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Airbrushing 3d prints


Best Airbrush & Paint for 3D Prints & Miniatures – 3D Printerly

When I first started learning about painting 3D prints and miniatures, it took me a while to become aware of the best options around for finishing models.

Apart from using spray paints and acrylics, I found out that you can also use an airbrush to finish 3D prints with great detail and top-notch color blending.

This is easier said than done because not all airbrushes or paints available for purchase can offer you high quality on a reliable basis.

Therefore, I decided to put together a guide of the best airbrushes and paints for 3D prints and miniatures to help you get started with airbrush painting and make your models look flat-out amazing.

Check out this amazing comparison of a vase, the left being Rainbow Silk filament with a horizontal color change and a Gold Silk filament that was airbrushed with two colors (contoured) – created by Charlie Behre.

Best Airbrush for 3D Prints & Miniatures

Master Airbrush Cool Runner II Dual

The Master Airbrush Cool Runner II Dual is a complete airbrush kit that you can get from Amazon which sets you up with everything you need to start painting your 3D prints and models with precision and quality.

The following items are included in this kit:

  • Master TC-320 Compressor
  • Master Airbrush Model MAS G22
  • Master Airbrush Model MAS G25
  • Master Airbrush Model MAS E91
  • Airbrush Cleaning Brush Set
  • Compressor Mounted Airbrush Holder
  • Airbrush Color Chart (How-To Guide)
  • 6 Feet Air Hose
  • 6-Bottle Primary Opaque Color Set (1oz Each)

As you can see, this kit has everything you need to get started with painting 3D prints and models. This is a reason why the Master Airbrush Cool Runner II Dual is called the best beginner airbrush kit for miniatures, which is priced around $150.

For someone who has no experience with airbrushes and compressors, this kit is fairly easy to put together with the help of clear instructions in the included how-to guide.

At the time of writing, the Master Airbrush Cool Runner II Dual has been received well on Amazon with a 4.7/5.0 overall rating where 79% of the customers have left a 5-star review.

One person says that he has tried out multiple high-end airbrush brands in their 3D printing experience, so they were quite doubtful about the quality of the included airbrushes in this kit.

To their surprise, the Master Airbrush Model MAS G22, G25, and the E91 are all high-quality airbrushes that are user-friendly and simply on par with the products of premium manufacturers like Badger and Iwata.

The Master TC-320 Compressor also boasts sufficient quality and has a low-decibel operation. This means that it can be used when other people are sleeping in the house as well.

One user recommends using nothing else than the included cleaning brushes to clean the nozzle of the airbrush. They tried using something else and broke the brass threads inside.

Another experienced customer said that they were able to get into painting their 3D prints very quickly and easily with this setup. It’s definitely a worthy package if you’re looking for a whole airbrush kit that includes many items such as three high-quality airbrushes.

This specific airbrush kit is also featured in the following video by The 3D Print General, so do give it a watch if you want to see it in action.

Get yourself the Master Airbrush Cool Runner II Dual directly on Amazon today.

Iwata-Medea Revolution CR Dual Action

Another high-quality product that gets the job done nicely is the Iwata-Medea Revolution CR Dual Action Airbrush. It costs about $100 and packs great value for money as hundreds of customers have said in their reviews.

The Iwata-Medea Dual Action airbrush is considered one of the best airbrushes for miniatures because of its ergonomic handle design and smooth trigger mechanism.

It comes from a well-established brand that’s popular in the 3D printing community for its wide variety of high-performance airbrushes and airbrush compressor kits, so you’re definitely making the right choice with this product.

At the time of writing, the Iwata-Medea Dual Action airbrush enjoys a great reputation on Amazon with a 4.8/5.0 overall rating. Moreover, 87% of the people who bought it have left a 5-star review.

One experienced airbrush user says that many airbrushes in this price range come with inconsistent airflow and uncontrollable thick sprays of paint, but the Iwata-Medea Dual Action airbrush is nothing like those.

