Question about airbrushes.

[supratuner]

Ive searched on here a little bit, and so far, I cant find the answer im looking for.


Heres the question.

If I buy one of these airbrush kits from walmart, theyre like $50, by Aztec/testors.
From what im aware of, they dont have compressors with them, but testors has those can things to be used with their Airbrushes, can I use one of those cans with one of those airbrushes? Or do i need to buy a compressor.

Any answer/information is apreciated, just dont say, search, cuz I did and couldnt find exactly what I was looking for.

[Vric]

Look there:
http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...d.php?t=201005

Short sumary: don't waste your money on that. for 50$ you can get a WAY better airbrush (Badger or Paasche, even Iwata for a bit more)
The Air can that come with that kit didn't even last long enught for one kit. it's very expensive over time (more than a compressior) Also the airbrush included don't acept Enamel or Lacquer Paint, only Acrylic. If you put any other paint, the nozzle will melt and you will need to buy a new airbrush (I know, I got this kit first, then got a Badger Anthem)
This is a major downside when you can't use 80% of the paints.

all your question will be answered in the other thread. btw this thread is only on the second page, and it's one of the biguest lately.. you didn't search very hard

[geofroley]

I'm with Vric, stay away from Aztek and Testors. Paasche, Badger, and Tamiya will put you in the right direction.

[supratuner]

wow, thats a lot of info to digest, though thanks for the link.

I saw a badger at a local craft store the other day, it was $120, I didnt look to see what exact model it was. But when I told my mom, she looks at an eclipse im doing right now, using testors spray cans, the paint keeps running, she says, I think you need to learn how to paint before i buy you an airbrush, so I had to explain to her that its not all my fault that the paint ran, and am now trying to talk her into buying me an airbrush for Xmas.

[willimo]

Originally Posted by supratuner

so I had to explain to her that its not all my fault that the paint ran

Don't expect the airbrush to solve all your problems. You can, and will, make paint run with ain airbrush. And beyond that, airbrushes are hugely involved, they take a lot of cleaning between uses. You might want to thoroughlt evaluate an airbrush before expecting it to be a panacea, or you will be disappointed and upset it cost you so much and didn't result in automatically perfect paint.

[Vric]

if you can't get a perfect paintjob with a spraycan, you will not with an airbrush

It might be easier becose you don't get orange peel (well you shouldn't) but the pait run as easy as spray paint (even more becose you work closer of your model) I think your mom isn't wrong with this

[spidereddie]

One thing you must 'take to the bank' is that an airbrush is A HELL of alot of work. It's worse than having a dog. Spray cans are much less work and tend to give me less problems than my airbrush does in terms of painting. My body jobs with cans come out much better.

Rest assured that if you don't have the painting technique down, it doesn't matter what tool your hand uses. That will come with time, as sucky as it is to read...practice, practice practice. Everything takes time and with time, you'll develop a way to 'not make the paint run'. It's not the spraycan's fault. it's yours...but again, don't worry...you'll get better and one day laugh at this thread.

[Bobj]

Nothing wrong with aztecks for what you pay they are very good airbrushes and allow a lot of modellers a start at airbrushing without forking out to much cash, as with any airbrush you must clean it very well after each use and aztecks are easy to clean , as for the nozzels melting with any paint but arcrlycs thats rubbish, for compressors a cheap auto compressor is the best idea, but whatever u buy make sure u take your time and practice as this is the best way to learn, also pick a brush that best suits your budget. Cheers Bob

[ZoomZoomMX-5]

The Aztek can work with lacquers-they're made from a plastic that doesn't melt from lacquer thinner...I've soaked the tips in lacquer thinner to clean them, they DO NOT MELT!

It's a good, easy airbrush but it's easy cleaning/changing tips is bad in that they are sealed and you can't completely clean the needle.

Best overall workhorse airbrush? Badger 175 Crescendo. Get a good compressor early in the game...the air cans are expensive.

Latest issue of Scale Auto has a good article on simple single-action airbrushes that are easy for beginners to learn.

Other advice about learning how to paint in the first place is appropriate. The airbrush is a tool, it's not going to mask poor technique. You have to get the basics down first.

There's a really good book called "How to use an Airbrush" by Kalmbach/Robert Downie. Check it out. The author is very familiar. He goes by the name of ZoomZoom on the forum...

[Martbee]

Can we just move this to the other already existing thread... it's just a complement to this good old thread.

Airbrush will never die !!! And will never be replace by a spary can !

[Okiemodelbuilder]

Originally Posted by ZoomZoomMX-5

There's a really good book called "How to use an Airbrush" by Kalmbach/Robert Downie. Check it out. The author is very familiar. He goes by the name of ZoomZoom on the forum...

Get the book. It will be be best $20US you can invest toward better paint jobs.

[supratuner]

Ill keep an eye for that book.

As for the painting, i am mor ethan wiling to admit that my paint skillings are not the best, but ive had to strip the paint off of thise car 4 times already, lately i havent had to do that at all, but im willing to keep trying, if i can get it to look right, it will truly be awesome. Keep an eye for an Eclipse thread by me, some time in a week or two.

To get an airbrush, and a compressor seems to be at least $100, and thats if i go as cheap as possible, thats pretty expensive.

Thanks for all the advice/comments.

[Vric]

Originally Posted by ZoomZoomMX-5

The Aztek can work with lacquers-they're made from a plastic that doesn't melt from lacquer thinner...I've soaked the tips in lacquer thinner to clean them, they DO NOT MELT!

not this model ZZ. It's cleary identified as Acrylic airbrush
and trust me, it hate lacquer.
Higher end Aztek doest won't but not those one