Straight off the printer, FDM and even SLA parts carry visible layer lines or build markings that rarely suit professional presentation. Airbrushing closes the gap between a technically correct print and a piece that actually looks finished. It is the operation that separates a prototype from a deliverable model, and it is one of the in-house capabilities our airbrushing service is built around.
This is the process we run on almost every display piece, scale model and finished prototype that leaves the workshop. The choice of substrate matters too, and engineering filaments sourced from OzFDM such as ASA and PETG-CF often determine how forgiving each stage will be.
Step-by-step: from raw print to display-ready
The same sequence applies to almost every finished part. Skipping a stage usually shows up in the final coat.
Paint systems we reach for
The right paint depends on what the part has to survive. We carry several systems in the workshop and choose per job.
- Polyurethane enamels for display pieces that will be handled.
- Two-pack (2K) clear coats for UV resistance and a controlled sheen, from flat matte to high gloss.
- Flexible acrylic urethanes for TPU and other elastomeric prints.
- Automotive-grade primers and topcoats for any part that will live outdoors.
- Water-based acrylics for quick interim coats where the schedule will not wait.
Weathering for industrial models
Mining, oil and gas and infrastructure scale models are rarely presented as brand new. Clients want them to read like a miniaturised photograph of an operating facility: rust streaks on structural steel, dust accumulation in the leeward corners, pipe staining and worn paint on high-traffic walkways. Achieving this convincingly is a layered process.
We typically run base coats, then selective washes that pool into recessed shadow areas, then dry-brushing to lift edges and raised detail, and finally oil dot filtering to blend the palette. The result is a model that suits an exhibition floor or a board room rather than a CAD review.
For oil and gas customers in particular, that level of realism is what justifies the model in front of a stakeholder audience. A flat, untextured paint job undercuts the engineering work behind it.
Further reading