The customer says that they received the product fast with good packaging and they were quickly able to start painting their 3D printed objects because of the ease of use of this airbrush.

Another person says that you can use different thicknesses and air pressures, depending on your requirements, and spray paint your miniatures however you like. Rest assured as the quality will be just fantastic with this airbrush.

One user who had tried other airbrushes unsuccessfully read up on reviews about this particular model and was astonished by the difference in quality.

The Iwata-Medea Dual Action airbrush can also be used for painting your model railroad objects, as a reviewer has mentioned.

The price of this product is fairly reasonable. It’s easy to clean and even easier to work with and is a highly recommended option for 3D prints and miniatures.

Check out the Iwata-Medea Revolution CR Dual Action on Amazon for airbrushing your 3D prints today.

Master Airbrush Model G79

The Master Airbrush Model G79 is a competitively priced product that comes with multiple features to help you achieve high-quality paints on a consistent basis. It costs about $70, so fairly budget-friendly for what it’s worth.

This airbrush features unique self-centering drop-in nozzles and three screw-on gravity fluid cups: 1/16, 1/6 & 1/2oz. Therefore, it is very versatile that can be used for 3D prints, miniatures, crafts, nail arts, and even temporary tattoos.

Since you get three different tip sizes with the product, you can switch between fine detail, general detail, and wide spray patterns easily. This makes the airbrush fairly all-purpose.

At the time of writing, the Master Airbrush Model G79 boasts a 4.5/5.0 overall rating on Amazon. In addition, 72% of the customers who bought it have left a 5-star review.

One user writes that the ergonomic trigger action of this airbrush is smooth and reliable and that the 0.5mm fluid tip works great for miniatures.

In addition, the paint travels nicely as well, so you won’t get big blobs of paint coming out of the tip. You can comfortably use this airbrush on low, medium, and high viscosity materials and not just 3D printed objects.

Another customer says that they’ve been able to finish several projects quickly with this airbrush as compared to their previous devices. The Master Airbrush G79 is easy to clean and works just as intended.

A user of this airbrush who also owns the Iwata-Medea Dual Action airbrush says that this one performs better with acrylic paints and you get the added benefit of spraying in wide patterns, which is more suitable for large 3D prints.

For the price, this product is one of the best airbrushes for 3D printed models. It gives you features that many other higher-priced airbrushes do not, so you should definitely opt for it if you’re on a budget but still want high-quality paints.

You can find the Master Airbrush Model G79 directly from Amazon today as a cheaper airbrush option to paint your models.

Best Airbrush Paints for 3D Prints & Miniatures

TIMBERTECH Professional Airbrush Paint

The TIMBERTECH Professional Airbrush Paint is the product of choice for thousands of 3D printer users around the world. It is a set of 12 water-based acrylic paint bottles that are each 30ml in quantity.

The whole paint bottle set costs about $25, so it’s very nicely priced for consumers and 3D printing enthusiasts who are looking to paint their models with great finishing.

The following colors are included:

  • Lemon (Yellow)
  • Scarlet Red (Red)
  • Lime (Green)
  • Ultra-Marine Blue (Blue)
  • Burnt Umber (Brown)
  • Titanium White (White)
  • Khaki
  • Orange
  • Purple
  • Mars Black (Black)
  • Neutral Gray
  • Middle Green

Therefore, you get a lot of variety with this set of acrylic bottles. The colors look sharp, punchy, full of life, and are also gluten-free, so you can buy these paints with full confidence if you have a little one at home.

At the time of writing this article, the TIMBERTECH Professional Airbrush Paint has a 4.5/5.0 overall rating with 70% of the customers leaving a 5-star review lauded with praise.

One customer admires that you can use these paints with any airbrush. Another user says that they regularly use this product to paint their 3D printed miniatures and figures, and the results are just awesome.

Many people who use these paints say that the colors are easy to clean and that the pigment clarity is remarkable. One user recommends applying two coatings of paint when using this product to get the best results.

