Miniature spray guns?

It really depends what you're painting. 

If your primary subject matter is cars (or perhaps large scale airliners), where a smooth, flawless finish is desired, then a mini spray gun might be useful.

If your area of interest is military subjects, which are often less than pristine, it really gives you no particular advantages over a regular airbrush.

I use rattle cans a lot when I do cars.  However, even for gloss finishes you can get a uniform finish with an aurbrush .  Several thin coats is a help.  Also, good lighting is a key, where you can see a direct reflection of the light in the wet paint on the model.

I don't think about mini guns too much because I have an automotive detail gun with 1.0 fan tip and my compressor is rated for my full sized lvlp gun so I'm not running out of air.

I would say watch the cfm on the mini guns or anthing with any larger sized nozzle for that matter. Look up the specs,  You don't want to exceed your compressor output. Otherwise maybe consider a Paasche Talon with .66 nozzle and accessory fan cap. I certainly wouldn't look to buy a mini gun not knowing my compressor could feed it reliably or not.

On the other hand The Paasche H #5 nozzle is larger than my detail gun at 1.05 ( detail gun is 1.0, not too different just sayin), I know for a fact a tankless airbrush compressor for instance, can't keep up with that #5 tip and it's not a mini gun. So just watch the cfm specs on what ever it is you look to buy, be that compressors or guns..

I agree with Don in that regular airbruses can do cars well. My key to this is proper thinner and thinning and the use of retarders or various reducers or thinners varying the dry time, thus flow out. And I shoot up near 25-30lb depending on how thick my paint is mixed to ( lacquers are less lb and thinner mixes are less lb). I use a .5 needle and open it right up. It kind of guzzles paint but you can fog it onto the car body from 6 inches away. I was shooting MM enamel this morning that way actually. I make a blend of thinner for MM E, then it flows but doesn't run or fish eye/crater etc. Course there own thinner probably works great too. I just always have shot it this way.

That video of Paul's caught my attention some years back, and I still think about it and yearn for a mini airgun with a fan pattern from time to time.

It is my nature to buy stuff when I want it. I haven't in this case for a few reasons.

1. I do more thinking about doing that sort of painting than actually doing it.

2. My compressor can't handle it anyway.

3. I do not have proper ventilation.

4. Cost.

So I've successfully held off for a couple years so far.

Paul's videos can be quite compelling, no? He has definitely cost me some money over the years! (but the new toys have been great)

Greg

That video of Paul's caught my attention some years back, and I still think about it and yearn for a mini airgun with a fan pattern from time to time.

It is my nature to buy stuff when I want it. I haven't i this case for a few reasons.

1. I do more thinking about doing that sort of painting than actually doing it.

2. My compressor can't handle it anyway.

3. I do not have proper ventilation.

4. Cost.

So I've successfully held off for a couple years so far.

Paul's videos can be quite compelling, no? He has definitely cost me some money over the years! (but the new toys have been great)

 

Good point on ventilation. Both my fogging technique mentioned above and fan cap guns do load up a model sized paint booth, mine could be vented better too. Wear a mask at any rate. Speaking of booths I really need to change my filter, today I think as much blew back at me as went out the proper venting, that's a filter issue in my case...

I don't own a fan spray other than the Paasche Talon.  And, I've never used a mini spray gun.  But, I'll give you my opinion for what it's worth.  As Paul points out, a fan spray is superior for giving even coverage of large surfaces.  If you want that and have the bucks, that's the way to go.

But, is it a requirement for a good finish?  There are many examples that show that it is not.  Most spray cans have a round pattern, as does the simple Paasche H airbrush.  Both can produce beautiful models in skilled hands.  You can see some in this and other modeling forums and local model shows.

Spray paint is thin.  By overlapping strokes, slight variation in thickness is not likely to be noticeable, especially with more than one coat.  And, several coats are common when finish is critical.

So, I wouldn't sweat it.  Practice with whatever you have.  Even Paul admits he used to use a Paasche H, and I'll bet he did some nice work with it.

Don

Hi ;

 Read you comment . I have a " Detail Gun " I used to use for doing the fades and melts on pin stripes on real cars .It's an old De-Vilbiss unit rated for 40 pounds . I usually shoot it at 15 to 20 .I have used it for more years than I prefer to count . The beauty of it is, All the parts are still readily available after over forty years .

 It got so dented and gross looking I needed a new " can " I ordered one and they sent it U.P.S the Next day .Screwed right on up to the old head unit .