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So I bought a harder and Steenbeck ultra airbrush kit a while back, and I haven't been able to use it to any good results yet. I understand it takes practice, but after following every guide and getting good control of it on paper sheets etc. I think it's the airbrush I have. I'm using Vallejo thinner, and following recommend ed amounts of psi( about 20-25) and thinner-paint ratio, but it still doesn't work right. Sometimes only air comes out when there's paint in it, the air runs out very fast in quite a large tank, I have a moisture trapper too and a smaller filter that serves as a moisture trapper too connecting the brush to the hose. It's all problems. The paint sputters everywhere, and on the models I just tried it came out very watery, then dried that way too filling up all the details while still being too translucent so I'll have to brush paint over them. I'll get the images soon, but for now can anyone help? Should i send it back?

Here's the pictures.

Hrmm, I'd have to check mine, but I think my airbrush psi is usually set around 30 psi, but that varies a bit. If 20-25 is what yours recommends, that's probably not the problem.

Honestly, the pictures don't look bad from what I can see.

But usually, if air is coming out but paint isn't, that's usually a clogged nozzle, in my experience. And cleaning the nozzle well is by far the hardest part of owning and using an airbrush.

A quick trick is to hold your finger over the end of the nozzle, and spray a bit. This forces some air back through the paint cup and can clear small clogs, though it is at best a temporary fix.

If that does seem to help with paint flow, I'd double check and clean out your nozzle really well. I often will soak my nozzle in high proof rubbing alcohol or paint thinner overnight, and then run a good amount of the cleaner through the airbrush before starting. That nozzle has to be SPOTLESS, or it'll clog up. It's by far the worst part of using an airbrush.

Anyways, my thoughts would be: A) turn up psi a bit (unless not recommended by manufacturer), B) make sure the paint is thinned well and free of clumps - should be about the consistency of milk, and C) clean, clean, clean the nozzle. It's a bitch.

20 - 25 PSi shouldn't be a problem but you can try 30 no problem. Maybe your comp has problem.

Sounds like either...

1. Paint is too thick > I see you are using citadel paint which needs to be watered down a lot. 50/50, maybe more. I personally would never use citadel paint in an AB. Looking at the paint splats, this seems most likely to be the issue here.

2. Clogged muzzle > Clean it thoroughly

3. Bent needle > close one eye, hold the needle near your eye pointing straight away from the eye - this way you can see the slightest bends.

I spend ages cleaning the nozzle.
My mix is 2 quick squirts of windscreen wash to 2-4 squirts of GW paint. GW's recent paints are full of crud, so sifting that out of the mix, and keeping from clogging the brush are a big job.
The needle on my brush protrudes a bit, and paint builds up on the end. A quick pass with the cleaning brush knocks that loose, and paint flows better.
Pinch or cover the nozzle to clear big clogs.

Building up thinner layers seems to work a lot better than a single heavy layer. Wait for it to dry and go around again.

And, with windscreen wash means I have to keep the windows open. Paint-heavy vapour would make a mess of the room otherwise.

Yeah the nozzle and/or paint passage between the cup and the nozzle are likely partially blocked, pull it apart and try and clean it.

I yank a couple of bristles from an old tooth brush and jam them down the nozzle to clean it.

Also when you're starting out it's best to start by spraying pure thinner and gradually add paint until you get the desired result. It's much easier to learn that way I found.

If you have a moisture trap on the tank I would lose the inline hose one. If you are running at 25-30 psi even with the tank after a few seconds the tank may turn on, this doesn’t mean the tank is out of air however. Its just adding more air into the tank to give you the consistent psi.

Have you tried making needle adjustments when spraying? Does it spray better fine, mid, or thick?

If the paint is sputtering you may have a damaged (bent) needle tip, if not, you are using Citadel paint, you are most likely not thinning it enough.