Did I make a big mistake?...

i dont have an aztek and have never used one before so i dont know how to comment. i do know this, the airbrush will act exactly how the operator manipulates it (unless there is something wrong with a part or whatever). if you get the desired results that you as a modeller are looking for from the A7778, then you didnt make a mistake. if you cant achieve the desired result, dont give up because its going to take bunches of practice with any airbrush you buy. after about 6 or 8 months of practicing at least 4 hours or so a week with said airbrush, if you like the results then you have an excellent purchase. if not, begin shopping for another brand or type. later.

Good point. Thanks for that. I was thinking that I might just turn around and sell it when it arrives, but I think I will keep it and see what I am able to do with it before.

I'd keep it and use it. Like SaltyDog said, you may decide you don't like it but since you've already got it at least give it a chance.

Take a look at this post ...
http://www.finescale.com/fsm/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=17643
MikeV posted a pic that was drawn with an Aztek. I've got two airbrushes that have a generally better reputation than the Aztek but I could never turn out a drawing like that with either one of them.

Scott,

Let's also remember that the photo I posted was not painted freehand as nobody is that good.
It was done with frisket and a lot of cutting, spraying, repositioning the frisket, etc. It is more frisket and knife work than it is airbrushing.

Still an incredible job by an incredible artist.

Mike

QUOTE: Still an incredible job by an incredible artist.

Amen, brother. No question of that. And it's the "Artist" part that separates us (I say "Us" even though I'm not in the same league). The mechanics are simple; cut frisket, overlay, press trigger on airbrush, spray enough but not too much. Even if it were "Cut-And-Paste-By-Numbers" I'd have trouble even knowing where to start.

As far as I know, there is a part in the plastic Aztek that breaks easily; as you can't open them, it is the end for the airbrush; on the opposite, this peculiar part is not made of plastic on the metal Aztek, but it is metal; moreover, you can open the body; now the question is : does testors sell replacement parts ?
I hope I didn't say a big "ânerie" but I'm sure somebody here knows better than I do.

Te problem with Aztek is the nozzles, they are hard to clean. But if you get them cleaned they are OK, I started with an Aztek and I liked it. But once you get used to an airbrush like Badger or Iwata the Aztek is just not good enough. But as a first airbrush its good.

I have an aztec and am liking it so far. I've had it for a few months now, and have not had any problems with it, outside of paint drying up inside the nozzle, but that was my own fault. Other than that, I've found it to be a very good airbrush, and I'm enjoying it throughoutly. It takes a bit of practice before you can do finer lines and stuff like that, but it's more than good enough for the job.

Thanks for the feedback guys. I'm looking forward to receiving it so I can try it out.