I have two ways I airbrush rivets, one with an indentation around it to create depth and one without. You will need to do a little prep work before you can start spraying rivets. You will need a gray or silver background, tape off squares or rectangles at least 4 to 6 inches width and height with a 1/16″ stripe in between each panel to indicate the separation of your panels. Mark out lightly, with a pencil where your rivets will go. I typically mark in about a 1/4″ from all edges of my panel and then equal spaces between the 1/4″ boarders. Lets start with the one without the indentation. You will need a circle template, typical hole size (negative template) for a rivet will be 1/8″ to 1/4″ in diameter depending on the scale of your project. You will also need the same size positive template. Now, start with your negative template, keep in mind which direction your light source is coming from, grab your black, and paint a “smiley face” on the opposite side of your light source, do this to all of your rivets first. Once that is done, grab your white and shade in the opposite side of your black, freehand or with your template, then add a tiny dot in the middle (for reflection). Now the second technique is the same as the first accept you are going to use your positive template to cover the rivet. Grab your white and paint a “smiley face” under your black side of your rivet, keep it soft, repeat on all rivets. Grab your black and do the same on the white side of your rivet, again, keep it soft, repeat on all rivets. It should now look like your rivets are indented into your sheet metal. Finish off with spraying black around all outside edges of your panels, spray mostly on your taped edges and let your overspray do the work. Spray black lightly on all of your 1/16″ panel joints for some additions depth. That’s it! Happy Riveting! If you would like to see the video, here is the link. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5guQ5LaW2s&t=1s or go to the “Check It Out” menu tab and click the YouTube button to see this video and all my other video’s.
Thanks,
Dan – The Airbrush Garage