Best air brush

[Reading T-1]

I'm just starting to scratchbuild some buildings and was hoping to get some suggestions on an air brush kit. I will need a complete kit as i'm just starting out. How much does it cost to get started with paints? Also are there any other tools you would recommend that I get. I already have a dremel tool with attachments.

[chuck]

You will need a decent compressor, an air trap (to trap moisture), mixing/storage bottles and some mini funnels or pipettes/eye droppers for transfering paints.  The main keys to success with airbrushing are a) practice, and b) cleanliness.  Airbrushes do not take abuse kindly and will easily malfunction unless kept scrupulously clean.

The brushes themselves come in two variations of style, internal mix vrs external mix and internal mix itself has two sub categories, single action vrs double action.  I started with an external mix single action brush, a Pasche Model H.  I didn't pay much attention to the cleanliness rule and got into a lot of trouble with the brush.  Several of the units critical elements are made of soft brass and were easliy damaged by rough handling.  Rough handling usually caused by not cleaning up imediately (I mean within a few minutes of painting).  I was also using solvent based paints at the time and could not do some of the things I now do with an Aztek unit and acrylic paints.

Aztek brushes are sold under the Testors lable and come in several models with different feautres.  The basic units is made from an acetal resin that is pretty much solvent impervious.  The critical components are the plastic tips which are easily replaced (and reasonably cheap) if you do manage to damage one.  They come in fine, medium and wide coverage formats and they even have one for "spatter" finish.  I've never had to buy that one as I've inadvertantly achieved spatter effects with the other tips by not keeping them clean.  I now keep a 5 gallon pail nearby when airbrushing and have it filled 2/3 full with warm slightly soapy water.  When I need to change colors or are just done painting, I remove the color cup/bottle and submerge the entire brush in the water and run out the paint.  After about ten seconds of this, I remove the brush from the water and run out the water in the unit against the inside of the bucket.  If it's clear, I use a pippette and squirt some Isopropynol (type of rubbing alcohol) through the brush to finish cleaning it and drr it out.  I go back and clean the cup or bottle AFTER I clean the brush.

Practice involves learning to mix and thin the paint as well as how to manipulate the controls on the brush.  It takes a while to get good with an air brush so plan on practicing on old boxes, scrap cardboard, whatever.  Also be mindful of overspray.  While acrylic paints are not as toxic as their solvent compatriots, your lungs were not designed to inhale large quantities of small particles.  A dust mask would be minimal protection.   Also be aware of people/pests and other stuff around you.  The spray can drift for a while.

As to brands, I like the Aztec units but there are very nice brushes made by Badger and Pasche.  Find one you are comfortable with regards to how it feels and how easy it is to use the controls.  Ease of assembly/disassembly are also important and whether you can get parts locally are additional concerns.

 

[csxt30]

Here are some sites that may be helpful also !!

http://www.arizonarails.com/paint.html

http://www.airbrushoutlet.com/

http://www.hobbylinc.com/htm/bad/bad200-1.htm

Thanks, John

[Reading T-1]

Thanks for all the great info guys . These sights-info will help alot. I have 1 more question, which is better, single action or dual action brushes. Also didn't ctt do an article on this  subject? May be it was in model railroader. if you remember please share. Thanks again for all your help.

[chuck]

A single action brush has one adjustment for both paint and airflow.  A double action allows you to control paint flow and air flow independantly.  This allows for a lot of control, but also requires more experience/expertise.  There have been a number of articles on airbrushes/airbrushing in one of Kalmbach's other publications, Fine Scale Modeler.  There are probably some books on it at your local public library probably in the 751 section (art).