Looking to buy a new airbrush.

Shirako,

I have a 100LG and it works great. I also have a 360 that I really like. I picked up the 100LG from the Badger garage sale for really cheap. It's ugly as hell but it works great. You may want to go there and check it out. Just my.

Good luck on whatever you choose. 

Regards,

Jeff 

Your problems with siphon feed probably have more to do with the underpowered Testors compressor (I'm guessing it's the Blue Mini?) and less than adequate airbrush.

I have both single action and dual action siphon and gravity feed airbrushes (including TWO 100LGs) and the performance difference is minor. At least with a proper compressor. The 100LG is an excellent airbrush, but may be hard to find at the moment as Badger is experiencing delays in production. An excellent alternative to the 100LG is the Iwata Revolution CR.

Check out Dixie Art for the Iwata. Bear Air, which is closer to you no longer stocks Iwata, and have no alternatives I can recommend at the same price point. Expect to pay $100 to $200 for a decent compressor through either company, though there are alternatives. Take a look at Airbrush City for some of their low end compressors. I have no personal experience with their airbrushes, so I can't recommend any.

You can order paints online through Sprue Brothers, Great Models, Squadron or many other online shops. It's sad fact of modern life that the small mom and pop hobby store are going the way of the dinosaur.

edit/ Jeff was quicker than I. Sadly the 100LG and almost all of the most popular alternate airbrushes are sold out at the Garage Sale. They still have some 100G (1/16 oz cup) at $30 and a boxed kit of the 360-7 for $78 ($198 retail!) You would still need to upgrade you compressor. /edit

I don't have the blue compressor, I have the black one that my GF got me for christmas at wal-mart a few years ago, the blue one is probably higher quality lol

Now dixieart shows different tip sizes, which one should I get? assuming they get back instock sometime soon 

Hmmm, if is the black one I'm familiar with (AC100), that not a bad compressor at all. The Blue Mini is their starter version and isn't even heavy enough to be a decent doorstop.

I find I use the medium needle/tip combination 99% of the time. Call Badger direct at 1.800.AIRBRUSH and they'll sell directly to you. That is, if they have any!

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://graphics.hobbypeople.net/gallery/688805.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.hobbypeople.net/gallery/688805.asp&h=320&w=350&sz=12&hl=en&start=14&um=1&tbnid=XdFBeHEDSEok4M:&tbnh=110&tbnw=120&prev=/images%3Fq%3Drevell%2B9169%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26sa%3DN

Its the mighty mini 

Oh my! You might be right after all!

Personally I use a 3 gallon "garage" style compressor and run a hose into the house for my compressor. 100 psi of pure, unadulterated power! 

I've done some research on the Mighty Mini, and they claim it can pump out 30psi which is enough for any airbrush, so you might get by for awhile without upgrading the compressor. I would suggest getting a regulator for it to keep the pressure between 12-20psi. A $10 regulator from Wally-World or Harbor Freight would do (it's what I use).

If you have the A270 AB that comes with the kit, I can see why you're having trouble! The 250 isn't a whole lot better, and is more a craft brush than a modelers brush. The Paasche H or Badger 350 is a better siphon fed external mix than the all plastic A270 Aztek, but I would go for broke and get the 200 or 100LG.

If I were you, I would upgrade the airbrush first, but start thinking about what you can do about the compressor. Even putting $5-10 under the mattress will quickly add up to a pretty decent compressor in a very short while. The compressor I've linked to is a fairly decent compressor.

Here's a thought! Badger still has the 200NH siphon feed for $22 and the 100G for $30. The 1/16 oz cup on the 100G would mean refilling more than once to paint a car body, but that's not that onerous. $30 for the 100G is a smoking deal, and either brush would be a huge step up in quality from where you are at right now. Perhaps you could justify getting the compressor at the same time? If I believe Harbor Freight shipping rates, it's only $9 to ship in the US! You could pickup a vinyl hose at Michael's for around $10. You would end up with a pretty decent setup for $100.

i would say look at getting a new compressor before your airbrush. i am using a ddbl action, badger 155 Anthem, and i coulnt be happier with my airbrush. the compressor i am using is an old ATM compressor that puts out a constant 45-50 psi.

being active on some airbrush forums, alot of people recomend going to your local hardware store and get your self a compressor with a 1.5 to 2 gallon tank. its much cheaper then a "professional" compressor. be sure it has a regulator and a moisture trap on it too.