Hey,
Dont mean to start a religious war or anything, but I just got back into the hobby after over-working for the last ten years. I love my old badger airbrush, but it is showing its age, and the compressor is hosed! (yuk, yuk) so I'm thinking about a new airbrush to go with my new compressor.
I dont think I want double action but I want decent effects on 1/72 scale aircraft and armor.
Mostly do 1/35 armor, 1/48 aircraft, and 1/72 stuff that is eye catching, and anything Star Wars.
I was reading in a different thread that a man had a new Aztec and a working Badger, he was willing to part with his Badger. So I'd like some opinions and recommendations if anyone wants to offer any.
I like that Aztec sponsors
Scale Workshop
(Check it out if you havent)

Thanks for any recommendations
firemann816

I have a Testors single action and a Paasche VL double action. Since I am just learning I haven't tried to paint fine lines yet but I love the Testors single action. I thought I would wait until I mastered the single action and then "graduate" so to speak, to the Paasche VL. That said, I really like the Testors.

Shaun

I use the aztec(double-action) and have found that it satifies all the requirements I have had to date. I mostly make armor, so I havent't spent a lot of time on 1/72 aircraft. I like 1/48 better.
capnjock

I'm like you, just getting back into the hobby. I never could afford an airbrush before but my wife got me an Aztec single action for Father's day. I've only used it to base paint one model, and practice a little with it. So far so good. I personally think it makes more sense to get a inexpensive airbrush to practice on and see if I'm any good at it.

BTW, if you are interested in another airbrush there is a place called Harbor Freight, www.harborfreight.com, that has some retail stores around the country. Before I got my Aztec I saw that they had a Pasche double action for about $59 online. The retail stores of this company had them for $69 but they said they'd match their websites price.

To each his own...

I've been airbrushing since 1985. I started out with the Paasche H and VL. Several years later I got a Badger 150. In the late 90's I tried out an Aztec in addition to the other three brushes I had briefly before returning to both the Paasche and Badger equipment exclusively.

For me, the Aztec just couldn't consistently produce the same results I got with the Paasche and Badger equipment. It wasn't as rugged as the others either. I am not obsessively gentle nor do I take them apart after every spray session. I use the blackflush technique with the Badger and Paasche equipment. Since I don't disassemble them I've never had to replace a needle or any other part of the airbrush since purchase.

My Paasche H and VL are quite old now - my Badger is about 8 years old. The Aztec is gone. Over the last several years I've been using my Badger 150 more than the others overall because I like the balance of the brush and the consistent results. I think the consistency and quality of the airbrush contributes to the finish quality of your models. Equally important is honing your skill with the equipment you choose - an Iwata in an inexperienced hand won't magically create a fantastic model.

Gunnie

firemann816,
I have a Badger and an Aztec 470 and my personal experience is opposite to Gunnie's one. I use the Badger for applying Future, matt transparent coats, or other odd things like pigments and so on. I use the Aztec for all the rest, and I get quite consistent results. I have to say that I hate to paint and I'm not that good at this task. Quite likely it's matter of how everybody gets comfy with his airbrush. What I can suggest is to have a try with several airbrushes before investing in your own one, or at least ask the shop where you're going to buy it if they let you test them just to see which one best fits your hand ergonomically speaking, that in my view is a big step forward towards your final choice. Anyway I fully agree with Gunnie when he says that the best airbrush doesn't paint on his own but you have to practice quite a bit (at least in my case).
I hope that this not going confuse you...
Ciao

Yeah
This helps

Thanks for the feedback fellas
Just getting abck in, the compressor is rusted or something, very flaky.
Was thinking of a matching Aztec to a compressor.
Keeping the badger b/c of my familiarity with it, and getting a single action aztec.

Dont think I'll be ready for double action soon.
Any recommendations on compressors, and models that ccomodate 1/72 well???

Thanks for the feedback guys
-A

I don't understand the point of getting a single action AB if one intends to "graduate" to a double action in the future. They really aren't that hard to use (my first AB was a double action Paasche VL when I was in high school years ago; it's what I still use), and most of them have set-screws so that you can keep the paint flow at a constant rate. Effectively, the AB becomes single action.

I have had a double action 430 Aztek and I swear by it. Only had it two months and it is easy to use and clean. I also have a 1.5hp 2 gallon compresser that I bought at Canadian tire for $100. Works great.

HastyP

Part Timer -
Thanks for the info, if that doesnt show my ignorance about DA ABs then i dont know what does.
I may never 'graduate' to it.
But I didnt know I could run it as single action with set screws until I get it figured out.

I like the post about being able to try before i buy, but I doubt thats going to happen, since I live in the sticks and ALL specialty items have to be mail ordered from the 'net.

Thanks for the advice, everyone.
-A

Hi there

I'm with GunTruck on this one... :-)

I tried an Aztec some years ago and couldn't get on with it.

