What are you using to color the tail?

I think you meant "*can* probably do" :p

Media-I use thinned out acrylics

Kuroki-Yes I did xD Stupid typos lol

I would recommend getting Golden Acrylics airbrush media. Or simply use their pre-mixed colors. As you are not getting the depth in the color you should be getting.
If you insist on using cheaper paints, make sure to cut them with a lot more distilled water. As you are getting caking on you surface. It also looks like your fibers have some heat damage. Are you using something to dry the tail with heat?

I haven't really found any airbrush specific acrylics,thanks I will look into that.And I'm not sure why they would be heat damaged.I do use a blow dryer,but I use it on the cool setting.

http://www.goldenpaints.com/product.....sh/airbru1.php

though it may seem counter intuitive, I would cut your paints much more, and simply spray on coats with a thinner media, then wait for the water to dry. You will get a much softer texture, and a much more vivid result if you do that.

Thanks for the advice,I will try that.I had actually been wondering why if I try to get a deep coloring if just feels more cakey.I usually end up brushing the fur out for hours,which tends to make the fibers look stressed like.Perhaps that is the damage you are seeing?This is very helpful advice though,and I will look into the golden paints.

Airbrush paints have lots of "opposite day" properties.

What type of airbrush are you using?

I do believe it's called an Aeolian Pixie.It's a fairly small unit,but it works pretty well.I mostly use the basic gun it came with.I'm still pretty new to airbrushing.

Click on "reply to this post" in the right hand corner of this message. Or I don't know you responded. I saw you don't use FA often, so I figured I woud check back.

Your airbrush is what is called an "Iwata clone" . Don't worry, for what it looks like you are doing it should be fine.

Here is the airbrush they tried to copy.

http://www.iwata-medea.com/index.ph.....ucts/cm_c_plus

Anyway. I would run your current brush to the ground. And if you ever want more detail in your work, I would say get an iwata. They are similar to what you have, but are far more precise, and tend to be made very well.

Ah thanks,and sorry for the reply to post thing,I'm multitasking right now and keep forgetting to hit it x.x And I will look into that unit should mine ever break down.I thank you for all the advice you've given,I actually don't get much from people for some reason(or the people who do tell me are very rude),so I can't exactly improve if I don't know what I'm doing wrong :3

no worries.

Just remember, if you are selling something , people are not going to give you advice, and they will most likely be a little more rude. Most of the time people are downright pleasant, but as soon s you are looking to make a sale, that can go south quickly.

Anyway. happy to help.

Your airbrush nozzle has about a years life on it. that goes for even the best airbrushes. So, take care of it the best you can. but the replacement part will cost you more than what you spent on the airbrush. So, keep that in mind, as keeping a good spry quality can make, or break a project. I will spend a whole hour, or more cleaning, and calibrating and airbrush before a new project. As I have had to fix some major mistakes when the brush failed, including re-furring a head. Be aware that all airbrushes are very touchy tools, and they need tip top maintenance to not ruin a project.

I noticed,I was wondering why mine was giving my trouble spraying then I found out the spray piece comes apart and has an inner needle that I carefully cleaned out with a sewing needle,good as new now.I always clean it carefully before switching to new colors,before and after I use it,and if I left the brush sit a bit while I'm fixing up the fur and the paint has had time to dry on the machine.

Also,I know people won't be nice when it's something for sale.I meant that I usually post things on a fursuiter forum to get advice and tips and such and no one really says much aside from a compliment here or there.That's kind of why this tail was up for sale,because a bunch of people seemed to really love it,so I thought nothing was wrong ya know?It's still not a bad tail I think(I've seen so much worse x.x),but I am glad to know how I can make things even better ^^

I would warn you not to use a sewing needle again. That will make your nozzle toast. It can also ruin a seal, and make for really bad atomization of your media. I have use copper if I really needed to clean something. But copper is a much softer metal than a steel needle.

next time disassemble your whole brush, and fill a bowl with 1 part simple green, one part windex, and 2 parts distilled water. Then leave it over night. That should loosen up even the most stubborn paint.

As for the forums... well.. As you can see I never post there. I tend to not listen to most advice these days anyway. I have been around the block more than a few times, and I found that the problems I have now are a little to specific to have anyone really help me out with.

