May i just rave about my Testors airbrush......

May I just rave on about my H&S Infinity;

I hear all the talk about Badger, Iwata & all the rest & really couldn't comment, as I have never seen one, let alone used one - so I am in no position to comment.

However, after reading several (probably into the hundreds) reviews I decided to splash out on an H&S Infinity with 0.15, 0.2, 0.4 & 0.6mm needle sets. I had never previously used an airbrush & other than you helpfull people on this forum didn't know anyone who had / used an airbrush, so I was not exactly full of confidence.

Anyhows, after spending a couple of nights trying to shoot Tamiya acrylic with the thinning ratio the wrong way round & getting nowhere, I thought I had made a huge mistake in buying an airbrush. After realising my mistake & thinning correctly, all I can say is WOW, the brush is a delight to use, does just as advertised, is easy to strip & clean & does most of what I want with the 0.2mm needle (1/72 A/C in camo).

My first completed job was Revells 1/72 B-1B, which I am quite impressed with considering it my first airbrush job - I thank the Infinity for this, as opposed to my skills - as I have none.

The Infinity has now done the B-1B, XB-70, Mirage IV-A & is midway on the Airfix 1/72 Vulcan, as well as doing some easter egg's as well!!

Big up to H&S!

I think the Aztek ABs are a hit and miss proposition. Some folks who own them swear by them and claim to have had years of trouble free use.

Others have used them for a few months, had huge problems, sent them back, got replacements, had them fail, sent them back again, yada, yada, yada.

I had one back before they were Aztek. (ModelMaster) Mine worked wonderfully for about nine months or so then went to hell. Now, I'm the kind of guy who if a product fails me, I rarely every give it a second chance, I'll use something else. I never buy those extended warranties stores try to sell because I figure if it doesn't last past the original warranty, I don't want it and I'll buy something else. When my ModelMaster ab failed the warranty was lifetime but I never sent it back. It failed me once and I figured would do it again and I bought an Paache VL. Buying the VL got me back to work NOW and it got rid of what I considered to be a failure of a product.

My biggest complaint with the Aztek brushes was the warranty. The fact that they needed the warranty so often was a deal killer. If it fails and they replace it, fine. But what is one to do while they wait for it to return? Buy a back up?

I'm happy that there are folks out there who are happy with their Azteks. I'm happy with my Iwata's! Now lets go airbrush something.

I pinged Testor's customer service, an was interestingly answered by the same rep who handled my warranty replacement a few years back, and here is the straight dope on the Aztek warranty.

Testors Customer Service wrote:

The warranty was revised back in 2003. Effective January 1 2003 the Aztek airbrush warranty program has been changed to cover all claims for material and workmanship defects for a period of 3 years. The Testor Corporation will, with the cooperation of our assigned agents or through Testor Customer Service, replace any defective airbrush bodies for the Testor airbrush models A4702, A4704, A4709, A4802, A4809, and A7778 for 3 years from date of purchase. All airbrushes manufactured after January 1 2003 display a date code demonstrating date of manufacture. Airbrushes displaying this date code will be covered under the three year warranty program. Any airbrushes manufactured prior to January 1 2003 not showing the date code noted will remain under the lifetime warranty program. Consumers are required to mail to Testor the warranty registration card enclosed in the airbrush package when purchased. Mailing this card activates the airbrush warranty program. After the expiration of the 3-year warranty period, Testors will repair or replace any airbrush body for the consumer for retail price of the body.

Well, whatever the relationship between Testors and Italeri was, that wasn't my point.  My point was that just because someone doesn't like the craftsmanship of Testors' airbrush doesn't mean all of Testors' products are "shoddy".  Let's not go off on a tangent...

-Jesse 

usmc1371 wrote:

Bronto wrote: Testors has never owned Italeri, and currently neither does MRC.  The are/were simply the US importer for Ialeri kits. You might be right.  I was going by Wikipedia (of course, that can be dangerous): "Later that same decade, the Italian model kit manufacturer Italeri was acquired, further expanding Testor's line of plastic model kits..." -Jesse

The Italeri profile web page said nothing about being a Testors subsidery.

Italeri S.p.A. was founded in the early 1960s with an energy that only an unstoppable and young passion could develop. Even as boys, the two founders loved military aircraft and vehicles, but they soon realised that they were not content with the models that were found in the shops: they wanted something better. What they were searching for did not exist and they decided to produce it themselves. The hobby, transforming into a precise knowledge, became the stimulus to produce models that do not tolerate even a minimum inaccuracy; models that the real modellists were searching for. Italeri affirms, constantly increases its range of products and grows. Thanks to the imagination and inspiration of the two founders and their collaborators, the company has become the leader in the modelling sector over the years and not only on the Italian market. From the original workshop, the company has developed into a modern manufacturing structure, with highly qualified personnel that have thirty year's experience in the static modelling sector. The company's production is entirely carried out in the new 10,000 sqm factory; from the planning and development department that utilises the most up-to-date CAD/CAM computer equipment to the injection moulding and packaging of the final product. In 2002, Italeri S.p.A. took over Protar, the famous manufacturer of scale-model motorcycles (both in kit form and assembled) to offer lovers of scale-modelling a new range of products. Italeri's trademark is also well-known in the sporting world; for many years the trademark has been connected to the successful Fortitudo team of Bologna, one of the most important teams of the Italian Baseball Championship

At the Testors web "About Us" page, they said:

Agreements with an Italian manufacturer, Italeri, led to the expansion of the Testor model kit line in the late 1970s. Today, Testor / Italeri plastic kits are marketed jointly and they among the most respected in the world.

