Airbrushes

Author
Discussion

Eric Mc

Original Poster:

122,854 posts

272 months

Saturday 3rd December 2005
quotequote all
Anyone here use airbrushing rther than paint brushing?

I am struggling to learn how to use a rather basic Badger 200.

At the moment, model magazines are running rather large and glossy ads for the Aztec range of airbrushes. Has anyone used these and are they better than the more traditional style of brush?

simpo two

87,026 posts

272 months

Saturday 3rd December 2005
quotequote all
Eric Mc said:
I am struggling to learn how to use a rather basic Badger 200.


You want the Badger 9000 DeLuxe mate:

Eric Mc

Original Poster:

122,854 posts

272 months

Saturday 3rd December 2005
quotequote all
Why does he have a bucket under his chair? Nice graduated divide between the black and white areas - very subtle overspray

redwedge5

583 posts

268 months

Saturday 3rd December 2005
quotequote all
And back to the original question........ the badger 200 is a good basic airbrush which is single action and therefore relatively easy to use. They do take a bit of practise, but you should be able to get very good results with this airbrush. Other factors are very important and make a BIG difference ie the air supply and the paint preparation/ thinning.

Eric Mc

Original Poster:

122,854 posts

272 months

Saturday 3rd December 2005
quotequote all
Been playing with my Badger today (no smirking please) and things are improving. However, is the Aztec any better?

On a more general point, what is the big advantage of double action brushes over single action brushes? I do know thw technical differences but what are the "artistic" differences?

redwedge5

583 posts

268 months

Saturday 3rd December 2005
quotequote all
I've owned a badger 200 since 1977, so I'm probably a bit biased! I did buy a basic aztec airbrush a couple of years ago and it worked fine until I broke the plastic nozzle by twisting it the wrong way. The nozzles are easily replaceable, but I went back to the badger range. For the military modeller the advantage of a double action airbrush is the ability to get very subtle effects - you control the paint flow as well as the airflow - very useful for camouflage patterns and weathering.

Eric Mc

Original Poster:

122,854 posts

272 months

Saturday 3rd December 2005
quotequote all
Thanks for that. In my mind the changeable plastic nozzles on the Aztec did seem to me to be both the strength and the weakness of the design. Even though they seem to give the airbrush added versatility, I was concerned that they might be fragile. Your post seems to confirm that.

I'll stick with the Badger for the moment and try and learn how to use it effectively.

I used it today and was quite pleased with the results. I also used Frisk film as a masking aid for the first time and again was very happy with the outcome. I'm currently putting together the fairly old (1978) Airfix 1/72 Spitfire Vb. I'll post a picture of the finished product in due course.

gopher

5,160 posts

266 months

Tuesday 6th December 2005
quotequote all
I've been using the Badger 150 for some 10 years now, it took about 3-4 weeks using it daily(on average) before I was comfortable with the dual action (used the old humbrol spray gun prior to this), although it has not seen much use in the last few years.

Easy to get parts for it and as long as it is kept clean no problems (as with all these types of tool). My friend bought an Aztec but just couldn't get on with it, although on paper it does appear a better set up, he now uses a Badger 150 as well.

Cheers

Paul

ZR1cliff

17,999 posts

256 months

Tuesday 6th December 2005
quotequote all
Is it OK to use an airbrush in the home,ive never seen one being used before so i have no idea of the restrictions of using one.

gopher

5,160 posts

266 months

Tuesday 6th December 2005
quotequote all
ZR1cliff said:
Is it OK to use an airbrush in the home,ive never seen one being used before so i have no idea of the restrictions of using one.


Never used mine anywhere else - I set up a "booth" (read cardboard box with top and side removed). There is some danger dependent on what you are spraying, spirit based paints etc as these will be breathed in, so probably best to wear a mask. I also alway open a window.

If you are using a compressor then these can be quite noisy unless you spend out, which is worth while if you are going to be doing it a lot as the tin's are expensive and you invariably run out of air halfway through cleaning!

Cheers

Paul

ZR1cliff

17,999 posts

256 months

Tuesday 6th December 2005
quotequote all
gopher said:
Never used mine anywhere else - I set up a "booth" (read cardboard box with top and side removed). There is some danger dependent on what you are spraying, spirit based paints etc as these will be breathed in, so probably best to wear a mask. I also alway open a window.

If you are using a compressor then these can be quite noisy unless you spend out, which is worth while if you are going to be doing it a lot as the tin's are expensive and you invariably run out of air halfway through cleaning!