At the moment I'm using a Badger Crescendo 175T with a fine tip. It's a bit heavy - but it's built like a tank :-)

I want to get a gravity feed airbrush for fine work with small amounts of paint... at the moment I use the Crescendo upside down and feed it paint with a pipette! :-)

All the best

Rowan

Hi, I just got back into modeling after a long time away too. I still have and use my Badger airbush,it's old but it works just fine.I picked up a brand new,fairly decent compressor on E-bay for about $90.00. It came with a moisture trap,pressure regulator,and an airbrush. The brush is not the best ,but I use it for putting down base coats and it is ok. :-)

Fireman,
I have two Aztecs and love them both...
I got the second airbrush when the first one broke (because of me..Doh!!) but I sent it back to be repaired and bought a "cheapie" to tide me over.. (BTW, Testors gives a FULL LIFETIME guaranty on the Aztec airbrush)
One word of advice though, The "cheapie" double action I bought at Walmart works just as good, if not better than my $160 set... The cheapie came with a bunch of stuff like enamel and acrylic paint and a carousel for only $40.00!!!!!!!
:-)

And, if you need a compressor, you can get a 2 gallon Campell/ Hausfield at Walmart also for about $90..

Thanks HWorth

Thats a neat idea
Lifetime warranty usually means a well done product
(Does in networking computers anyway)

I thank you for the compressor advice as well
Regards
-A

Just a note on compressors. I have a nice 40# artist's air compressor that I use for general heavy work. It's nice. But for absolute consistency on everything else, I use a 20# CO2 bottle. I have been on the same charge for 3 years now and it is a long way from being empty. It is also handy for late night work.
capnjock

That cannister idea sounds cool, but I picked up a compressor.
My daughter hears it crank up and comes running over wanting to 'help.'
I got her a model of her own to paint when her old man is done with his.

The Badger is a tank, and I'll always think well of them.
But I wanted to try the Aztec after mostly positive feedback, and the promise of quick easy clean up so I got a 430.
Now if I can just figure out what all the tip colors are about.

Thanks for the recommendations and advice, everyone.
Firemann816

I don't have an airbrush, but I've heard a LOT of good things about Iwata airbrushes. I'm thinking of getting one myself (either a Revolution-CR, or a Eclipse-CS) for my first airbrush. And for places to buy, www.dixieart.com has the best prices for airbrushes and compressors I've seen online

I hear great things about Iwata's as well.
Might pick one up one day since theyre so universally respected.

Just sprayed with the Aztec and was impressed with its lightweight, ease of use/cleaning.
Will probably stick with this for a long time.
If I had to find a fault, I'd have to say it feels like the trigger is just a little coarse for the double action behavior, but it may just be that it is my lack of experience with it, since that was my first spray session with it.

I'd google "iwata" + "sale" to shop around if thats where youre going first gun out.
HTH

Firemann816

I use the Badger 350... it is indestructible, does everything I ask of an AB, and the parts are cheap and plentiful! Even the Tamiya small paint jars screw right into the threads of the bottom feed!

What more could you ask for such a low-cost tool?

heard a lot of bad things about the Aztec from other sites as to tips clogging and no way to clean them so I would say Badger. My old lady picked up a Badger 150 I have not used it yet as it is double action but I think it is one heck of a brush have heard good things about the Iwata micron also! (++)

I got a an Aztec 470 and been using it for a while and don't know how I got along with out it. It is listed as a double actoin A/B, but can be adjusted to be used as a single action. So you can get the best of both worlds I guess.
The tip colors are as follows:
1: Tan Color Finline size .30mm use 5-30 psi (fine detail)

2: Gray, General Purpose size .40mm use 15-30 psi( medium coverage)

3: Turquoise: High flow size .50mm 15-40psi (large areas washes and weathering with acrylic paints)

4: Pink: Spatter: size .50mm 2-30 psi (special effect and texturing)

5: Red: Small coverage:size .053mm 20-30 psi (small to medium coverage,Camouflage)

6: Orange: Medium Coverage size .70 20-40 psi (t-shirts and crafts??)

7: Yellow: Large Coverage size 1.02mm 20-40 psi (Large areas Model cars, truck bodies and armor bases)

8: Black: Acrylic General Detail: size .40mm 15-30 psi (medium coverage areas using acrylic paints)

9: White: Acrylic High Flow: Size .50mm 15-40 psi (large area and high gloss acrylic colors Washes and weathering using acrylic paints.

I had the same confusions about the tips myself. This is just the list provided in the A/b kits and what they recommend the uses for. After seeing this. It answered alot of my questions Hope it does the same for you.
Paul

Yeah thats helpful,
THANKS

FWIW
I bought an Aztek 430 (supposedly more focused on small scale)
it doesnt offer the chance to use a set crew to set it to act as a single action.
However, I did my first spray yesterday, and it was a large one, used the grey tip
and went broadly and got a nice feel for it.
Double action wont be too tough to learn.
Many thanks for the help.
Firemann816