Airbrush Stencil 2

Airbrush Stencil 2 — an airbrush stencil from AMMO of Mig Jimenez

This is neither a kit nor accessory parts. An Airbrush Stencil is a sheet with cut-out motifs that you lay against a surface and spray paint through; on a model this creates a repeatable pattern or texture that hand painting would manage only with difficulty. Stencils are used over and over, and once cleaned they last for many applications.

How the stencil is used

The crucial thing is the distance of the stencil from the surface. Laid on tight it gives a sharp, hard edge to the pattern, while lifted by a few millimeters it creates a soft, blurred transition that usually looks more natural in weathering. Spray with thinly diluted paint and square to the surface — an angled spray creeps under the edge and smears the pattern. Work in several light passes, because excess paint easily gathers into a drop under the stencil.

Recommended procedure

• Degrease both the stencil and the model, so that the paint does not escape under the edge.
• Thin the paint more than for an ordinary spray and lower the pressure.
• Spray square on, in short bursts and at a distance, not in one continuous pass.
• Clean the stencil after every use while the paint is fresh — a dried coat makes the cut-out openings smaller.
• Store it on a flat surface, so that it does not warp.

Who it is for

For modelers and diorama builders who work with an airbrush and want repeatable textures and effects. The particular motifs and the size of the stencil are shown by the illustration on the packaging, so check them against it.

The stencil is an aid to painting. It holds neither paints nor modeling parts.