I'm just getting into painting my own cranks. I bought a few airbrush colors at a hobby/craft store, but they didnt have a very good selection. No translucent or metallic colors, just plain jane stuff. Any tips on where to buy good paint? I live in a pretty large city with multiple art supply stores, but figured maybe I could find it cheaper online. Also, do i specifically have to use airbrush paints? If someone has a tutorial or guide somewhere to point me towards that would be great too. thanks all

You don't have to use airbrush paint but it makes thing a lot easier. The cheapo craft paints will work if the tip on your airbrush is large enough to pass the particles in the paint and if you thin them with water every time. Airbrush paints contain finely ground paint particles, plus flow enhancers. I order paint from various online sources. One good one is Coast Airbrush. You can also check http://www.taxidermy.net/suppliers/airbrush.php for specialized paint for wildlife (including fish). If you think this is going to become a hobby, it definitely pays to order paint in 4 oz or larger bottles.

I been airbrushing for a little while mostly on canvas but just started making lures and painting them to. I've always used some pretty cheap paint called createx and always had pretty good luck.I found a pearlized white from them at a hobby store that i like for lures and you can cut your other colors with it to.Also i just came across a thinning idea for that paint on u tube. It said use a two oz. bottle and fill half with paint, a quarter water, and the rest pledge floor finish since its acrylic based . Said it would make it flow smoother, but not sure ywt, still gotta try it.

a lot of people buy paint at Hobby Lobby. its FAR easier to buy airbrush paint for the reasons Bob said. it will probably be cheaper to buy paint in a store because everywhere i go to look online it seems to cost a lot of money to ship

Depending on where you are you might have a real hobby shop near you, specializing in R/C, Models, Trains. Not like Michaels or Hobby Lobby.

In a good Hobby shop you'll find Tamiya, Testors (Colors by Boyd, Model Master) etc. They have tons of colors, metallics, chromes.

In modeling paints, doesn't matter much what goes though the brush, as long as you dilute it right. Some bottles will tell you the mixture and what to use to dilute. typically you paint thinner on enamels and with acrylics use distilled water

all right, that helps alot! I did see the pearlized white at hobby lobby. I think lure painting will become another obsession, er i mean hobby of mine.