Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

So I'm about to start painting 3 landspeeders a whirlwind and a baal pred for my ba army. I've never used the spray gun before but I have it available (brand new never opened actually); Any reason I should not use it?

Thoughts?

YES. Because you can still return it.

It's a piece of crap... do a search in this forum. If you don't want to invest in something better just use colored aerosol spray paint.

Im on my second spray gun now, after the first gave out after the second use. These things are temperamental as hell. And if you sometimes dont mind waisting a half a can of propellant for no apparent reason because the gun decidedly stops spraying....then you have nothing to worry about. When it works, it works great...but when it doesnt, you are going to be more frustrated than a chihuahua trying to mount a great dane.

I agree - return it.

While it would be slightly more expensive up front to buy a cheap airbrush, over time the cost of the propellant means the citadel air gun will cost more, in addition to being a decidedly less flexible tool.

While GWS never claims it is an airbrush, and it's not a "useless tool" in that it can be useful, that functionality can be wholly replicated by an airbrush, and you can use the airbrush (even a cheap beginners airbrush) for a great many more things then you can use the spraygun for.

It's a gimmick, nothing more. As has been said, if you can afford an airbrush get one, if you can't then look at aerosol sprays.

I agree with the above: either go for spray cans or for an actual gravity double action airbrush (not a spray gun).

Propelant is a pain and expensive.

However, if you have it and have no intent on returning it (for whatever reason)... give it a shot! Just make sure to use a ready-for-use area... just like you would when priming, or you'll get paint all over the place.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Also: its only worth it if you paint quite a bit.

This is because since its fed from the bottom, it doesn't use ALL the paint, so you always waste (as compared to gravity feed).

Do not expect anything better than if you actually used a spray can

Can anyone suggest a good, inexpensive airbrush? I've used one many years ago, but I've no idea what's out there... Also, what do people use for propellant with them? It was my dad's that I used previously, and he hired a 6' cylinder of nitrogen (I think) so running out was never an issue!

I use a paasche talon which runs about $80 on ebay. 100% in love with it.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
and I use a home depot compressor with a 3 gallon tank. I spray at 12-16 psi.

A good alternative, and one that I use, is to get a car tyre and use that to provide the propellant. The adapter cost about £2 from RS, and I just go to the supermarket when (rarely) the pressure gets low. No loud compressor, and a free source of compressed air... The spray gun, if used correctly does a quicker job of undercoating than an aiirbrush and is simpler to clean after. Yes it has it's faults, but it isn't as hapless as some would make out

Captain Jack wrote:A good alternative, and one that I use, is to get a car tyre and use that to provide the propellant. The adapter cost about £2 from RS, and I just go to the supermarket when (rarely) the pressure gets low. No loud compressor, and a free source of compressed air... The spray gun, if used correctly does a quicker job of undercoating than an aiirbrush and is simpler to clean after. Yes it has it's faults, but it isn't as hapless as some would make out

You atattach your airbrush to the valve of a car tyre and use that as the compressor?!?

Pure genius... Macgyver would be proud.

FTL

P.S. What/where is "RS"?

You'd be surprised at how fast you burn through the 40psi that the average tire holds. 3 gallons of air at 100psi only lasts a few minutes worth of spraying.

Car tyre? PLEASE POST A PIC!

That has to be something to be seen!

Return it. The GW spray gun is pretty use specific, and expensive at that.

I actually just finished building a spray system. Compressor (with 1gal tank), airbrush, staple gun (came with compressor), and air hoses.

Total cost: ~$200

But do not distress! First, it is a reusable system, you do not have to go out and buy air cans, just run the pump (on your bed, burried in pillows if you do not like the noise) and you get another gallon of 125psi. It is also multipurpose; nail gun, impact gun, tire inflation, etc... It also has its own hand-dandy regulator so you get a constant pressure (when above selected pressure, obviously).

I have only used it once so far, and have not figured out the thinner/paint/air mix well yet, but it does work. Pump up the tanks, unplug, and use until empty. Then repeat.

BeeLow01 wrote: Any reason I should not use it?

GW made it.

I'm just sayin...

Can't return it. As it is new/unused but open. Unfortunately its too late for the return, but wondering the water to blood red paint ration (the suggested levels seem to apply only to the more pigment concentrated foundation paints)

Thanks.

