to go back and start from scratch.. But I learned alot about "conceptualizing" before you begin. The pink one that only took a few hours, I didn't do the final sanding and buffing because it's my girlfriends beater canopy and she is learning on it.
The same is for masking.. The more time you spend doing something, the better you get.
Mind you, I am on my fourth airbrush and this is the most expensive and rewarding one yet. That is why I suggest to get a good brush up front. You don't need anything big like a spray gun for what we are doing, but something that atomizes well. You have to research also. For me because I have big hands, the brush has to fit "me".. And also, you have to learn your paints. These things take time and "failures". I enjoy the process and what the frisket allows, anything is possible.
Off my soap box though.. Basically you can make it as complex and time consuming or simplistic as you want. There are tricks with each paint, but those things can only be found by getting in there in one way or another and trying it. Really trying it. You may not get the results at first, but sooner or later...
And to be honest, if you read something about the paints and the surfaces and the like, you will find that some of your findings I believe may be a bit misconcieved. Especially, things with sanding and the like are going to depend on the surface your starting with. So it's not going to always be a 10 hour job and it's not always going to be a 3 hour job. It's going to depend on the skill and complexity of what your doing and also how proficient you are with what your doing just like anything else in life..
All in all, if the person wants to do it, they have to get in there, set their own curve and see how they do. But they still don't have to spend 2000 to be able to paint a nice body.. Especially for themselves on a small scale "run" or even one body a month.. A body shop or say someone that does this as a profession needs not only quality, but consistancy on a constant basis. This is what they are paid for and why the equipment they purchase will "have" to be on a higher level than that of a hobbyist or prosumer. So telling a person that doesn't even know the process that they need a "gas mask" and that "the pro's do it this way" is kind of an oversimplification of the process and reasons why..
Every time I fly I loose more hair! LOL |
I did the auto clearcoats and to be honest, for years this has kept me from spraying. After my LHS owner told me about this stuff and I tried it, I am sold! (speaking of which, I need to go get another bottle of the clear... LOL). Like the Createx, it is water based, so no bad fumes, it turns out very nice. You do have to follow the normal sanding and finishing procedure, etc, and it is of course much cheaper than going with the say 3M, PPG, etc clears.. I like it!