Apart from 3D prints and miniatures, you can also use these paints on paper, canvas, wood, fabric, leather, plastics, metallic, and ceramic surfaces and give them a professional look.

Several people worry about the durability of acrylic paints, but a customer who put this product to the test by painting a mechanical 3D print says that the TIMBERTECH Professional Airbrush Paint is fairly tough and resistant.

Get yourself the TIMBERTECH Professional Airbrush Paint Set directly from Amazon today.

Vallejo Acrylic 16 Airbrush Paint Set

The Vallejo Acrylic 16 Airbrush Paint Set is a premium option for you to go with. It is a bit expensive but is still picked up frequently and all of its customers regard it as an excellent choice of paints.

Make sure that you get the “Model Air” series of Vallejo’s acrylic paints as several customers have confused the listing and ended up with something that isn’t made for airbrushes.

Unlike the TIMBERTECH Professional Airbrush Paint, the Vallejo Acrylic 16 Airbrush Paint Set comes in 4 more colors which are mahogany, light blue, middle stone, and mud brown.

At the time of writing, this product has a terrific 4.7/5.0 overall rating on Amazon, and a cool 82% of the people who bought it have left a 5-star review. It costs around $55 to get yourself the set.

One expert 3D printer user says that these paints are easy to spray and there’s no need to thin them down after applying either. The dropper bottles are comfortable to handle and the paint dries very fast, making the whole paint job convenient and hassle-free.

Another customer recommends that you might need to use a sealer after applying the Vallejo paints for the best results. That can be done with a clear coat or something like epoxy resin easily, so your paint won’t chip off.

However, this is more recommended for large-format cases like painting the body of a car. For 3D printed models and miniatures, you’ll do just fine with regular coats as many people have remarked.

One user says that they had tried many other cheaper paints with their Iwata Airbrush but all of them clogged. Then they stumbled upon the Vallejo Acrylic Paint Set and they were surprised to see the smooth flow and consistent, high-quality spray.

The coverage of these paints is great and they really get you that terrific finishing on your miniatures and other 3D prints. Plenty of 3D printer users are enjoying their experience with these paints, and you should definitely try these out as well.

Check out the Vallejo Acrylic 16 Airbrush Paint Set on Amazon today for premium paints.

Arteza Acrylic Paint Set

The Arteza Acrylic Paint Set is a pack of 20 acrylic, water-based colors that can be used efficiently with airbrushes to paint 3D prints and miniatures. It is extremely popular and has more than 5,200 ratings on Amazon.

One of the biggest benefits of buying these acrylics is their cost-effectiveness and value for money. This pack contains 20 bottles that are each about 2oz or 59ml in quantity, and cost just about $24 in total.

Unlike Vallejo, the Arteza Acrylic Paint Set is definitely more affordable. It also provides a matte finish to your model which is considered as optimal coverage as compared to the Vallejo Acrylic 16 Airbrush Paint Set’s flat finish.

At the time of writing, this product has gathered quite the reputation on Amazon with a 4.8/5.0 overall rating. Furthermore, 87% of the customers have left a 5-star review that speaks volumes about this paint’s quality.

One user loves the fact that despite being many in number, each bottle is individually sealed with a foil. This prevents any potential leakage during transit and helps you store the bottles securely as well.

Another customer said that this is, by far, the best paint for 3D printed resins that they have come across. It works on multiple surfaces, including wood, rocks, glass, fabrics, ceramics, and paper, so you’re not limited to plastics only.

The Arteza Acrylic Paint Set uses a fast-drying formula so you can apply additional coats right away without waiting. The colors are high-quality, and they blend with the model effortlessly as well, as thousands of customers have said.

One person ran into a shipping problem with the manufacturer, but Arteza’s customer support service was fast to reply and very supportive to help them out. This makes this company stand out among other options.

Get yourself the Arteza Acrylic Paint Set directly on Amazon today.

