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WITCH ONE IS BETTER 175 OR A7778?

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  • Member since
    November 2005
WITCH ONE IS BETTER 175 OR A7778?
Posted by Anonymous on Monday, September 26, 2005 1:32 PM
Question [?] I have a question. I have a Crescendo 175 that I have had for the past year or so. It has never been used, I baught it new from dixie hobby. I have just bought A Aztek model A7778 metal body airbrush set with the wooden case and all the tips that comes with it, and the cups etc. I guess my question is ,is one better than the other? or does one perform better camo lines better than the other. I paid $98.00 shiped for the new aztec. what do you'all think. Thank's to all for ther opinion. LEB68. Is the Aztec A good all around airbrush?.Smile [:)]Smile [:)]Question [?]
  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Southern California, USA
Posted by ABARNE on Monday, September 26, 2005 2:27 PM
I have never been overly impressed by Azteks. I own an A430 which has a plastic body, but is otherwise similar to your A777. It painted adequately enough, although there was nothing particularly remarkable about it. It's main advertising claim to fame was ease of use and cleaning, which is a claim that I found to be unsupported by experience.

My Aztek's body died for no apparent reason after a short service life, in spite of my having followed all the cleaning and care instructions. Based on feedback from this board and others, my experience is hardly unique. They don't really paint better than regular airbrushes, they don't clean up easier than regular airbrushes, and their reliability seems suspect, and they re fairly expensive. All in all Aztek is an airbrush that I recommend against buying.

I have a Badger 200 NH, which basically replaced the Aztek while Testors was making good on their warranty. It is a single action version of the Anthem 155, and with it I found it easier to spray narrower lines than I could with the Aztek's medium tip. I never really got the hang of effectively using the Aztek's fine tip before abandoning the Aztek in favor of the Badger.

Having said all that, since you have both the Badger 175 and the Aztek, try them both and see which one works best for you. In spite of my own experience with Aztek, there are a lot of people who do like them. After really using both airbrushes, you might find that there some things you prefer do do with the Badger and some things that you prefer to do with the Aztek.
  • Member since
    February 2004
  • From: Canada
Posted by RichardI on Monday, September 26, 2005 2:37 PM
There is absolutely nothing wrong with an Aztek! Their colour cups work great in my Omni 6000 with the adapter.Clown [:o)]
I had the same experience as ABARNE. The entire body gave up the ghost for no apparent reason. It has been "retired" from service, but the colour cups are very good...

I suggest you practice with and use the Badger.

Rich Cool [8D]

On the bench: 1/48 Revell PBY Catalina 0A-10A. Next up: Moebius 1/24 Chariot from Lost in Space.

  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Monday, September 26, 2005 2:57 PM
Lacquer thinner is deadly to an Aztek. I just lost my A4308 due to one of the rings not working properly and lacquer thinner seeping into the rear melting everything. Azteks aren't easy to clean. The tips are hard to clean paint from.

I'll second the Badger.

I reccently purchased a Vega 2000. Although I haven't used it yet, I am very pleased with it.
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Monday, September 26, 2005 5:10 PM
I, really am greatful for the feed back from all of you. This is a real help, the do's and dont's that each and every one of you have posted. I will most surly take and put to use all of these remarks. thank you again, and thank you to all that might post a reply to this subject in the future. LEB68.
  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Southern California, USA
Posted by ABARNE on Tuesday, September 27, 2005 2:38 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by RichardI

There is absolutely nothing wrong with an Aztek! Their colour cups work great in my Omni 6000 with the adapter.Clown [:o)]


That's kind of scary. I did the same thing and made a little elbow adapter that allows a side-feed Aztek color cup to be mounted in my siphon feed Badger.Big Smile [:D]

Andy
  • Member since
    December 2002
Posted by Delbert on Tuesday, September 27, 2005 6:23 PM
LOL I did keep a couple of the paint cups from my azteks. cut off the side feeder and pluged them with some epoxy. I then converted the top's to siphon feed.. so I have several sizes of siphon feed paint cups including a couple of those teeny tiny ones.. very handy for doing a few small parts.



  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Hayward, CA
Posted by MikeV on Tuesday, September 27, 2005 6:31 PM
I think you should save the cups from the Aztek for using with other airbrushes and wrap the Aztek with some masking tape and insert it into the exhaust of a jet model to use as a holding stick while painting. Tongue [:P]Mischief [:-,]Laugh [(-D]

Mike

Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. To know is not to be wise. Many men know a great deal, and are all the greater fools for it. There is no fool so great a fool as a knowing fool. But to know how to use knowledge is to have wisdom. " Charles Spurgeon
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, September 27, 2005 7:15 PM
Man, sounds like I might have wasted my $98.00 on this airbrush set. I guess I should have went with another brand. I thought the aztec would be a good choice for some real fine camo lines for use on some tanks and 1/350 size ships. what other brushes out there would be a good choice for the kinda fine camo lines one could do free hand. thank's to all of you for this real honest information. I really like this sight, you can't get this kind of insight and honest feedback that I know of anywhere else, wish I knew of this web sight sooner. thank you. leb68.
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Hayward, CA
Posted by MikeV on Tuesday, September 27, 2005 9:41 PM
LEB,

I was kidding my friend.
There are some who have good success with the Aztek.
Try it and see how you do with it.

Mike

Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. To know is not to be wise. Many men know a great deal, and are all the greater fools for it. There is no fool so great a fool as a knowing fool. But to know how to use knowledge is to have wisdom. " Charles Spurgeon
  • Member since
    August 2004
  • From: Nowhere. (Long Island)
Posted by Tankmaster7 on Tuesday, September 27, 2005 9:51 PM
For example, Chris Wauchop uses the aztek, and i'd give much to build like he does. frankly though, i'd prefer to AB using a straw. Big Smile [:D] My badger and Iwata are leagues ahead of my aztek.
-Tanky Welcome to the United States of America, a subsidiary of Exxon Mobil Corporation, in partnership with Halliburton. Security for your constitutional rights provided by Blackwater International.
  • Member since
    September 2005
Posted by nathaniel on Tuesday, September 27, 2005 11:12 PM
Dixie is probably going through some hassles in the aftermath of Katrina, but they should have a good return policy.
  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Puerto Rico-Isla del Encanto
Posted by gonzalef on Friday, September 30, 2005 5:58 PM
I have had an A7778 for a couple of months and have no problem at all with it. it works fine with me. I also have an Anthem 155 and works really great. Maybe the only issue about the Aztek is that you must dissasemble the nozzle in order you can clean it up (this is not what the manual says). otherwise, the tip will be clogged after a couple AB sessions and it will start to ruin your projects.
At the end, I'd suggest you the 175.
francisco
  • Member since
    November 2005
wanting to buy a paintbooth.
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, September 30, 2005 7:03 PM
Hello all, I would like to buy A paintbooth but dont or can't spend alot of money. I have everything to get up and going but dont have the booth. I remember A gentalman had said something about seeing a paasche paintbooth for under $200.00. now is that price including the shipping? Also how would you rate this paintbooth and what websight had it for sale at this price? I would be very greatful for any and all of your help and experiance with this matter. I also would consider a used booth if it is in working order and I can afford not onle the booth but also the shipping. thank's to all of you for any information that you'all can provide me. God bless and have a wonderful weekend. LEB68..
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