| Replicating Airbrush Effects |
Many thanks to Kugelblitz for this article.
Any queries can be sent to Kugelblitz00@gmail.com 
I am going assume you know enough to prime your models before painting them, so I will skip illustrating that step. So I start on step two because I am a rebel. Or step one because zero is a number too. Anyway…
Having primed them, for my scheme, I put a coat of dark grey over the black like so. If you need a reference, the ammo boxes in the middle are what primed stuff looks like.
Close up of step two (one being the primer step). Spray cans, several light passes from 8-12 inches away. Bottom and top.
Now go to the hardware/craft store and buy this stuff. Avoid anything that is white, the white poster putty is too gooey and greasy to be useful. The ACE brand stuff is the better of the two above, it is easier to mould. Both blue ones worked fine.
Are you back from the putty sortie yet? Good. Let us continue.
Roll your blutak into thin, long cylinders and apply it to your thoroughly dried models (I let mine dry for at least 24 hours before the putty masking step). Try to press it on so it adheres, but it doesn't need to be mashed into place.
I made a kind of water reflective pattern on my Tau skimmers, a large open mesh type scheme. Top left is a conversion I did, a Pathfinder Piranha which will hold 4 PFs. I will do two of them up eventually.
Go outside and put your models onto a dust free surface. Ventilation and spray paint are inseparable events.
Shake the can well, and spray the models in long smooth strokes from one side to the other. Keep the can parallel to the surface and don't stop moving it while it is over the models. Light coats here, from about a foot away. Turn the models a few times so you can get into the nooks and crannies but you are NOT trying for a thick, wet coat of paint here. If you get too close, the paint will build up and run or drip. Ugh. Less is more.
After the paint dries a bit, just peel your poster putty off (it is reusable) and look at the effect from its masking properties. A nice, soft edged airbrush-like set of wavy lines.
Now carry on with the details, decals and whatnot.
C&C welcome. Regards,
Kugelblitz
Edit-Note that the technique may be more important for you than the colours or pattern shown. The putty can be blobs, or squiggles or whatever strikes your fancy. I have also seen this done where large shapes cut out of paper were anchored to the model with putty, you still get a soft edge and it looks great. Use your imagination and note that this is done sans airbrush (I have one, I am just lazy).
A big thanks to Kugelblitz - hoping to see more from you
