15 year break, back in and need lots of advice!!

Ron,
Check out : http://www.modelexpoinc.com

They list a running inventory of what stock qty they're holding of items.

Good luck
Mike

Check out www.missionmodels.com Great selection of kits and aftermarket sets. Fastest shipping from any online shop. I'm a very satisfied customer.

Yeah renarts, I just did a $110 order with them, so lets see how they treat me, :)

I will try the other sites also when I see what people have and what I have on the way. Right now it looks like 2 weeks will be the absolute soonest I get another kit. These people drive me insane.

QUOTE: Originally posted by RonUSMC It took a team of horses to keep me away from buying that Aztec Airbrush kit that is on sale at bearair.com. Half off is a good price, but I already have two airbrushes... I still might end up getting it, haven't quite decided. I figured I should atleast _try_ mine before I decide to get a new one. lol.

I personally wouldn't waste my money on an Aztec. No offense to those of you who have them, but to me they are a gimmick.

Mike

I agree with the Aztec comment above. Pay the money to get a nice Badger Anthem. I love the airbrush... very easy to use IMHO.

I have looked around a bunch.

The problem is.. I already have a Paasche that is almost identical to the Badger Anthem. I looked at the parts diagram, its almost identical. This time I am looking for a Gravity Feed with some nice accessories for under $100. The only real choice with those two things in mind is the Aztek 470. If money was not a problem, I would probably get a Iwata or whatever they are called, but they run about $225 and that just isn't in the cards for now.

I have heard alot of great things about the top of the line Aztek and also that it is easy to clean, so I am hopeful.

QUOTE: Originally posted by RonUSMC I have looked around a bunch. This time I am looking for a Gravity Feed with some nice accessories for under $100. The only real choice with those two things in mind is the Aztek 470. If money was not a problem, I would probably get a Iwata or whatever they are called, but they run about $225 and that just isn't in the cards for now.

Ron,

$225 for an Iwata? Where are you shopping?

You could buy two Iwata HP-C's for $240.

That is almost in the price range of an Iwata Micron which is WAY beyond what a modeler needs.

Both of the two gravity feed Iwata Eclipses in this picture are $89 from Dixie Art:



The T&C Omni 5000 is another great gravity fed airbrush for $66.50.

I am not knocking that Aztec. There are a lot of people who like them, but I would rather opt for a standard airbrush that I know how to take apart and clean.

Mike

Yeah, I was talking about the Mikron.

The others just aren't enough of an upgrade.. atleast with the Aztek I get a different sort of grip, lol.

QUOTE: Originally posted by RonUSMC Yeah, I was talking about the Mikron. The others just aren't enough of an upgrade.. atleast with the Aztek I get a different sort of grip, lol.

Don't buy a Micron unless you have money. I don't think hobby paints would flow very well through them anyhow.

You can't just buy a new needle or tip for a Micron. They are a machined fluid head system for precision and a replacement head unit is $112! [:0] Ouch!

Let us know how you like that Aztec when you get it and try it out.

Mike

For airbrushes I prefer the Badger ones. The Anthem and its derivitives. I still have a 100 (150) can't remember now side feed that I do for fine line work and small areas such as camo patches. I want the Paasche graphics airbrush. I just like the little turbine wheel that wizzes around! :)

As for buying tools, I like to buy them as I need them, then get the best I can afford.

I am up to about 75 unbuilt kits and about 4 in work kits. Plus a vaacuum former that I am building (almost done)

And now with graduate school starting I am gonna be pressed for an hour a week, but it will be a relaxing hour.

Semper Fi

QUOTE: Originally posted by marine1 I want the Paasche graphics airbrush. I just like the little turbine wheel that wizzes around! :)

That is the Paasche model AB and it is very difficult to use from what I am told. Leave it to the illustration artists as us modelers don't need it.

Mike

I got the Aztek in yesterday.

first impression:.... it looks cheap, lol. I guess I am just used to the all metal of the Paasches that I have. The Aztek is all plastic.

I sprayed around with it a little bit. I am really impressed with how it performs. The double action lever has ALOT of play in it. I mean, it has twice the pull back of my VL. It is really nice and lets you explore even more control with line thickness. It comes with 6 nozzles, and is a really neat idea. Each nozzle contains the needle and everything for each kind of paint. So if you want to do a .30 thickness line, you slap on the white nozzle and get down.

To clean up, you just take the nozzle off of the brush and soak it in water or thinner or whatever. You can also rinse the front end of the brush if you want, and thats it. VERY easy clean up. I think I will really like this.

I've enjoyed my Aztek for years and I use it for other applications.

So I have to ask, how did Model Expo treat you?

Squadron did me right on my order.

Mike

Model Expo did me right. Good group. They are also only like 100 miles from me, so UPS is only 2 days which is nice.

Great Models is a joke. I will never buy from them again.

Squadron did me right also. All 3 times. I just got in my 16th package today.. I have had a bit of experience, :)

Well, being an engineer I am fascinated by little moving thingies! :)

Glad to hear it. I live in East Central Florida so Model Expo is pretty convenient.

I run a window of 20-30 psi through the Aztek, depending on the paint mix I'm trying to push through it. Inks and dyes only take about 15 psi. Its a constant fiddeling to adjust for the best performance. I rigged an inline valve so I don't have to go back to the compressor to adjust. (I use my larger shop compressor).

Worse case you can pull the tips apart for thorough cleaning. But not for the faint of heart. (I'm used to pulling technical pens apart and cleaning them so the Aztek tips are sort of the same). Pick up a bottle of acrylic thinner to use as a flush between colors and a squeeze bottle of airbrush cleaner. Once your in the habit of cleaning it it will become second nature and you won't lose much time. THe best advice I can give y ou is get some cardstock and practice playing with the airbrush. Find a cheap paint or watercolor to run through it and practice shooting distances, settings, trigger control etc. Its easier and cheaper to that than to do a spatter job on your f-16.

Mike

The Pollyscale acrylics can be thinned and cleaned
up with water. Sodium free distilled water works great
and it's cheap. Great for decals too. Rubbing alcohol
can be used with pollyscale also.
Straining Polly scale will keep lumps of paint from
clogging the airbrush or ruining your finish.
Hope this helps,
Fuzzy