Youre going to get as many varied opinions as there are modelers.
I came from a single action Badger to the 470 and havent mastered double action yet
In fact I miss my Badger
I'm going to practive w/ Aztek more, and if I dont get beetter, I'll sell it

i think it depends on where your coming from

they do clean up easily, their hoses are kind of proprietary though

i like it, but I think its a tad more cumbersome
(at least when getting used to the double ab) and they really need a good thin paint to perform optimally

My Badger was a little more forgiving.

I have a single action Aztek and recently upgraded to the 470 double action. I have been pleased so far with both, especially the easy clean up and interchangeable nozzles. I am still getting used to the double action but have already found it much easier to paint with than the single action. As Fireman said though, you will get widely divergent opinions about Azteks.

Also, have you considered your air source? A compressor is the best bet in the long run. I got a Campbell Hausfeld with the 2 gallon tank at Wal Mart for less than $100 (after taxes) and it has been a great compressor.

Keith

I have an aztek 430 db action and I love it! Cleanup is a dream. Takes a while to get used to the double action but every time I use it I have improved. Here is a link to a great place to purchase one. I got my 430 there.
http://www.currys.com/airbrush/prodinfo1.asp?prodID=40&SubcatID=1]

HastyP

I have a Aztek 470.... And I am very pleased with it..
But Firemann is right, you'll get many, many opinions, some good, some bad. You'll just have to make your own decision..

I have the Aztek 470.. hate it... hated Airbrushing cause of it.. wasn't consistent. .didn't clean easily.. .switched to a Paasche VL.. and now I enjoy/look forward to Airbrushing.. it's like Night and Day.. I think the Paasche blows it away.. My first airbrush was a Badger Single Action, and I gave that to my Brother.. after a few times with the Aztek, I had wished I still had it.. but now with the Paasche, I am very happy!

I'll still use the Aztek for 'dirty' work like Future and Pastels/Powders.. but from now on the Paasche is my 'favorite' brush!

Like the others said you get many different opinions.. but I look at Aztek's like Slim Jims some people like em.. some people hate em...

Good Luck!

I just posted this on another well known site -

A word of warning to any of my fellow modellers who may be considering investing their hard-earned cash in an airbrush.
I have just deposited my Aztek A4709 in the garbage can, case, accesories and all.
Two years of experimenting with different paint mixes, nozzles, compressors, paints, pressures, moisture-traps etc yeilded absolutely no satisfactory results whatsoever.
I do not profess to be the most proficient airbrush user in the world, however I did use a badger brush for six months before purchasing the Aztek and was absolutely happy with the results.
I can not express how dissillusioned I am right now with Testors/Aztek, I feel stongly that their brushes sell purely because they are appealing from the point of view of easy clean up, but I feel like I've been suckered into buying a "gimmick" which is not fit for the purpose for which it is intended.
Congrats to anyone who has used one with any success, but I ignored the numerous warnings (far more numerous than recomendations) that others have suffered exactly the same problems as me, and have paid the price.
So in short, don't buy an Aztek.

Paul.

I can't urge you strongly enough not to waste your money!.

Mech-Maniac, I live in Japan and can get Iwata airbrush at fraction of the cost in the states. I have found my self getting them for people all around the US and I have gotten a few for friends in Europe as well. These are probaly the best Airbrushes made and have yet to see them get a negative reveiw. So if you wish to save your sanity from the Aztek nightmare give me a PM and we can work something out!!!! STUG

I just bought an A320, very inexpensive airbrush, but very good.
I tried just using propelant for ohh a day, and went to home depot and bought a quiet, 2gal. compressor for 78.00 or so US dollars. very worth it. very easy to clean, and i get consitant sprays with it.

today i buy my first airbrush A4305 and i experiment whit water , its ok for me.