couple questions....

QUOTE: Originally posted by glock232 ok, im back again.. I want to make sure i understand something before i try it.. when you "wash" a model.. you take a color.. i.e. black, and thin it down a lot , and just wet the brush and apply it? at least that's how i understand it.. and a "dry brush" you apply a little bit of pain on the brush, and wipe it on a paper towel, untill almost no paint is left on it.. then you brush it over top of the areas you want to apply the detail to? am i right here? or am i loosing my mind.. is there a website that has pictures on making washes and dry brushes.. etc?

Nope, you aren't losing your mind. Here are a couple of links:
http://www.finescale.com/fsm/default.aspx?c=a&id=301
http://www.swannysmodels.com/Weathering.html

QUOTE: 2nd thing.. i bought a little craftsman 2gal 1.5 hp compressor. for my airbrush, everyone recommends about 15psi. when i set the gague at 15psi, then use the brush, the psi drops to about 10ish.. so i turned it up to about 20psi, and when i use it, now it drops to 15.. should i leave it go that way or lower it back to 15 / 10?

That's normal. Most of them will read higher when there is no flow. Set it for about 15 psi with the trigger down on your airbrush and you should be good to go.

QUOTE: and does anyone know where i can get a moisture filter or trap for this?

Sears, Lowes, or Home Depot should have one. Since it's a Craftsman it probably has standard 1/4 NPT threads on it. Notice that I said "Probably". If you aren't sure take something with you that fits the outlet so you can check it.

hello joe, my compressor does the same thing and when you paint with it for a while you'll bet a "feel" of what pressure setting will work. just use the needle and numbers in the gauge as a general area of psi. i usually adjust mine with the trigger held down. even walmart carries moisture traps joe, look over in the automotive section where all the compressor stuff is. i have one from sears myself, so they have them too. later.

I have the Testors Mini Blue and til I can get my co2 tank I need to get a regulator for the mini. I dont have the box or papers for it anymore. What is the thread size for the mini blue and where can I get a regulator for it?

you can use CO2 to airbrush? what size tank are you talking about and how long does it last? whats the benefit of CO2 over a compressor other than noise?

QUOTE: Originally posted by glock232 you can use CO2 to airbrush?

Yes you can and many people do.

QUOTE: what size tank are you talking about and how long does it last?

Most people use a 20 lb tank which will last a long time. At 60 psi it will last about a full days worth of painting so at 10-20 psi for modeling it will last several weeks.
Anyone have experience with how long it lasts exactly?

QUOTE: whats the benefit of CO2 over a compressor other than noise?

It is dry, clean air and you don't need a moisture trap.
In the long run it will cost you more than a good silent compressor but some people prefer it as it is absolutely silent except for the sound of air coming out of the airbrush.

Mike

Some people use a tire...Badger sells the adapter for it.

Well i did buy the air compressor, but now that i found out i can use co2 instead, and its silent.. i want one.. more so because of the fact that i live on top of a funeral home.. im sure the people downstairs would be a bit upset if im brushing a model and they hear my compressor running while they are grieving... that and most of the time i do my work late at night after my fiancee goes to bed, i work a lot of night works so i stay up late when im off because i cant sleep or just wanna try to stay up late so i can sleep the next day.. but anyways my Question is this.. i have a place local to me, its 5 bucks a month for the co2 tank, its 20lbs.. 24 dollars to exchange it when its empty.. where do i get a regulator for it, that will fit a badger airbrush, i think all the airbrushes are the same 1/4 inch or something but im not 100% sure on that one.. i found this one on ebay.. do you think it will fit what i wanna do..

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3823507545&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&rd=1

oh and how many models (ballpark figure) will one 20lb tank last @ 15-20psi?

It might, I can't tell for sure. It would most likely fit the tank OK, but I can'te tell about the outlet side.

Dixie Art has a Badger regulator for CO2 tanks here:
http://www.dixieart.com/MiscAccessories.html#anchor89730

Regardless of what you do, make CERTAIN that you get a regulator for high-pressure tanks. The regulators for compressors will normally not handle that kind of pressure. Also make CERTAIN that the tank is securely fastened so that it cannot fall. If one falls and gets the regulator knocked off it will fly around like a 30 pound steel torpedo until it runs out of gas.

hmm a 30 lb torpedo.. that almost sounds like it could be fun haha

No! They are no fun at all! Although I do realize you were kidding.

If you ever see everyone in a machine shop laying flat on the floor you had better join them. Our first day in machine shop in college the instructor showed us where two holes had been patched in the concrete block wall of the shop. One small one about 6" in diameter where someone had forgotten to engage the magnetic chuck of a surface mill and shot a piece of steel through the wall. The other was about 2 feet in diameter where someone had knocked over an oxy tank.

I agree Scott.
Years ago I used my older brother's scuba tank to power my airbrush and it was always scary thinking that I had a potential bomb sitting there.
They are higher pressure than a CO2 bottle and are 3,000 psi. [:0]

Mike