helmet headaches

[REDHOUSE3]

I have really just started airbrushing and really want to concentrate on helmets but everytime I try it goes badly. I went to the how to articles an saw the Brain bucket design and thought how great and easy to follow well written guide, how the hell do you get masking tape to lay that smooth? After hours of cutting my design and then lifting off my tape I saw what looked like a finger painting and not a crisp layout. I,m using badger anthem 155 with Badgers imagine air, and the blue nonstick painters tape (2"inch), there are bleeds everywhere. also how can I get my brush to spray for detail when all I get is a sudden burst followed by birth of a paint spider?

[Cowboy]

Not sure which how to Yer refering to but . First off I,d say Yer using to wide of tape. & not sure what Ya mean about nonstick. I,d get some 3M automotive fineline tape , it comes in a few different widths. On a Hemet or rounded surface i,d use 1/8th inch fot the border then , the green 3/4 inch 3M tape for fillers. As far as the paint problem , could be To high or low of air preasure, not properly thinned or strained paint . I,m not familiar with Yer AB, or imagine air, But i,m sure someone that is will be along soon. Sorry I,m not more help, & welcome .

[Whit]

Well,,, if it helps,,, here's a brain !!!
Might try printing out on your printer,,,
cutting apart,, spray adhesive on the
back,, stick in appropriate positions,,
spray in light coats to build up a color,,
(also light coats avoid bleeds a bunch)
pull the stencils,, see what ya got !!!
OR,,, a file if you got a plotter !!!
Good Luck on it !!!

[jerseycrazee]

hey redhouse
well i use a badger 155 and i can tell you from my experience with it its very challenging to get the fine details on hard surfaces...tees are okay as they are more forgiving...as for taping i use 3m mask anyweres from 1/2 inch to 3 inch..you have to work it over the roundness of the helmet but it can be done it may get wrinkled and you have to overlap ...as for the spidering yup like whit said maybe not high enough air pressure or your paint is too loose
and alo like whit mentioned light layers to build up the color
i will spray tees about 20-22 lbs......but on hard surfaces at 40-45 lbs...it depends on what type paint consistancy i am using...and its really trail and error
do you have a water filter in line ? if not then that could be part of the bursts of paint or maybe its just a twitch and you just slightly pull back the trigger too far ..well hope this helps and keep on sprayin
:cheers:

[Margret]

Whit is right. Spray in light coats. What paints are you using?