I was wondering. We have bunch of different paints this days for airbrushing. But I was wondering many times, what they had in the ''old'' days? Anybody ? 
In the early days of airbrushing - what kinda paints?
- Thread starter huskystafford
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DaveG
Airbush Analyst
I've got a book, "Treatise on the Air Brush" that was originally published in 1915. There are a collection of ad's reproduced in the back of the book from that time period. There are many different inks, gouache's, water colors and some stuff I am not sure what the base was. It is advertised as being non-aniline, comes in paste form - soluble in both water and alcohol, and 1 oz will make up to 1 gallon of permanent color.
The first airbrush, depending on the definition, was patented in 1876 (Patent Number 182,389) by Francis Edgar Stanley of Newton, Massachusetts. This worked akin to a diffuser / atomiser and did not have a continuous air supply. Stanley and his twin brother later invented a process for continuously coating photographic plates (Stanley Dry Plate Company) but are perhaps best known for their Stanley Steamer. No artistic images that used this 'paint distributor / atomiser' exist or are as yet known.
The first instrument to be named the "paint distributor" was developed by Abner Peeler "for the painting of watercolors and other artistic purposes" and used a hand-operated compressor to supply continuous air. It was rather crude,
You can read more here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airbrush
jord001
Air-Valve Autobot!
in the early 80's when I started there was airbrush paint, not sure how many brands were available but I had airtex by badger and its still in one of my boxes and in liquid form.. Don't think I would risk using it though. The other alternative was car paint, I had no money so used to get old part used spray cans, spray the [aint into the lid of the can and thin it before pouring it in my airbrush cup. There was also ink but again I had no money so i'd gather any fountain pen ink jars and use that on paper.
Lee
Lee
2Diverse
Stick a fork in him, he's done.
I started back in the mid 70s and what I used for T-Shirts was textile ink. It may have been a dye of some sort. It's possible to have been the same stuff screen printers used although I am not certain. It came in quart sized paint type cans and some was really thick. The black was about the consistency of pudding. Took a lot of thinning to get it to spray. It was thinned with water.
Once mass produced smaller quantity bottles in various colors arrived on the scene I ditched the textile stuff.
Once mass produced smaller quantity bottles in various colors arrived on the scene I ditched the textile stuff.
Leakyvalve
Mac-Valve Maestro!
I still have the first Createx tshirt paints. The bottles are so old that more than a few of them just cracked on their own, or cracked the second you squeeze them. They are also all shrunkin in. Some are very much usable and I keep them around under the "someday" I'll need them for a background paint or something.
2Diverse
Stick a fork in him, he's done.
I have some older Createx paints. Still liquid as are some Badger paints that came in an AB lot I bought a good while ago.
erwin de pan
Mac-Valve Maestro!
These are my first real airbrush colors.
They are still usable.
They are still usable.
Leakyvalve
Mac-Valve Maestro!
Are the squeeze tops still good? Usually it's the plastics and rubbers around the paint that fail over time.
erwin de pan
Mac-Valve Maestro!
The top of dia dye ink bottles has hardened and sticks.
But in general, the rubber squeeze things last a long time.
I also have the old colden airbruch paint.
After 10 years of quitting airbruch.
I threw the bottles in warm water which makes the paint thinner
and easier to shake
And they were good again.
But in general, the rubber squeeze things last a long time.
I also have the old colden airbruch paint.
After 10 years of quitting airbruch.
I threw the bottles in warm water which makes the paint thinner
and easier to shake
And they were good again.
bogie
Double Actioner
My absolute favorite paints to use back then was those little tiny bottles of Testors enamel paints for models! Then there was a local art store named Brinklies that sold air brush paint but it was condensed color. You had to mix it with water..I would give anything to remember that brand . But I sure loved doing tailgates with those testors enamels!
Then....then it happened...I got a DIXIE ART SUPPLY catalogue. The kind where you had to write down in the back what you wanted and send a check....I got a hold of some AQUA FLOW....HOLY COW! The smell!!!!!!!!! it was awesome.
. But I sure loved doing tailgates with those testors enamels! Then....then it happened...I got a DIXIE ART SUPPLY catalogue. The kind where you had to write down in the back what you wanted and send a check....I got a hold of some AQUA FLOW....HOLY COW! The smell!!!!!!!!! it was awesome
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Electric Cat Dude
Needle-chuck Ninja
In the early days, the most common type was gouache (opaque watercolors) in a tube or cake form. Gouache is popular for its consistency, rich color, matte satin finish and can be worked with using reductive techniques. This medium still is used, although it is pretty fragile, particularly when heavily layered or when a support is bent for scanning or transfer. Watercolors were very popular for transparent work.
Inks and dyes can be used, although they do have their problems, mainly with staining or bleed through of colors.
Acrylics didn’t gain much popularity with airbrushing until recently due to their thick nature and a tendency to dry with a “plastiky” finish. The situation has improved these days with acrylics specifically formulated for airbrushing.
Oils are rarely used though a few artists have done so successfully.
Modelbuilders and automotive painters used lacquers and enamels.
Inks and dyes can be used, although they do have their problems, mainly with staining or bleed through of colors.
Acrylics didn’t gain much popularity with airbrushing until recently due to their thick nature and a tendency to dry with a “plastiky” finish. The situation has improved these days with acrylics specifically formulated for airbrushing.
Oils are rarely used though a few artists have done so successfully.
Modelbuilders and automotive painters used lacquers and enamels.
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