The Backshop Brief - Behind the Scenes
Behind the Scenes: My Airbrush Setup (Video Tour)
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The Story Behind the Video
Note: I used AI to help turn the transcript of my latest video into this blog post. The words and ideas are mine—I just got a little help organizing them and cutting out the fluff for those of you that are in a rush and to help search engines find me.
Behind the Scenes: My Airbrush Setup (Video Tour)
Every good paint job starts with a solid setup—and today I’m showing you mine.
In this video, I take you into the garage to share my current airbrush workspace. It’s nothing fancy, but it works well, and it’s built on the idea that great results don’t have to come from expensive gear.
Reuse, Repurpose, and Paint
My workbench is built from a recycled interior door I found at a reuse center. It’s mounted on a homemade frame with wheels, so I can move it around easily. The surface is covered with cardboard for testing, and I’ve tacked a small target on the back to help practice spray control.
Tools That Make a Difference
One of the best additions to my setup is a small tool chest from Harbor Freight. It holds my airbrushes on top and has drawers for paints, connectors, and other supplies. For under $20, it’s been a game-changer for keeping things organized.
I run a standard pancake compressor (a Porter-Cable model) from across the garage. It pushes around 80 PSI through a line that (for now) runs along the floor. A future project might involve running the line overhead to avoid tripping hazards.
But the real MVP? A local regulator/filter combo I put together myself. It lets me adjust the pressure right at the table and removes moisture from the air—a must in my humid environment. It’s made a huge difference in preventing water from ruining paint jobs. I’ll cover how I built it in a future video.
Quick Connects & Clean Transfers
For those using more than one airbrush, I highly recommend picking up quick-connect couplers (you can find them on Amazon). Swapping brushes without fumbling with threads saves time and frustration.
Another tip: I use small plastic squeeze bottles with needle tips to mix and transfer paint. They let you mix directly inside, fill your airbrush cleanly, and even recover unused paint if you’re careful. I’ve found them to be one of the simplest and most effective tools in the whole process.
What’s Next
I’ll be making a video soon on how to build the regulator setup I mentioned—cheap, simple, and easy to maintain. And I plan to share a build for a DIY turntable (a.k.a. lazy Susan) that helps rotate models while painting without touching them.
Stay Connected
This video was my commitment for the week—one new upload, one step forward. If you’d like to follow along with more projects, subscribe to my YouTube channel, sign up for my newsletter, and check out the other things I’m working on at Leaping Cat Model Works.
Until next time—thanks for being here.