Painting Problems ****!PLEASE HELP!****

I have this compressor
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=92403
and it works pretty good with my Badger 175 I had to get an adjustable air flow regulator for it and I've had the compressor for a couple of years now.

I'll secound the sentiment to stay clear of the Aztek..you'll eventully chuck out more $ over time just to maintain it and not to mention the eventual break downs and shipments back to Testors for a replacement per the warranty.  The solution is to definately get yourself an airbrush and kiss those brush-painting days good-by.  If you have budgeted  $100.00, I would strongly recommend the Iwata Revolution HP-CR ($60.00) from www.dixieart.com, any Badger/Omni series ($75.00), or the afore-mentioned Paasche H ( from $40 to $60.00 for the boxed set, $100 value).  Speaking of the Paasche H, this timeless airbrush still amazes me with it's versitilty.  It is by far the least expensive, extremely user-friendly, and easy to own.  Mine is going on 30 years old and I still haven't replaced a single component, and I can do anything from fine-lines to huge models.  It will spray anything you put through it and the learning curve is stupid easy...it's a single action.  No more "paint-brush lines" for sure armed with these airbrushes!  Good hunting!

tho9900 wrote:

If the thought of the color cup on a gravity fed is something you don't want to think about then the 155 is a great brush, able to do decent medium level detail as well as all over covertage it works wonders...

I just bought a 155 Anthem. I was looking to get a gravity feed but hey, I had a 40% off coupon and it they only had syphon. Next week I have another 40% coupon so it's off to buy a compressor.

I think getting a really nice finish on a large surface area is next to impossible.

For $65 from dixie art you can get a Badger 100 series.  Thats also with free shipping.  So for your $100 you could have the brush, air hose and maybe even both a fine needle setup and large.

Will - for $100 you can get just about any brush www.dixieart.com has to offer and have it shipped for free along with an air hose.  Several have been listed but I'd like to throw two more in the fray:  the Badger 155 Anthem and the Iwata HP-CR.  If the thought of the color cup on a gravity fed is something you don't want to think about then the 155 is a great brush, able to do decent medium level detail as well as all over covertage it works wonders...

If you envision yourself doing some down and dirty Luftwaffe mottle painting after you get used to it, the Iwata HP-CR is a good choice, good all over coverage AND able to do some fine detail you can't beat.  I was able to get some really good looking Luftwaffe mottle on a 1/72 FW-190 with very little practice with that brush.  I think it can handle most of the find detail you would come up against.  It is also the easiest brush I have owned to clean... ok except for the Iwata HP-CS which is about the same.. Gravity fed brushes tend to be a small bit easier to clean as it is all one unit...

Look around at the brushes mentioned and come back and ask specific questions as we are all owners of said brushes.  Good luck!

Oh yeah, before I forget... what type of models do you build and in what scale?  That helps in making a decision...

The Badger 200 series is also a very good "beginner's" brush. Also at the $50 mark. For a bit more you can get a 100LG gravity feed or 150 siphon feed which gets you into the double action world. It isn't that much more difficult to learn and offers quite a bit more options. Pick up a compressor from Harbor Freight for between $50 to a $100 and you'll be set.

Not knowing where or how you live I can't recommend a compressor. If you need a fairly quiet one try one of these:

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=92403

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=93657

I use a "garage" style one so I can also fill my bike/car tires and run pneumatic tools off of it. It's LOUD so I keep it outside and run a hose to my spray booth. I bought a 2 gallon tanked one, and wish I had spent a bit more for a 5 gallon tank!

Just match the kind of compressor you want to your budget and lifestyle and enjoy! I couldn't believe how smooth painting could be until I got my airbrush. You'll have to pry it from my cold, dead fingers!

For a flat finish, mix Future acrylic floor finish with Tamiya X-21 Flat Base at a ratio of 4 parts Future to 1 part flat base.  Make sure you that you mix it well, and it will give a nice flat finish.  Another common flat is Polyscale's flat clear which a number of people here swear by.  My local hobby shop doesn't carry it, so I use Future and Flat base.

In the $100 range, I would say anything but Aztek will work well.  As an airbrush novice, I would tend to recommend a Paasche H single action.  You can pick up the Paasche H Set, which includes small, medium, and large tips as well as other accesories from DixieArt for $50.  Altgough single action AB's get a lot of bad press, the Paasche H is easy to use, easy to clean, rugged, and can make fine enough lines for free hand camo on 1/35 armor and 1/48 aircraft while at the same time giving broad coverage capability. 

Andy