2 Q's Airbrush and Priming

It's your airbrush.  The Superfine was designed for detail painting while their regular dual action one was meant for slightly larger areas.  To keep your hose connectors and all, an airbrush like the Iwata HP-BCS with its .5mm nozzle would help you a little more and better suited for the task.  You can actually use the SF's preset handle on the BCS, or pretty much most other iwatas.  [don't ask how i know it...=P]  Lower price option would be something like a Badger 155 with an adapter for the airhose. 

For extracting paints out of spray cans, I am still too afraid to drive a needle through a seemingly empty can...  Swanny has an article regarding Alclad2 bare metal finish on his website's tip section, www.swannysmodels.com that in part covers transfering paint using a straw as a guide/catcher.  I've been doing pretty well with that method though sometimes I tend to make a mess still. 

Thanks for the link.  I thought I read somewhere (do not remember where) that you had to drill into the nozzle to insert the straw, which is why I was so apprehensive about doing it.

Tamiya makes a top feed AB that I was looking into.  I think it retails for $199 though.  It nice to know it was the AB and not me

If you want to keep it in the same family, and don't want to shell out as much dough, their single action can actually do all the body work you need for 1/20 F1 cars, 1/24 cars, or 1/12 bikes.  Parts-wise it shares the same specs as the double action with the same nozzle and needle set.  I have seen it on ebay for around 60 to 70 or so shipped.  (dare i say it, but Tamiya's retail price is simply ridiculous)

archangel571 wrote:

If you want to keep it in the same family, and don't want to shell out as much dough, their single action can actually do all the body work you need for 1/20 F1 cars, 1/24 cars, or 1/12 bikes.  Parts-wise it shares the same specs as the double action with the same nozzle and needle set.  I have seen it on ebay for around 60 to 70 or so shipped.  (dare i say it, but Tamiya's retail price is simply ridiculous)

This rings a bell.  I had to replace the "needle guide" (not the spec term) because I snapped it off while attempting to remove it for cleaning.  Are you saying I should just be able to replace the needle for a wider spray patter?

*I'm sorry if I sound like an idiot, I just know how to use it (barely)

A big +1 on Tamiyas retail.  That small part cost me $28 to replace.  I bought the gun for $109.

No, i don't think you can replace the nozzle and needle set for the superfine into a 0.3mm set, which is what they use on their regular HG double action airbrush and the HG single action airbrush.  at least Tamiya didn't offer them as optional sets.  Superfine comes with the 0.2mm set.

Will check my PM after I get back from work.  They block gmail but allows hotmail and *whispers* this website...

*edited:

that thing you snapped off (the little brass cone looking thing) is your paint nozzle, just about one of the most expensive and delicate things on your airbrush.

archangel571 wrote:

that thing you snapped off (the little brass cone looking thing) is your paint nozzle, just about one of the most expensive and delicate things on your airbrush.

Well it does do large coverage, but it's external mix so the finish pretty much won't be as good as some airbrush that's just a little higher in cost.  $45 is still quite a lot for that thing though.  http://www.dixieart.com/Dixie_Art_Supplies_Airbrush_Main_Page.html 

On Badger side I'd suggest 200 with the medium tip for a single action airbrush or the 155 for a double action, which might help you later on if you try for other catergory of kits.  Those two share the same spray qualities.  I personally say a single aciton airbrush is plenty for automotive kits and is easier to control/lower on price.  You will need to get a bager to iwata hose adapter if  you want to use the hose that was for the Tamiya SF. 

On Iwata side, there is the HP-BCS for about 25 dollars relatively more as a double action ab.  They don't really got single action abs...  I haven't tried any other makes (well aside from Tamiya and Aztek), so I can't comment on them.  There is always that on-going debate regarding which one to choose among them, owning both the 155 and HP-BCS, I'd say they both do a pretty good job at large area coverage and the HP-BCS can do some slightly finer jobs than the 155 though I feel the 155 can take just a little more abuse, but I am just gonna leave it at that. 

Note that dixieart also ships for free for orders above like 45 bucks and they carry replacement needles and tips that you can get with the order together in prep for possible screw ups later.