Airbrush Help Needed

DWood538

And has anyone used an aztek airbrush? Are they worth getting in terms of reliability and easy-cleaning? Hows the overall performance?

You will find many discussion of the Aztek on this forum. Here is a recent one.

Aztek is not known for reliablity because of use of mostly plastic parts in many of their airbrushes. But it can do a good job of airbrushing when working. It voids the warranty if you take it apart to clean.

I had a Paasche H for years and did not like it. I upgraded to a Aztek 470 after seeing all the Brent Green videos, but decided that I couldn't do what Brent did with the Aztek. I got rid of the Aztec (in a month) and got an Iwata Eclipse HP-CS and had been very happy with it since. The Iwata is much more solidly built and has very smooth trigger action. Besides, the Iwata was cheaper and spares are cheap at Hobby Lobby.

I airbrush acrylic paint almost exclusively because I do not have an indoor airbrush spray booth. I use Tamiya mostly with a few MM and Gunze due to convenience of LHS locations. When I first switch from a Paasche H to the Iwata HP-CS, it took me a while to figure out the optimal thinning ratio and pressure setting to get the finish that I like. And I got tip dry occasionally when I did not thin enough. The Eclipse airbrush, with either the 0.35 or 0.5 mm nozzle, is a very gentle airbrush that requires you to thin the paint adequately and spray in misty, multiple layers.

You can see some detailed information on the Aztek here.

Don

Thanks for the reply, so far the aztek sounds great.

DWood538:

Yes I have an Aztec A4709. It is as good a I make it is the best thing I can say. I know modelers that use it to great effect. It is very easy to clean, parts are very easy to find. I also like the feel in my hand. I also have a Paasche H for very general coverage on some of my larger builds (1/72 bombers etc.) and I have a knock off Iwata. The knock off was the cheapest, and up until recently my go to for accuracy.

I am planing on upgrading to a "fine line" type soon. I have found that for 1/72 scale I really need that extra .1mm for fine lines. The smalles nozzle on the Aztec is .3 mm which is great for 1/48 squigles and blotches on Luftwaffe A/C, but I just cant get them fine enough for my need, even after I adjust the paint/thinner ratio and air pressure and distance from kit.

Biggest thing I am learning is practice, practice, practice! Oh and when I am shooting the fine stuff I lock the door to my man room so I dont have the wife or kids sneaking up on me.....

Milairjunkie- I take apart and thoroughly clean each part after every time I use my airbrush. So i dont think its a cleanliness problem.

STFD637- I use acrylics the most, so I might want to try that wiping thing that both of you suggested.

And has anyone used an aztek airbrush? Are they worth getting in terms of reliability and easy-cleaning? Hows the overall performance?

This usually happens to me because the paint dries in the nozzle. Eventually the air pressure wins giving you the glob of paint. I have heard that this happens with acrylics more than enamels (I shoot acrylics). Don't know how to fix it as I am still trying to use the problem myself. One thing I do is when the paint does stop I spray off to the side till the paint comes out like I want it.

Good luck!

It's possibly dirt somewhere in the nozzle / air cap, something loose or tip dry.

I would give it a good clean, put it back together making sure that all connections & seals are tight & then give it another blast with well thinned paint.

If the problem still continues & you are using acrylic paints, give the needle tip a gentle wipe with a cloth or cotton bud soaked in thinners - do this occasionally during painting, or when you expect the problem to start. If this does prevent your problem, consider increasing your thinning ratio or adding flow aid to your mix.