Cheers

Paul


Are the Badgers the best ones to use?
Thanks.

gopher

5,160 posts

266 months

Tuesday 6th December 2005
quotequote all
ZR1cliff said:

Are the Badgers the best ones to use?
Thanks.




LOL! asking that on sprayheads.com (masking matters) would be like asking on here if a BMW 3 series best car to buy

They have a number of good points (availability, easy to get spares, simple strong construction etc) and I find mine easy to use (once you have got used to the whole airbrush thing, which can take time).

You can get good results with the lower end models but there are people that won't touch them because the consider them cheap (and perhaps amateurish), but for modelling using enamels and acrylics and the like it's hard to go wrong IMO.

But there are, like most things, alternatives - if you can get to a large model show (IPMS, Railway (Warley you've just missed) etc) then it's worth going just to see the traders and being able to handle each brush so you can see what feels "right", it is very subjective. Also may dealers will do show deals which means you can pick up a good deal.

Cheers

Paul

edited to cover bad grammer and spelling tracks

>> Edited by gopher on Tuesday 6th December 13:12

yertis

18,657 posts

273 months

Tuesday 6th December 2005
quotequote all
Is it me or do many railway modellers spray their paint too thick? They often seem to have quite a bumpy finish on otherwise beautifully made locomotives. Maybe they just don't flat it down between coats. The IPMS guys are much better at putting paint on models IMO.

Just to run against the Badger grain I always used a DeVilbiss Sprite and latterly an Aerograph Super 63 - the king of airbrushes. Or used to be. Still a superb piece of kit though. Every now and again I get mine out and fondle it, but I've not used it for years.

gopher

5,160 posts

266 months

Tuesday 6th December 2005
quotequote all
Yes I agree, there appears to be a lot of railway modellers that like a thick gloss finish to everything, one of the things that really puts me off when looking at layouts.

However this does appear to be changing, I was helping a friend out on his stand at the Warley show this weekend as was pleasently surprised by the number of good quality finishes, many showing very realistic weathering, all in all an improvement to when I last visted a large railway show.

Cheers

Paul

Eric Mc

Original Poster:

122,854 posts

272 months

Tuesday 6th December 2005
quotequote all
Do any Badger models have a top cup - with a lid.

I tend to use the side cup attachment on my Badger 200 rather than the bottom feed bottle but I think that a top feed cup would be even better.

Any opnions?

yertis

18,657 posts

273 months

Tuesday 6th December 2005
quotequote all
Eric, I point you in the direction of the Aerograph Sprite. Has a lid, and double action.

Actually I've just realised I'm talking about 25 years ago - things have probably moved on

Edited to add:

Here you are - not sure if it still has a lid though - mine did.

I love airbrushes and airbrushing - one of the things I hate about the way my business has changed is that I never need to use it any more.


Eric - do MicroScale still do their excellent range of varnishes, decal adhesives and solvents?

>> Edited by yertis on Tuesday 6th December 16:09

gopher

5,160 posts

266 months

Tuesday 6th December 2005
quotequote all
The Aerograph models are still available www.bellcreative.co.uk/catalogue.htm including the sprite.

They do look very nice but I have not had the chance to use one, although I have handled a few in the range, I do know that when I was looking to buy my badger these were completely out of my price range, but if I needed a new one now I would certainly look again.

Eric - there are a number of gravity feed Badgers but I can't say if any have a lid as again it's some time since I looked.

Paul

gopher

5,160 posts

266 months

Tuesday 6th December 2005
quotequote all
yertis said:

I love airbrushes and airbrushing - one of the things I hate about the way my business has changed is that I never need to use it any more.


What sort of stuff did you do? Models, or other stuff?

yertis

18,657 posts

273 months

Tuesday 6th December 2005
quotequote all
Models as a kid, then via technical illustration into graphic design. But I knew the airbrush was on the way out the first time I sparked up a Mac II, in 1987.

I'm resurrecting my Super 63 to paint locomotives, but I can't seem to locate a decent small reservoir compressor capable of 40psi for sensible money.

gopher

5,160 posts

266 months

Tuesday 6th December 2005
quotequote all
have you seen ABAC? www.abac.co.uk/airbrush-compressors.htm they seem to do what you want, not sure what price you were looking at tho'. I have not bought from them, but they were recommended a little while back.

Cheers

Paul