Ah I didn't know that the needle could ruin it!The stupid brush never came with any good cleaning instructions.But now that I know there's an inner piece I only rinse it out and I don't have to use the needle,I don't give the paint a chance to harden in there.That solution will be helpful,especially because I saw someone asking for the best way to get stubborn 10 year old paint off of their brush.I am glad to be getting advice from someone seasoned in the craft.I'm quite happy you stumbled upon my pic :3
I figure while I'm at it I may as well ask.What do you use to airbrush something black?I don't use acrylic because it only gives a dark charcoaly grey color at best,I actually use black india ink,which gives a nice color and keeps the fur soft.The downside is it is not waterproof at all,even sweaty hands will cause it to come off.I'm wanting to use something that gives a deep black color but is waterproof and color fast.

Well most blacks are one of three things. Indigo (blue hue) based, Brown based, or carbon based.

I just use a carbon based airbrush paint from Golden. It will give you a little more control than say an India ink. As you might as well be using the insides of a bic pen.
Blacks can also be mixed to shange the shade to match your project. So you can use a burnt sienna mixed with a carbon to get away from the charcoal blacks you are talking about. Also, a better paint (ala the Golden) will give you a much nicer spray. And, yes, if you are too distant you will still get some charcoal effect, but if you are close, and have a fine spray you will get a very fine black line. Like a sharpie on paper.
You do have to be rather close. So I would recommend using a lower PSI for something in such close quarters. Actually, if you want a little more finite control I would set your regulator at 15 PSI anyway.

Ok thanks.I actually got the india ink idea from a Beetlecat tutorial vid.It really does give a nice color but the bleeding is the worst.I guess I'll need to see if any of the stores around me sell the Golden paints,as I didn't see anything for mail order on the site.The Hobbytown shop might carry it.

I guess this would be a good time to mention that most makers have their own methods, and preferences. I for one would never want to use India ink. But Beetlecat is doing just fine with it. Really, over a long enough time you will find what works for you, as even the higher dollar makers don't always agree on how to go about things.

Understandable.I've actually been doing work on and off for 6 years now,but it's mostly been hobby based,and I haven't really gotten into the airbrushing and more detailed work(sculpting,foaming,mold making,silicone,etc)until very recently.Before I had the airbrush I actually hand painted my work,but I didn't get as good a blending on the various colors as the brush can do.
I have my own preferences already,but I enjoy hearing others and testing things out for myself.I have some skills I'm set on,and others I'm always tweaking and experimenting with,finding out what works best for me,etc.It's alot of fun and that why I'm trying to make this my profession.I'm just naturally craft minded,and if it can help pay the bills,well so be it x3 I do know I have much room for improvement though,but I hope I am on the right track with it :3

I have been doing it for about.. 4 years now. But I am obsessive. and have severe ADHD. Not the worst thing to have in a creative gig. Sucks when it's time to pay the bills, but the creative part is not too bad.

I would say be ready to throw any technique out the window. Bad habits die hard, and being stubborn about anything can land you into creative blocks. We got rid of our foam carving all together. We also are phasing out hot glue 100%. We don't even use plastic bowls for eyes, or order jawsets from others. We are all from scratch. But ti takes a long time to do that, and we had tobe willing ot throw away even the most standardized techniques.

anyway, yeah, airbrushes exist for a reason. you can't get a gradient like an airbrush gradient any other way. You can't shade even one half as well without one. So, it's not your skill, it's choosing the correct tool for the job. Just in the same way you wouldn't use a fork to eat your soup.

But yeah, if you have not already, check out my gallery, and if you have any questions, will do my best to answer the,

I did take a look at your gallery,you do nice work.And I agree with the making everything from scratch,that's what I've been working on.It's one of my stubborn habits,but for some reason I just can't bring myself to buy various parts from other people.I want to make everything,and learn to do everything.Haha,I could go on for awhile about the various things I like to do,and I understand the ADHD.While I don't have it myself I do have aspergers syndrome,so I'm a bit..odd,but it helps me visualize for the crafts.I think in pictures and such.I will stop talking your ear off though,it's 6am here now xD I will give you a watch and ask if I have any more questions.I know I've said it several times already,but I thank you much for your advice,I will use it in practice and add my own methods in with it and see what comes of it.Hopefully I can produce something much nicer :3

ADHD is a wide spectrum Autism disorder by classification. But we tend to be more charming, and read facial cues a little better. Though I can be quite pedantic, ADHD tends to make me more easy going the an Aspie.

I can talk to people a bit better online,but in person I always tend to rub people the wrong way,or I don't understand peoples emotions or why they react to certain things the way they do.I also tend to get really paranoid around most people,so I'm very shy by nature.But let's mix in the other things I have,such as the anxiety and bipolar...xD If you've never seen a bipolar aspie,you really should,it's entertaining.One moment I can be depressed and paranoid,the next I might be hyper and perverted,then the next I might be in a blood rage of sorts(thankfully the rage is rare).I'm just a bundle of fun xD