observations of a first time ABer

Congratulations for having bought our amazing airbrush !
I see you are learning the hard way. Well, my first advice will be : patience and a light hand, as an airbrush is globally fragile ( more than a sledgehammer).You don't have to force to disassemble the beast and to built it back, or something is going wrong. Check if you have a teflon seal, or not, that will determine what you can spray ( lacquer thinner, etc... ) as rubber seals don't like "hard" products. It doesn't forbid you to use enamels, anyway. It seems that it is a double action, so the average use is: push the trigger for air, then pull it back to disengage the needle from the tip so the spray widens; you must practice to feel it; nature of what you spray ( water, ink, acrylic, enamel, nail polish, etc... ) influences the result in terms of grain( I mean how much the pigments are ground ) and viscosity so it is most an affair of training. Air pressure is most important so your next buy should be a ( silent ? ) compressor with regulator, water trap, tank, etc... This compressor does not need to be a huge industrial one unless you need it for something else. Alternative is air tank, CO2 bottle, etc...
As for fragility needle and nozzle are among the most fragile so careful with them, but you don't need to be a brain surgeon to manage it. Avoid to soak your entire airbrush in lacquer thinner for instance ( Aztek owners are the only persons in the world allowed to do so ) as it is unnecessary: ultrasonic cleaners do it better.
Well, that is all I see at the moment, but no doubt there are a number of chaps who can add valuable information.
Even if you find it hard now, go on : pleasure comes after pain ( no sexual hint at any time)

Vapo-using an airbrush-a double action one that is, takes practice. It's like learning to drive a clutch. Remember to not mix medias-don't go from enamels to acrylics to lacquer. They'll get messed up in a hurry. Keep them clean and learn to break em down and reassemble them (like your rifle). Plastic parts suck and don't soak them in acetone (which I use to clean mine if I've been slacking on maintenance). Get a reamer and keep an extra needle on hand. And by all means protect that needle tip. If you use acrylics, don't get suckered into buying a "cleaner" use Windex or dilute ammonia-you'll save beaucoup bucks. I've been airbrushing for over 30 years and they still tick me off!!!

PS-Get an all metal Badger.

I think this is a Badger knock off, it is all metal.
The only think it will be used for is this model, I have no plans to get properly involved with the hobby after this ship is done, so a $200 AB is pointless. I'll live with the occasional no air, press,press,press, there we go situation. I'll be running some enamel through it later, so I'll hopefully have a better idea of just how good or bad it is.
Just wish it had some instructions, on setting up the needle, though I think I've figured it out, it's allways good to be sure.

Hey Vapo! Check this out:
http://www.a2zhobbies.com/Badger/Model_100/BAD-100-8.html

They are not that expensive although do shop about.

http://airbrushcity.com/1620.htm And I got it for $39, now, I know you get what you pay for, but I'm hoping it will at least do this kit, At least I'll see if an AB is for me, so far though, in this hot weather, the wife seems to have found a use for it! It's a cooling device at the moment,lol. spraying cold water onto my pregnant wife! Guess I could get the Badger after all

Hey Vapo-there is a thriving business in airbrushing tans-I have a hard time keeping my hands steady though. ;-)

PS-congrats

QUOTE: Originally posted by trowlfazz Hey Vapo-there is a thriving business in airbrushing tans-I have a hard time keeping my hands steady though. ;-) PS-congrats

ROFL
I've got a 4 month pregnant wife, do you honestly believe she'll let me near a semi naked 20 something with an airbrush? why the hell do think I bought the heller victory in the first place,lol

QUOTE: http://airbrushcity.com/1620.htm

On the link you provided, right below the picture of the set is a link that reads "Dual Action Operating Instructions" and goes to this page:

http://airbrushcity.com/1500instructions.htm

yeh, and you go there and it's pretty useless, I learned more in these forums,lol
It gives no help in setting up the AB, the exploded diagram in the instructions don't even tell you what each part is, if you're not mechanicaly minded, you'd have a hard time with ABcity instructions.
BUT, I have sprayed some enamel now, and while it is pretty fussy on air supply, it can spray a nice coat.

Vapo-pardon my French; but screw acrylics-enamels rule. They also are better for your good brushes. Sable loves oil.

QUOTE: Originally posted by vapochilled QUOTE: Originally posted by trowlfazz Hey Vapo-there is a thriving business in airbrushing tans-I have a hard time keeping my hands steady though. ;-) PS-congrats ROFL I've got a 4 month pregnant wife, do you honestly believe she'll let me near a semi naked 20 something with an airbrush? why the hell do think I bought the heller victory in the first place,lol

Sounds as if you got to close to the wife in the first place (snigger! snort!!).