It seems that Wiki is wrong on this count.

Bronto wrote:

Testors has never owned Italeri, and currently neither does MRC.  The are/were simply the US importer for Ialeri kits.

You might be right.  I was going by Wikipedia (of course, that can be dangerous): "Later that same decade, the Italian model kit manufacturer Italeri was acquired, further expanding Testor's line of plastic model kits..."

-Jesse

BGuy wrote:

Testors sells shoddy products and refuses to stand behind them.

That's an ignorant, blanket statement.  Testors sells a lot more than just airbrushes. Testors has the history of buying other companies and selling their products.  Italeri being a recent example that has now been sold to MRC.  Testors may own Aztek but Aztek is not Testors. Would you call Model Master Enamels "shoddy"!  They are one of the finest enamels out there.

-Jesse

BGuy wrote:

I think you may be dealing with some out of date information.  Testors *started* the line with lifetime warantees, but this was *long* time ago.

My information is certainly somewhat out of date, although the replacement was within the past five years, so I would not describe it quite as a *long* time ago.

BGuy wrote:

Can anybody give us some detailed info on what Aztek warantees have been, when they changed, why, and what they are currently?

As to when, the warranty change was definitely within the past five years.

As to why, a cynic would suggest that Testor's was losing too much money replacing broken airbrushes.

As to the current warranty, I went to the Testor's website and found that no warranty was mentioned.  According to this retailer, the warranty at least for the A470 is three years.  Checking the description section in the links to the A430 or the metal body version by the same retailer again had no mention of warranty, one way or the other. 

Andy

BGuy,

Unfortunately, I can't answer you question directly.  What's wrong with your Aztek?  I've taken mine apart many times.  Let me know what the symptoms are and I might be able to diagnose the cause of the problem.

-Jesse

I think you may be dealing with some out of date information.  Testors *started* the line with lifetime warantees, but this was *long* time ago.  By the time I bought my set, I understand, they had piddled the warantee down to virtually nothing.  I've still got my broken airbursh stored away in case they ever change their mind. 

Can anybody give us some detailed info on what Aztek warantees have been, when they changed, why, and what they are currently?

BGuy wrote:

Aztek utterly refuses to back up their products, so I lost hundreds of dollars to a company that suckers in beginners with low prices.

That's not completely true.  Their dual action airbrushes, A430 and A470 are covered by a lifetime warranty that Testor's does cheerfully honor.  My A430 died for no good reason, I sent it back, and they sent me a new one.

BGuy wrote:

I'd say it's rather difficult to become a master (i.e. somebody who can use aztek equipment reliably?) when your most basic equipment falls apart on you.  My model building was interupted for a long time by this incident, but I'm fortunate to use a much better quality airbrush now.

On the flip side, I agree with you there.  During the three week turnaround of the A430 replacement, I started using a Badger 200, and have not used the Aztek since.

keilau wrote:

In some airbrush sites, I read about the Mike Learn hand tuned RichPen, called the MOJO series. I costs $299 a piece. Some of the artist call it the best airbrush in the world. It may be. But you are right that it is an overkill for modelers.

Take what Mike Learn and those automotive painters say with a grain of salt as they are paid to push the products they use. Just look at Airbrush Action Magazine, it has become a giant advertisment for Medea (Iwata).

BeltFed wrote:

I will upgrade some day to the CMB, but thats a long way away.

I wouldn't waste your money. This is modeling not custom paint on an Orange County Chopper.

there will always be the badger vs iwata debate.  Personally, i have an Iwata HP-B, and now that I know how to use it, i love it.  I will upgrade some day to the CMB, but thats a long way away.  I know several modelers who get fantastic results with Aztec AB's and Badger AB's.  I am the kind of guy that when he finds he gets good results with one product, I stick with it.  Iwata stands by their products, just as Badger does.  I guess you cant go wrong with either manufacturer.

Hans von Hammer wrote:

Ever notice how threads about Airbrush brands and models seem to fall into the [vulgar comment redacted by FSM].

Y'know... An email with a request for me to edit my own comment would have been better... 

