new badger airbrush

Killercurt - some wise advice you've already recieved... in case he didn't mention it... PRACTICE! haha... first all for modelling the medium needle should fit all our needs. most modeling paint has particle that don't fit through the fine tip well, especially acrylics.

I second the compressor thing. the air cans chill as you use them so your air pressure drops and rises with the temp of the can. You can help this by putting the can in a pan of warm (not hot, not too warm!!) water while spraying. For $99 on www.badger-airbrush.com you can find a decent compressor in the garage sale section. If push comes to shove a commercial type compressor ($60 at Wal Mart or Lowes or such) will do the job just as well, a little noisier though. Thats what I use, a regulator usually comes with the compressor and then a couple of bucks for a moisture trap and you are set!! (well except for an extra 1/4 to 1/4 male adapter)

Good luck to you though, you've made a huge step buying an airbrush and modeling will only get more fun now!!!

oh yeah, here's a section on thinning:

http://www.craigcentral.com/models/thinning.asp

and one thing to remember is gloss paints usually require a bit more thinning than flats.

oh yea,
Huge difference! I thought you meant a Badger 150 model. The single action gonna have some more limitations. You can still practice this airbrush and get decent results. You'll be able to adjust the air pressure at the can. The same basics still apply, thin and move: keep your brush moving at all times and coat lightly.

(i tried the uber cheap testors and realized it sucked)
sorry, i meant the airbrush it is a single action external mix, and i think it was $15 at wally world! i think my learnig curve is going rather well cosidering the short time i've been at it. i had problems with heavy paint (not enough thinner) and the susequent runs. some of this is inexperience and some is that crappy air brush. i'm looking into compressors now. the thing is i cant even try out the new gun cuz i cant hook it up to anything

Killercurt,
IMHO: Using the airbrush proficiently is going to take practice. Then more practice. Then more practice. The uber testor paint should be ok, but likely needs thinning. If you’re not already, you probably should be thinning your paint. Try to use thinner specifically for your brand of paint, eg. Testors airbrush thinner for testors and modelmaster paints, and of course use acrylic thinner for acrylic paint, enamel for enamel. I generally use a ratio of 9:1 paint to thinner, I use only acrylic flats. As far as practice use a cardboard box as your practice canvas. Experiment with distance from the painted surface, needle adjustment for paint flow, trigger pull, thinning ratio, air pressure. It wouldn’t be unreasonable to try some exercises eg. Painting large areas, lines, shapes, before even hitting a model. Remember to keep the airbrush moving constantly, whether it be side to side and/or near and far. As far as the can regulator it’s been many years since I’ve used compressed air cans, and honestly can’t remember. I use a compressor and would never go back to compressed air. You can get a reasonable badger compressor at your local Micheal’s, be sure to use a 40% off coupon. It’s like broadband vs. dial-up, a whole new world opens up. If you do get a compressor I recommend getting an inline water trap. You can get an inline air regulator for $6-7 dollars at your locally hardware store, for greater versatility. Finescale.com has an online article at http://www.finescale.com/fsm/objects/pdf/abcsofairbrushing.pdf which looks pretty good. Addtionally the Dec 2004 printed issue had a great article on airbrush trouble shooting. Of course you want to have a clean dry model (I use hand dishwashing detergent, and a soft toothbrush) free of dust, and finger oils. You’ll want to paint is layers or coats, not trying to get everything done at once. Your results will be much better with multiple light coats vs. few thick ones. If you build models you likely already know, patience is key.
Also, if you would be more specific, specifically what problems did you have? Paint running? Water coming through, paint buildup? We might be able to get you some better info. Good luck, and did I mention practice! Hope this helps.

AF