Single stage/Dual Stage.....Hybrid???????

Sounds like a double action to me, as well.

On a DA brush, you push down for air and pull back for paint, all with the same trigger.  You can control the amount of air and paint depending on how hard you press down and how far you pull back.

Single action is one trigger that activates the air which draws in the paint (from either a cup or bottle), but you can't control the amount of paint.  It's a direct correlation to the air pressure being used.  More air pressure creates a higher vaccuum which draws in more paint.

I believe there is a hybrid brush out there that looks and acts like a single action.  You push down on the trigger for air, but there is a control valve on the paint feed which allows you to control the amount of paint getting into the airstream.

As far as your other problem, it sounds like you are shooting way too high.  Try dropping the pressure between 8 and 15 psi (different brush/compressor combinations act better at different psi).  I personally like to shoot in the 8-12psi range depending on the area of the piece I'm shooting.  Fine work requires lower psi.

Thinning is as much a skill as painting.  Start at 50-50 and adjust from there.  Some paints like 1:1 paint:thinner, some like 2:1, so it's a matter of trial and error.  Some say look for a consistency of milk (or was it 2% milk, I forget).

Also, keep in mind that you won't paint the entire model with just your airbrush.  Most models are done in various media - airbrush, paintbrush, pastels, oils even watercolor.

Well, hope that helps some!

-Fred

It could help us if you told us the name of the airbrush. As for synchronised airbrushes, I only know of German made ones ( Gabbert, Hansa and Harder & Steenbeck ) where you can find this : you pull back the trigger and it opens the air flow as it lets more ink/paint, etc flow. I once bought an Efbe airbrush which looked like a double action, but it a was a simple action, so everything is possible.

As for thinning, it is a lot of trial and error. It took me ages to correctly thin Humbrol enamels as it is a combination of airbrush,needle/nozzle gauge, pressure,specific paint, what thinner, and you.

As for the flow of the airbrush, if the one you tried is in the Paasche AB or Sotar kind, it should take a long time to cover a 1/48 plane so, once again , what airbrush did you try ?

Now you must answer as we all want to solve this mistery.

And welcome on the forum, chap.  

to the forums Bill.

From one automotive technician to another give the airbrush back to the tool dealer.
Your not really happy with the results and you can find, I'm sure, a less expensive alternative.

Regarding the operations of the so-called Hybrid airbrush. Pulling back the trigger adjusts both air and paint amount. If you could image a spray can (just as an example), pushing gently on the nozzle would allow a little air and paint out, while pushing harder would give full air pressure and maximum paint flow.

Having had experience spray painting cars over the years with spray guns, I originally thought a single-action would be my best choice. Since they operate on the same principal and I was used to painting my models with a spray can. In the end I bought a double-action and practiced a little. It really wasn't that hard learning to control it, at least for my needs so far. I still need to learn how to control it better for intricate (fine detail) work, but in time that will come. I did eventually pickup a less expensive single-action primarily for my young son. But I have played around with it and can produce some very fine details with it.

You can get a good quality airbrush fairly inexpensive (compared to the tools in our toolboxes) that can produce a spray pattern from hairline/pencil line to 2" or 3". With that, it shouldn't take long at all to cover a model.

Shop for deals on airbrushes at such places as DixieArt or BearAir.
Shop for your mechanic tools at Sears, Snap-On, MAC and Matco.

Good luck,