I haven't managed to get the suggested levels to work with the normal or foundation paints - have to tinker with it every time. My only hope is that it will help me appreciate a proper airbrush more when I eventually get one

Arakasi wrote:I haven't managed to get the suggested levels to work with the normal or foundation paints - have to tinker with it every time. My only hope is that it will help me appreciate a proper airbrush more when I eventually get one

Which way do you have to go (more paint or less)?

I have top notch (Iwata) airbrushes and compressor, but I'm considering buying a cheap spray gun for basecoating just because tip-clogging and cleaning are such a pain with GW paint.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

aerethan wrote:I use a paasche talon ... and ... compressor with a 3 gallon tank. I spray at 12-16 psi.

Tell us more.

GW Paint or ?

How much do you thin and with what?

More paint. I learnt the hard way that you can't add more paint if you don't *have* more paint - so now only use the lower markers (also means there is room to add the leftovers from a previous time)

@Arakasi

So, in the same situation, would you buy the GW one again?

As I said, cleanup is the main issue for me, especially when I'm doing a bunch of models. I find I'm having to remove the needle and clean it multiple times just to do a landspeeder.

And my paint is really thin.

I bought one and used it once.

I didn't like it because I felt like I had to wait until I had a pile big enough to spray because I didn't want to waste the paint - but when I did use it.. It went through paint quicker than I thought. I also bought two cans of propellent because, yes after a few minutes of spraying - I had to switch cans because the first got too cold and lost its pressure.

I definitley need to look into purchasing an 'real' airbrush - not someting that says, "Hey! I'm a hand flamer!"

I'll get pics of the tyre solution at some point, the set up is at my parents place and I'm not back there until next month. I also find that concentrated screen wash is better than water for mixing with GW paints that are going through airbrushes/spraygun. I wouldn't put foundation paints through any half decent airbrush. I can't find the link for the bit either, and as soon as I find it I'll post it up as it doesn't suffer fron the 'omg it's cold and lost pressure' problem of the cans. The tyre is a perfect solution, but it is quick and easy

BTW the Tau and the Nids in my gallery were based using the GW spray gun

Unfortunately it was my first foray, and I have only used it maybe a half dozen times - so its hard to compare it with anything. Is it me? Is it the tool? Certainly I can (now) relate to most of the issues other people bring up.

I wanted something to undercoat/base coat multiple models quickly and easily with. I (naively) thought it would do the job - I mean it has measurement markers for GW paint so that you can get the mix right! Now I use spray cans for undercoats because its easier and quicker. I'll continue to use the gun for base coating vehicles as the need arises. Models - maybe, maybe not.

In answer to your question though - probably not.

Just to clarify, regardless of what airbrushes and spray guns I might or might not use, I too will continue to use a spray primer.

For those who aren't up on this stuff a real primer is a slightly different thing than just regular spray paint - it forms a bond between the model and the other paints that go on top.

@Arakasi Thanks!

Wow, its official, this thing sucks. even assuming I got the coat to come out to desired thickness (not) and was satisfied with the results (not) I haven't actually come across a gw product that was so shamelessly designed to suck money. 3 landspeeders and 2 tanks sucked one jar of mechrite and about 1.5 propellant cans, made a mess (which I was prepared for). bottom line for me is that this tool just does not deliver. Thanks for all of your help guys I've thrown the thing in the trash.

I use the paasche talon with Vallejo Model Air colors, Game Colors, Model Colors and GW paints.

I dilute them with ammonia free windex except for the model air colors which don't need to be diluted.

The biggest benefit to airbrushes are mass production things like dark elves spearmen armor, and large surface areas like Rhinos. It also made painting my hydra and dragon insanely easy. I'll post some pics soon.

BloodQuest wrote:Just to clarify, regardless of what airbrushes and spray guns I might or might not use, I too will continue to use a spray primer.

For those who aren't up on this stuff a real primer is a slightly different thing than just regular spray paint - it forms a bond between the model and the other paints that go on top.

@Arakasi Thanks!

Yup, always prime be it black or white or even car primers Sorry you didn't get the results you wanted

No worries, it's probably not that bad, I'm just a touch perfectionist