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Fellas I've never done any air brushing. I want to buy the basics to use for weathering diecast models and train cars.

I'm looking for any advice as to what I should be looking at buying. How much $$ to spend (I see many for sale on eBay for cheap). What brands I should look for. Gravity feed vs siphon etc...?

Also, for work with diecast models, do I need special paints? Water colours, enamels, acrylics? What do I need? What are the considerations for each? I'm guessing maybe a well ventilated area, paint hood, vent fan?

I've been watching as many YouTube vids as I can trying to get info, but I'd appreciate any advice, tips etc I could get.

Thanks ahead of time! Smile

Jim.
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Lots of good stuff at the above link.

I have more airbrushes than I can remember, I always seem to go back to the Paasche model H, as it is easy to use, easy to clean. (and it / spare parts are readily available)

I'm a little firmer about protection than the above poster regarding "water" based paints. The ones that contain acrylic are basically liquid plastic. If you breath it in before it has "dried", you are effectively painting your lungs with a layer of plastic. Thus, for ALL paint types, get a GOOD / appropriate for the paint type mask, and a spray booth.
I've been air brushing for 20+ years, used all different brands and types of them. Currently (the past 2 years)I've been using a dual action gun I got from Harbor Freight for $19.95. Best one I've ever had and used. It's very similar to the badger dual action. I had been using a pasche dual action but I dropped it and messed it up pretty bad. I was very skeptical to buy the Harbor Freight version, but $20 compared to $90, why not try it. Couldn't be more happy.
I agree with getting a decent size compressor.You can get one at harbor freight along with that airbrush.You can use it to run your airbrush or pump up the air in the wifes tire when it's low.I got their flyer the other day and they had what looked to be like a good one for about 100 bucks

David
Thanks for the advice guys! I checked out that thread in the Tinplate forum as well, good stuff there too.

FYI, after much searching, I bought a Premi Air G35 airbrush. I didn't want to break the bank, and didn't want the Chinese knock-off.
This was a bit cheaper than the Iwata, Badger, Paasche guns, yet it looks like a decent, solid, airbrush and should be all I need, unless I end up going crazy with this stuff.

I'm going to primarily use it to weather diecast models and my trains. I expect this will keep me busy for a long time. Smile
Over the years I have sprayed and used many airbrushes from all different companies such as Iwata, Badger, Paasche etc...

In the past year or so I purchased a few airbrushes off ebay from overseas sellers, they basically duplicated these companies brushes and many of the parts are interchangeable as well as the brush selling for about 1/4 of the price. I could not be happier with the results and actions of these brushes. I will post some links below of these brushes, and for the forum rules please keep in mind I'm not the seller of any of them, just passing information on for other forum members where they can get a good deal and save some cash to put towards more train purchases Smile.

However just as equally important is a great airbrush compressor. I know there are cheaper ways such as compressed air cans, tire tubes etc.... But to get great even spray quality you'll want to get a compressor with a 1 to 2 gallon tank on board as well as a regulator with moisture trap (important). May I also recommend a quiet whisper type compressor.


Here are some brushes with links to consider:

A nice dual action brush that offers several cup sizes in one brush.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Versat...D4930635881987015931

Here are some more cheapies to knock around with and do a good job when weathering cars and buildings.

Thin 0.2mm spray line
http://www.ebay.com/itm/DUAL-A...&hash=item2a1502bbce

Here is another dual action brush with a fixed size cup and narrow 0.25 spray line.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/HIGH-P...item1e6954f5dc%5B%5B

And 0.3mm spray line
http://www.ebay.com/itm/DUAL-A...&hash=item2a1502bdee


If you notice these brushes are gravity feed brushes meaning the paint source is on top of the brush in the cup rather then the bottle type with siphon tube located on the bottom. In my experience I find gravity brushes out perform the siphon brushes.

All my spraying is done with acrylic paints cut with denatured alcohol, then the finshed product gets clear coated with Testors Dull Coat enamel (spray can).

The best way to learn is to jump in and have fun.

Mike
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Demo:
Fellas I've never done any air brushing. I want to buy the basics to use for weathering diecast models and train cars.

For a beginner I would recommend a Testors Aztek 270 external mix airbrush. It’s inexpensive and easy to keep clean. If you want a better quality unit and you use acrylic paints I’d recommend an external mix airbrush like a Paasche H series, although Aztek internal mix airbrushes work well with acrylics. For general model painting I recommend a single action and if you are using it for weathering, buy a double action. As for a compressor, buy it from a home store but make sure it has a pressure regulator and a tank.

My son and I went to Hobby Lobby and looked for a simple, low cost air brushing kit, something to try besides rattle cans. Well, we decided on a Paasche EZ kit for $24.98 and a can of their "super propellant?" and went home to try it out.

 

Well, we should have done some research on the internet because this thing is what other's who have tried it said. It's JUNK. Pure and simple junk. The propellant can wouldn't deliver a constant amount of pressure and the cheezsy little regulator that came with it was useless for what it was suppose to do.

 

We tried water based paint, solvent paint, distilled water by itself and got pretty much the same results. It even clogged on water! We can't afford hundreds of dollars to buy the kind of equipment Chip Foose uses. All we want to do is paint something with something that's adjustable.

 

Paasche, Iwata, and other brushes start out in the eighty to one hundred dollar range, and that's pure nonsense. I guess the old addage is right, you get what you pay for. Rattle cans of good quality paint are still in the five buck range and we'll be sticking with them.

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