Hey Vapo-guys need tans too! Don't worry, I get mine outside!

QUOTE: Originally posted by trowlfazz Hey Vapo-guys need tans too! Don't worry, I get mine outside!

Wooooo there buddy, I'm not spending my evenings trying to get that weathered builders crack just right!! lol

Hey Vapo! Check out my post on Odds & Ends and tell your name's origins. It's a fun thread i think.

Well, having used all but a whole can of air with enamel, I used yellow as it's a right royal pain in the A$$.
I can say two things:
The airbrushcity AB is amazing value for money!
And second, How in gods name did I ever survive without an AB? lol no really! How? the finish I am getting with only an hours or so practice just belies belief, I could never retain surface detail and still get coverage like this with a brush. It's wonderful.

Vapo-once you learn how to thin paint properly (BTW-white, yellow and red suck) you'll cruise. But don't give up on a good sable brush (you also have to thin paint pots for good brush work)
.

Vapo - good to see you got it down! Now that you've got into it a little bit I think once you try acrylics again they will be a lot easier. I use mostly acrylics in my brush and thinned right they work the same as enamels for me. Not to knock enamels at all... I use those too depending on the color and paint and what I am painting.

Looking forward to seeing the results of your newfound skill!

Not sure I'd go as far as calling it a "skill" just yet,lol But it certainly will add something to the model

Hey vapo did I understand correctly, "The only think it will be used for is this model, I have no plans to get properly involved with the hobby after this ship is done" IF THE WIFE IS EXPECTING THAN I HAVE THE FEELING THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE A FULL CONVY. LOL. I have three kids, and I have now a fleet of cars built and now own umm more than 7 airbrushes.

Kevin

lol, hey, everyones got a plan, what in the world makes people have so many kids and airbrushes?
Side note:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=8205955751&ssPageName=STRK:MEBI:IT
$31 for a paasche D500 compressor don't seem too bad? was that? 3 tins of Badger propel woohoo me!

Vapo - if it works good you are SET!!! You can get a regulator and water trap for about $11 each at Wal Mart. $1.96 for a roll of Teflon tape in the plumbing section and you're good to go! Good going!

You'll find it SO much cheaper than the canned air, more consistent in pressure and I think you'll get a lot better result out of your airbrush when you can set a pressure versus guess... typically for my siphon fed I spray somewhere around twenty for large coverage and 12 to15ish for closer in detail with very thin paint. With the metal color cup I can go a little lower on the pressures and still be ok...

Just need a water trap, I allready have 1/4 npt regulators(don't ask why I moved 3000 miles from the UK and brought all this crap with me?) says it's nearly new and pic looks clean, good price? I see them going for over a ton new

yeah it is a good price, new it would go for more like $130 or more... I found prices from $111 to $179 just at two or 3 places online.

So yeah, $11 dollars and you're set!!! for a good price....

For God's sake! Now that I have your attention-remember to drain your moisture traps and compressors.

QUOTE: Originally posted by trowlfazz For God's sake! Now that I have your attention-remember to drain your moisture traps and compressors.

And you thought we wer'nt listening because...?

Dont feel bad Vapo..... I bought a Paasche 100VL, and the breakdown and instrcutions for what the adjustments do...were TERRIBLE. and I also bought the D3000 compressor, had a one page user manual (single sided).

I also was not too pleased wiht the quality of the 100VL (half the AB is plastic..). but for $49 (in kit with 3 tips and needles... of which they arent labeled so I cant tell which one is fine, med, large) what can one expect. I figure Ill get some experince with the Paasche and eventually move up to a IWATA. That way I'll appreciate the quality more :)

QUOTE: Originally posted by FAAmecanic Dont feel bad Vapo..... I bought a Paasche 100VL, and the breakdown and instrcutions for what the adjustments do...were TERRIBLE. and I also bought the D3000 compressor, had a one page user manual (single sided). I also was not too pleased wiht the quality of the 100VL (half the AB is plastic..). but for $49 (in kit with 3 tips and needles... of which they arent labeled so I cant tell which one is fine, med, large) what can one expect. I figure Ill get some experince with the Paasche and eventually move up to a IWATA. That way I'll appreciate the quality more :)

Lol, not just me then! I got it figured now, you can set how much paint will flow regardless of trigger pull, handy

well the D500 compressor just arrived, poor UPS guy was dying in this heat.
Ripped open the box, ran the compressor for like 5 minutes with water in the AB all seems good.
In fact looking at the compressor, the 5 minutes I just ran it have doubled it's use so far, it's spotless.

cool! enjoy! and remember those pics! we want to see how the new combo turns out!