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aaaa7I've seen these portable, suitcase like booths advertised all over the internet from auction sites to Amazon, Walmart, and even Sears. In the general price range of $70 - $130 depending on included accessories with newer models even equipped with led lighting. They generally have two or three layer firberglass and foam filters and use a small desktop computer lke exhaust fan attached to their rear side capable of venting 3-4 cubic meters of air every minute and porting it through a  5" diamete,r 5+ foot long corrugated plastic hose that can attaches to an open window. According to the attached photo two or more units can even be set up side by side to make an extra wide booth.

While they are not recommended for volatile spray paints due to possible explosiveness with if the fan motor should spark, there nonetheless seems to be a plethora of them targeted at everyone who uses airbrushes from modelers to pastry and cake decorators and even nial stylists/painters.

My question is how well suited are they for the model railroader for painting and weathering trains and structures? If you, acquaintances, or your club has one what are your impressions, both pro and con?

What about their size - acceptable for painting model trains, buildings, etc.?

Newer ones are now available with led lighting? If you have a newer one with such lighting, how effective is that lighting? If you have one of the older unlit booths, how have you chosen to light it?

Please share your insights and experience with these portable airbrush paint spray booths with us.

Thanks.

 

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Last edited by ogaugeguy
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I have one, which I've used for detail parts and/or those that are later going to be assembled into a structure. It works fine in terms of preventing overspray on to surrounding areas or generally into the room air. You need to be fairly close to a window for the exhaust to work as I think it was intended, which I've found a little inconvenient sometimes as I don't have a proper workshop area.

I don't weather engines or rolling stock but in any case the spraying space with a single unit is definitely not big enough for most O scale engines/passenger cars - apart from anything else you could not turn them on the included turntable. Boxcars, hoppers or cabooses, on the other hand, yes, in my experience it's absolutely fine. Also, if you want to paint 1/48 (or indeed 1/24) model cars it's fine for that.

BTW, I have used an ordinary box too at least when I've had to resort to a rattle can instead of an airbrush! 

This is my second one. I forgot to turn the first well used one off one night and cooked the motor. I use a lot of rattle cans and the filters don't seem to last very long. Maybe 2 cans of paint and the filters pretty plugged then the fumes start backing up into the basement. I've painted around 50 buildings. As you can see I have a pretty long duct run to the outside. It may be better if you're going straight out through the wall or window.

It fit in my budget so I bought it. Shortly I hope to be done with the majority of the paint work and I won't need this anymore. There are way more expensive spray booths but it won't bother me to pitch this one when I don't need it anymore. If I intended to paint with an airbrush or rattle cans for the next 10 or 20 years I would probably go with something better.

If you buy it and paint a lot plan on buying a lot of filters at $10+/- each.

joe

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Last edited by dobermann

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OGR Publishing, Inc., 1310 Eastside Centre Ct, Suite 6, Mountain Home, AR 72653
800-980-OGRR (6477)
www.ogaugerr.com

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