If you are looking for some higher quality options, you can go with the Golden High Flow Acrylic 10-Color Transparent Set and the Golden Paint Acrylics High Flow Assorted Colors Bundle from Amazon. They do come at a higher price, but you get what you pay for.

Best Air Brush Compressor for Miniature Painting & 3D Prints

TIMBERTECH Upgraded Single-Piston Compressor

The TIMBERTECH Upgraded Single-Piston Compressor is a high-quality product that costs about $100 on Amazon right now. It’s compact, quiet, and exceedingly portable at 11.55 pounds, so you don’t have to worry about carrying it.

The best air compressors out there use either a water trap or tank to prevent water from condensing in the air hose. This TIMBERTECH Compressor has a 3-liter receiver tank that ensures a consistent flow of air.

Furthermore, it also has a pressure regulator with a gauge, a quality water trap mechanism, an air filter, and a pressure-relief safety valve, so the compressor is basically loaded with features.

At the time of writing this article, the TIMBERTECH Upgraded Single-Piston Compressor has a great status on Amazon with a 4.7/5.0 overall rating. Moreover, 82% of the customers who bought it have left a 5-star review.

One experienced user writes that they’ve tried out multiple types of air compressors for their airbrushes—both expensive and cheap—but this one turned out to be the best surprisingly.

The build quality scores the highest numbers here as it consists of a steel pipe and relevant fittings, and not low-cost copper or aluminum. The regulator holds the pressure nicely without any leaks at 0 psi.

Another customer writes that they expected the unit to be much louder but it’s very quiet, and they simply love that. They don’t have to worry about disturbing someone when working with it because it uses a low-decibel operation.

One person pointed out that the compressor does not come with a hose. If you don’t have a standard sized hose at home, consider buying the premium Fengda Airbrush Hose from Amazon that’s cheap and is made out of Nylon.

People love the fact that the unit is well-designed and that the head and the discharge pipes stay cool despite constant usage. This compressor is built much better than most of its competitors in the sub $100 price range.

Check out the TIMBERTECH Upgraded Single-Piston Compressor directly from Amazon today.

California Air Tools Compressor

The California Air Tools Compressor is another top-quality option that you can buy for your airbrush and get to painting 3D prints and miniatures smoothly.

California Air Tools is a well-respected brand that’s known for its high-quality array of powerful and reliable compressors, and this CAT-1P1060S compressor model is no different.

It costs about $120 and is a bit pricier than the TIMBERTECH Upgraded Single-Piston Compressor. However, the extra cost is justified due to the large and spacious 1 gallon steel tank of the California Air Tools product.

At the time of writing this article, this product has a terrific 4.7/5.0 overall rating on Amazon and 82% of the people who bought it have left a 5-star review.

It’s also fairly lightweight at 29 pounds, and many people dropping their reviews of this unit have said that they can easily move the compressor around without having to ask for help.

In addition to that, a customer has remarked that this compressor is amazingly quiet and keeps the noise level to somewhere around 56dB. Just make sure to put the muffler air filter on the compressor for an even quieter operation.

The California Air Tools Compressor is best used when paired with the aforementioned Iwata-Medea Revolution CR Dual Action Airbrush (Amazon), as many people have commented.

The combination works great for 3D prints, and lets you enjoy a terrific painting experience. One person has even said that the California Air Tools Compressor is the best airbrush compressor for miniature painting.

Another benefit of buying this compressor is that it uses an oil-free single piston pump design that pushes its life cycle beyond 3,000 hours.

Therefore, you’ll be set for a long time and won’t have to find another compressor anytime soon. That said, do bear in mind that this unit does not come with a hose, but it does fit all the standard sizes if you already have one at home.

One user said that he comfortably uses this FYPower 1/4 Inch Recoil Poly Air Hose Kit with the California Air Tools compressor and gets nothing but the best results, so it’s definitely worth looking into that air hose kit if you’re looking to get one for yourself.