BGuy wrote:

As a beginner-intermediate modeller I made the mistake some years ago of buying the aztek set with the clear blue equipment (compressor and airbrush)--cost me $200 but it was all I could even hope to afford at the time.  Within months the cheap plastic internal parts of the brush snapped and broke off inside, rendering all of my equipment useless.  Aztek utterly refuses to back up their products, so I lost hundreds of dollars to a company that suckers in beginners with low prices.  I've seen comments here about how a master can use such equipment for years without mishap, but I find that cost issues ensure an aztek is used most commonly by first time buyers, which translates into less experienced modellers.  I'd say it's rather difficult to become a master (i.e. somebody who can use aztek equipment reliably?) when your most basic equipment falls apart on you.  My model building was interupted for a long time by this incident, but I'm fortunate to use a much better quality airbrush now.

say, BGuy.....just curious, what airbrush you're using currently???

As a beginner-intermediate modeller I made the mistake some years ago of buying the aztek set with the clear blue equipment (compressor and airbrush)--cost me $200 but it was all I could even hope to afford at the time.  Within months the cheap plastic internal parts of the brush snapped and broke off inside, rendering all of my equipment useless.  Aztek utterly refuses to back up their products, so I lost hundreds of dollars to a company that suckers in beginners with low prices.  I've seen comments here about how a master can use such equipment for years without mishap, but I find that cost issues ensure an aztek is used most commonly by first time buyers, which translates into less experienced modellers. 

I'd say it's rather difficult to become a master (i.e. somebody who can use aztek equipment reliably?) when your most basic equipment falls apart on you.  My model building was interupted for a long time by this incident, but I'm fortunate to use a much better quality airbrush now.

BeltFed wrote:

I have nothing but excellent results with my Iwatas.  I will NEVER buy anything else.  Iwata products for me.

That is cool but have you tried any others? That is the question.

It is very easy to try one brand and be happy with it and think that other brands are "maybe" as good.

I have used Badgers, Paasche and Iwata and I still say Badger is the best route to go as they are American made and the quality is there. 

usmc1371 wrote:

Personally, I've never understood the need for some people to pay $400 for an airbrush to paint models.  If I was a professional artist, maybe, but not for a hobby.  To me, buying a $400 airbrush for a hobby is like buying a Lamborgini to drive a commute in city traffic.

$400? Where are you shopping? Beverly Hills?

Bottom Line: It's the user, not the airbrush. You could give me a milllion dollar airbrush and I probably coldn't spray as nicely as some of you guyes woth $20 Ab's. The simple statement is:

A good modeller can make a cheap airbrush great

A poor modeller cannot make an expensive airbrush great.

I love my Iwata Eclispe, but have never criticized another brand. To each his own. Even the expensive ones. If you have the money and you want a big AB, go for it! Support the hobby and the AB maker!

usmc1371 wrote:

I've never understood the need for some people to pay $400 for an airbrush to paint models.  If I was a professional artist, maybe, but not for a hobby.  To me, buying a $400 airbrush for a hobby is like buying a Lamborgini to drive a commute in city traffic.  -Jesse

Jesse, your comment on the Aztek A470 should be very helpful to people who are comtemplating the purchase of an airbrush. One tends to use his airbrush more if it is reliable and easy to clean.

I paid less than $100 for an Iwata HP-CS at the local Hobby Lobby Store using the 40% off coupon. It is everything that I am looking for in an airbrush. Similar AB such as the Badger 100LG, Badger Renegade, Paasche Talon can all be had for less than $100 on the web if you cannot find them locally or at discounted prices.

In some airbrush sites, I read about the Mike Learn hand tuned RichPen, called the MOJO series. I costs $299 a piece. Some of the artist call it the best airbrush in the world. It may be. But you are right that it is an overkill for modelers.

Considering how the price of plastic kits escalated in recent years, the cost of a good AB and compressor sounds like bargain to me.

Personally I hate the Testor airbrushes but if you have good luck with them more power to you.

I've been using my Aztek A470 for about 5 years now.  I have also used a Paasche H, Badger 100G, and Badger 175.  I think the Aztek is a great airbrush but has one flaw, you aren't supposed to break it down.  I think Aztek really dropped the ball on this.  I've broken down my Aztek a few times.  After reassembly, the airbrush worked like new.  The problem most people have is air leakage.  What I have noticed is paint building up behind the washer.  This stops the needle from seating completely resulting in air leakage.  As soon as I clean this residue off, the air leakage stops.

I agree 100% about "it's the modeler, not the tool".  I've done freehand camo (ie no masking) on 1/35th armor using a Paasche H.  Many people would say it's not possible.  Good looking paint jobs are a result of understanding paint, thinning ratios, distance, speed, air pressure, etc.  Personally, I've never understood the need for some people to pay $400 for an airbrush to paint models.  If I was a professional artist, maybe, but not for a hobby.  To me, buying a $400 airbrush for a hobby is like buying a Lamborgini to drive a commute in city traffic. 

-Jesse

Ever notice how threads about Airbrush brands and models seem to fall into the [vulgar comment redacted by FSM].