To use Citadel paint in an airbrush, the most crucial step is proper thinning, as these paints are typically thicker than dedicated airbrush paints. Once thinned, you can load the paint and spray, remembering to clean your airbrush thoroughly afterwards.
Preparing Citadel Paints for Airbrushing
Citadel paints require dilution before they can pass smoothly through the fine nozzle of an airbrush without clogging. The goal is to achieve a consistency similar to milk.
Thinning Ratios and Solutions
There's no single universal ratio, as different Citadel paints (Base, Layer, Contrast, etc.) have varying consistencies. Experimentation is key.
- Start Point: A common starting point is a 1:1 ratio of paint to thinner. However, many users find 1:2, 1:3, or even higher ratios (paint:thinner) work better, especially for finer detail work or less opaque coverage.
- Thinning Mediums:
- Citadel Airbrush Thinner: This is Games Workshop's dedicated product and is formulated specifically for their paints.
- Airbrush Medium: Many brands of acrylic airbrush medium work well. These often contain flow improvers and retarders that help prevent tip dry.
- Distilled Water: While simple water can be used, it can sometimes break down the paint's binder over time or cause tip dry. Using a dedicated thinner or medium is generally recommended for better results and airbrush health.
- Flow Improver: A drop or two of flow improver in your mix can significantly help prevent the paint from drying on the needle tip.
Testing Consistency
Before loading a large amount, test your thinned mixture:
- Mix a small amount in a separate container or your airbrush cup.
- Stir or gently shake thoroughly to ensure the paint and thinner are fully combined.
- Observe the consistency. Does it flow easily like milk? Or is it still thick like cream or yoghurt?
- Spray a test swatch on paper towel or scrap plastic. If it sprays unevenly, sputters, or clogs, add more thinner. If it's too thin, it might be watery and lack coverage; add a little more paint.
Loading and Spraying
Once your paint is correctly thinned, you're ready to airbrush.
- Loading: As mentioned in the reference, you "Just take an amount of paint... and just use the paint inside the airbrush." This typically means pouring or carefully adding the thinned mixture into the paint cup on your airbrush. "Like so now you want to just keep adding" could refer to adding more thinned paint as you spray or potentially adding more thinner/medium if the paint starts to thicken in the cup.
- Air Pressure: Recommended air pressure varies depending on your airbrush type, nozzle size, and desired effect, but generally ranges from 15-30 PSI for most acrylic paints. Lower pressures are used for fine lines or detail, higher for base coating.
- Spraying: Keep the airbrush moving smoothly. Apply thin coats rather than trying to get full coverage in one pass. This reduces the risk of runs and maintains detail.
Cleaning Your Airbrush
Cleaning is paramount when using acrylic paints like Citadel, especially after each color change or painting session. Dried acrylic paint can permanently damage your airbrush.
- Rinse: Spray clean water or airbrush cleaner through the airbrush cup.
- Backflush: Block the nozzle with your finger or cap and gently depress the trigger to bubble cleaner back into the cup. This helps dislodge paint from the needle and nozzle.
- Disassemble (if necessary): For thorough cleaning, especially if clogs occur, disassemble key parts like the needle, nozzle cap, and nozzle to clean them individually with appropriate brushes and cleaners.
- Cleaners: Use dedicated acrylic airbrush cleaner, isopropyl alcohol (sparingly, as it can damage seals), or a mixture of water and a little bit of acrylic medium or cleaner.
By properly thinning, loading, and diligently cleaning, you can successfully use Citadel paints with an airbrush for smooth base coats, blends, and effects on your models.