Get yourself the California Air Tools Compressor directly from Amazon today.

Airbrushing 3D Printed Models and Figurines

Airbrushing 3D Printed Models and Figurines | Gambody Blog

6 Articles

18th March 2022

3D Printing Tips3D Printing Articles

Users with a 3D printer at home know that painting 3D prints is not a complicated but enjoyable procedure. We will get you through the steps of the priming and painting process in a way that will make you grab the paintbrush or spray paint in no time.

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  • 386
23rd July 2021

3D Printing ArticlesInterviews with Makers

The fantastic Middle-earth world created by Tolkien has long gone beyond the pages of books and screen scenes. Today, every LOTR fan can recreate their favourite fictional scenes in the backyard using a 3D printer. Annie Moberg, for example, 3D printed Lord of the Rings action figures, Hobbit miniatures and statues to exhibit in her driveway in Sweden. The impressive diorama with cool 3D prints attracts much attention. It can be visited by you even if you live in another corner of the world.

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  • 218
12th July 2021

3D Printing ArticlesInterviews with Makers

Not only kids dream about adding a Star Wars AT-AT Walker toy to their collection. Adults who love the franchise also collect articulated figures. But they often prefer 3D printing action figures rather than purchasing a factory piece, just like Tom Anton did. This hobbyist 3D printed articulated action figure of AT-AT Walker, impressively painted this 3D print and applied fantastic Star Wars crafts skills to recreate the explosion inside the model.

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  • 223
11th June 2021

3D Printing ArticlesInterviews with Makers

Noble, honest and just, Roman general Maximus Decimus Meridius became a hero of his time. And now he can become the hero of your collection of models and figures printed on a 3D printer. Arnd Dorn’s project can inspire you to new hobby exploits. This gifted enthusiast turned the STL files of the Gladiator 3D model for printing into a colourful figurine that can decorate any home.

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  • 286
12th March 2021

3D Printing ArticlesInterviews with Makers

Fans of Final Fantasy 7 and Remake remember a playable character, beautiful FFVII Aerith Gainsborough. This pretty Flower Girl’s alternative name is Aeris. She is tender, magically gifted, joyful and carefree. No wonder the adorable Final Fantasy 7 Aerith figurine for 3D printing is so popular among the collectors of 3D printed video game models.

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  • 240
18th November 2020

Press ReleasesCampaigns

Win a chance to be published on the pages of Airbrush Step by Step magazine!

London, 18 November 2020 – It’s been almost a year since Gambody’s Hall of Fame campaign came to its end, leaving behind a lot of heartwarming memories and countless astonishing 3D printing projects that received well-deserved appreciation and rewards. So now it’s high time we introduced a brand new Airbrushed 3D Prints Contest that will hopefully inspire the members of our Facebook Community for even more outstanding works!

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Continue Reading

Airbrushing – CRAZY81MAN

Automotive airbrushing – digital airbrushing is a modern technology for direct printing on a car body. In this case, the drawing is applied not manually, but by a special airbrush robot controlled by a PC. With this method, you can apply a drawing of any size and complexity.

Automotive airbrushing in our country has become widespread relatively recently. Automotive airbrushing is also called airbrushing, made on auto-aero-mototechnics. For motorists in our country, such a decoration is not only an external tuning of the car, but also a kind of anti-theft system that makes the car exclusive and very noticeable. nine0009

Now the final image on the car depends little on the talent of the artist, the printer can print absolutely any image or photo picture you like. Also, such airbrushing makes it possible to apply a temporary picture, which, if desired, can be easily removed with a special composition, leaving no traces.

This technique has the following advantages:

  • Excellent print quality without limiting the number of colors. nine0009
  • 3D printable.
  • High print speed. One drawing will take only 2-3 days.
  • Allows you to quickly submit color sketches and, if necessary, make immediate adjustments.
  • Significant reduction in the cost of work (compared to manual airbrushing).

