The Finer Tips of a Badger

Simon, there are a lot of good airbrushes out there for camo... as you are about to find out when the airbrush wolves get here...

If you do decide to get a 155 you've got all you need right there... there is only one size needle for the 155... it's not a medium. more like in between the medium and the fine the other badgers have. I'm able to do a pretty good squiggle camo pattern when practicing (too bad I am trying for straight lines) down in the 1/16th of an inch range more or less (haven't measured it but they're some pretty fine lines!... the needle with the 155 allows you to use model paints without over thinning like I have heard the fine for some of the other brushes require...

Other good brushes like the 155 are the Omni 4000 and Iwata HP-CR. it's all how much you want to pay and what you decide is the best for you. The Iwata HP-CR has the same one size fits all needle/nozzle combo, not sure about the Omni 4000 though I think it does too.

The interesting thing about the Iwata and Omni is that they are gravity fed which means less pressure is needed to get the paint to the tip, which means easier fine lines without throwing too much paint down... the 155 with the metal paint cup mounted has done me more than fine, so I am happy with what I have... although I do want to try a gravity feed the next airbrush I get... the thing I like about the 155 is it takes only about a minute to clean...

I recently got the 155 and although I havent used it for fine lines on a model yet, while playing around with it I found it could do just about any size line needed, with adjusting distance and airflow etc.
I completly agree that one of the best things about it is the ease of cleanup, just a qtip and some alcohol and youre laughin!

if you want the best of the 155 with a gravity feed get the Badger universal 360. its the same as the 155 except that it has a rotating ring that allows you to use it as a siphon feed or a gravity feed... and I agree the cleanups a breeze takes me about 2 mins to clean and put away...

and its the best airbrush I have used to date. not that i've used anything other than a bunch of azteks (that somehow got thrown out with the trash) and my trusty Badger 175.....

I agree with the Badger 360 as being very efficient in use as a gravity and siphon. I only wish the cup was larger to hold more paint. It is very easy to clean and can provide very fine lines. Because the cup is so small, I have decided to get an Iwata HP-C for the larger capacity and the quality of the tool.

joe

I just switched from a Paasche VL to the Badger 360 and I couldn't be more pleased. The double action is great for that mottled or squiggly German camo. The Badger works every time, and cleanup and swich over is a breeze compared to the Paasche. Jowdawg-I have never filled my cup more than half full, I am suprised to hear that you are running out of paint! I just totally coated a 1/32 scale Mustang with SNJ Metalizer and it only took a half a cup! The needle size is really not an issue when applying the detailed camo paint-I turn down the air pressure on my regulator to about 10 psi and use the double action trigger to release just the right amount of paint, controlling overspray etc.

Steve

just so you know Novis, the 155 and 360 are identical except the 360 takes both siphon fed bottles or uses the gravity feed cup. I was concerned about the size of the cup as well, but it seems some have used it and had good results. you really can't go wrong with any of the 3 airbrushes I posted, the 155/360 the Omni 4000 or the Iwata HP-CR...

Have you considered getting the 'fine' parts for your VL? The fine needle, fluid nozzle and aircap runs a bit over $8 from Dixie Art, plus shipping.

http://www.dixieart.com/VLParts.html

I use as VL and got the fine parts for it. Works well ****** far as I can tell, though I've never compared it with anything else.

I have a Badger 155 and I am very happy with it in all respects. Cleaning it is a breeze and you can do just about any size line you need for most camo.

QUOTE: Originally posted by crockett I just totally coated a 1/32 scale Mustang with SNJ Metalizer and it only took a half a cup!

I find that very hard to believe as that cup is very small and only holds about an eyedropper full of paint. That SNJ must cover very easy to only use that amount of material.

Mike

Thanks for all the advice/ opinions.

As suggested I have the fine needle and nozzles for the VL but ended up having to thin the paint too much to avoid the 'speckled' look. Althoug in 1/48 the VL works 'fine' (there's that word again!)

I just purchased a Badger 155 AB from Bearair, the set includes a fine tip. After I purchased it I re-read an article in an earlier FSM Magazine which discussed AB.....yes I know should have read it before! Anyway, the point about a gravity feed for fine work was explainned in the article. I'll give the Badger a work out and see, worst comes to worst there is always Christmas!

Happy modelling men!

Simon

I think in the meantime you'll be more than happy with the 155... I too want a gravity feed for later, but so far the 155 is keeping me happy!

Mike V-

I was talking about the Badger 360, which you can rotate to gravity feed. I misunderstood. Apparently, you guys are talking about the small cup on the airbrush. You're right, no way to cover the Mustang with that little dude! Sorry for the mis understanding...Steve

The other day I talked to a Badger employee about some questions I had and asked if there were any plans to increase the cup size of the 360 and unfortunately he said not at this time. So I went and treated my self to the Iwata HP-C. What a nice instrument............... The HP-C brackets the usefullness of 360 very nicely. Now I can do anything. Small gravity detail (360), Large siphon coverage (360), and an ample sized gravity middle range application (HP-C).

QUOTE: Originally posted by crockett Mike V- I was talking about the Badger 360, which you can rotate to gravity feed. I misunderstood. Apparently, you guys are talking about the small cup on the airbrush. You're right, no way to cover the Mustang with that little dude! Sorry for the mis understanding...Steve

No problem Steve.

Mike

QUOTE: Originally posted by jowdawg The other day I talked to a Badger employee about some questions I had and asked if there were any plans to increase the cup size of the 360 and unfortunately he said not at this time. So I went and treated my self to the Iwata HP-C.

They can't increase the size of the cup as it would interfere with the opening being able to accept a glass or plastic jar. I spent three days with Ken Schlotfeldt, the owner of Badger Airbrush Co, at the Phoenix Nationals and we discussed this very subject as I love the Badger 360 also.
I asked also about making a color cup for it that is removable and has different sizes, but he said they could not do that as that is patented already by Paasche.

Mike

Interesting Mike. That explains it all.

Jowdawg,

Ken told me that some of the tiny funnels that Micro-Mark sells will fit into the opening of the 360 and act as a larger paint reservoir, but I have not looked into it.

Mike

Mike,

QUOTE: Ken told me that some of the tiny funnels that Micro-Mark sells will fit into the opening of the 360 and act as a larger paint reservoir

I had thought of somehow taking a plastic vial and hooking it up to a plastic cap that fits into the cup. The funnel potentially solves the problem much easier. Great idea.

Is anyone on a the forum a machinist who can make some for us for free?

Mike

hmm I saw someone in the sci-fi topic that was good with a lathe!

What about plugging the vent hole in the paint jar and rotating it on the 360?

QUOTE: Originally posted by crockett What about plugging the vent hole in the paint jar and rotating it on the 360?

That won't work as the vent hole in the lid has to be open in order for paint to go out the siphon tube. You could take a plastic jar and cut the bottom out and rotate it like that and it would work. I would bet it would be real clumsy though and you would probably spill paint on yourself or the model.

Mike

Osrry for my stupid question, but to adjust the spray pattern on the 155, do you twist the nozzle, or just play around with the air pressure and trigger?

Adjusting the air pressure, along with how far back the trigger is pulled is what determines how the airbrush spray pattern looks. Do not loosen the head assembly to try and change the pattern, as it will leak air and not work properly.

Mike

higher pressure/higher paint volume (pulling back on the trigger more) = more coverage.

lower pressure, lower paint volume (not pulling as far back) = finer line

---edit---

You'll have to play around to get it to where you like... I am still figuring out what combo of the two to use for what type situation...