Strictly speaking, digital airbrushing is a technology that combines printer printing and traditional airbrushing. The important thing is that it is carried out at the speed of a digital printer, can work with vertical surfaces and in 3D format. nine0009

The world's only digital airbrush equipment is LAC's ArtROBO. ArtROBO is a specialized printing complex designed to apply large-format images to the body of a car, bus or truck. Can work with 3D surfaces of any size, as equipped with a system for tracking changes in surface curvature.

Digital airbrushing can be practiced in any dry and warm room (temperature should be at the level of 20-25 degrees) with a ventilation system and humidity less than 60% and a 220V socket to turn on the equipment. It is desirable that the room has a foot lift for the car, or just a jack. 1-2 people are enough to service the equipment. nine0009

The basis of technology and the main equipment for digital airbrushing is a specialized digital airbrush printer ArtROBO controlled by a PC, printing is done from TIF-files. It is also important to have special software.

Digital airbrush ink.

Special quick drying inks (2-3 seconds) are used for printing, which due to the unique composition can work on any surface: glass, metal, wood, concrete, plastic, etc. Such ink is quite resistant - without additional protection, the pattern remains unchanged for about 3 years. If desired, the pattern can be covered with any finishing composition, including automotive varnish, for additional durability. With the help of a special composition, the ink can be removed within a few minutes, which is very convenient, especially for beginners. nine0009

ArtROBO is capable of producing 16.5 million different colors and shades, there is also a White ink for working with colored (not white) surfaces.

There are two car digital airography technologies:

  • Acrylic
  • Acetone
9000 ACRIRILE Technology more traditional. Diffuse atomization is used here, and the ink is carried out using a jet of compressed air. Acetone technology involves spot spraying. It is similar to large format printer printing. The ink is carried out by strong pressure, which is created in the ink tank. nine0009

Different models of equipment using these two different technologies have different injectors and print units. There are models with interchangeable nodes. The cost of equipment depends only on the width of the printed field, the number of nozzles and the amount of ink run-out. The price of equipment does not depend on the type of ink, so the choice of printing technology and equipment depends only on personal preferences. The difference between technologies is only in the subjective external perception of the printed image. nine0009

Painting/airbrushing | 3DADA - 3D printing workshop

from Alex

How nice to receive a gift from the 3DaDa creative 3D printing workshop. https://vk.com/3dada. Now I have not only a doll, but also a figurine! Thanks guys!!! Original and beautiful. Maxim Malyuzhenets, wedding host.

Categories 3D Printing, Painting / airbrushing, Souvenirs Leave a comment nine0002 from Alex

Handmade gift souvenir Dogma - Buddy Christ / 3d STL model✍? 3D printing in Vitebsk: Workshop "3DADA" (delivery in the CIS). ? Art painting: Vyacheslav Shainurov

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from Alex

Expensive elite Souvenir - handmade gift ?? nine0153 Money stump fungus. Do you put the charmed money into it for good luck and wealth, put it in a beautiful place and everything will be fine with you?
⚠? What is a conspiracy for money and can it be done at home????.

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from Alex

Art of Vitebsk masters. ??
Paratrooper figurine to order (Belarus, Vitebsk, 2017)

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from Alex

Cthulhu (Cthulhu) - a deity from the pantheon of Myths Cthulhu, the lord of the worlds, sleeping at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean, but nevertheless able to influence the human mind. First mentioned in Howard Lovecraft's short story "The Call of Cthulhu" (1928).

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Categories 3D Printing, Painting / airbrushing, Souvenirs Leave a comment nine0002 from Alex

Dota 2 / Sand king ( Dota 2 / Sand King ) minicopy, figurine, unique and exclusive handmade gaming souvenir, made to order, delivery across the CIS and the EU is possible.

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from Alex

Butcher's Hook, Immortal / Used by: PudgeSithil's Summer Stash 2012Claw from the black dragon's left paw. The only part of the monster that survived the encounter with Pudge's insatiable hunger.

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