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Hi

I recieved an airbrush for christmas, and have just rescently taken it into use, trying to paint some lines and getting to know it.

After a quick painting, i did some Google/YouTube searches to learn some more. But i've still got a few questions, that i couldn't find an answer to.

Here goes...

- How does the size of the needle affect the result?
- How does the compressor affect the result?
- How does single/dual action affect the result?
- Is it possible to adjust the amount of paint without the dual action? (fine line vs. large spray pattern)

The specs on the one i've got are very unclear.

Brief description:
- Adjustable paint amount, but air flow is unchangable; dual/single action is unclear
- Needle/nozzle size is unknown
- Compressor is small and has three psi-levels, numbers are unknown.
- Internal Mixing
- Top Feed/Gravity Feed

Thanks in advance!
Bill'

smaller needles allow less paint out at a time, and provide for finer lines. For models such as ours this isn't usually a big deal. Small needles are used for things like veins on busts where airbrushes are the primary means of painting.

The compressor affects mostly 2 things: pressure and flow.

If you you an air tank instead of going directly from the compressor, the flow is perfectly smooth and doesn't pulse.
You also want a good regulator that will allow consistent performance at low psi.

Single action brushes have a set amount of air and you only regulate the amount of paint being applied. Dual actions allow you to trigger different amounts of air and paint at the same time giving you greater control over the total effect. You want a dual action if possible. I also recommend a gravity feed as well since we use such small quantities of paint at a time.

From what it sounds like, your brush should be fine for doing basic things like base coating and priming, but it isn't suited to doing fine detail or fancy shading as you want a dual action with fine needle for that.

Yeah, i think it's a decent beginners airbrush. Hopefully gives better results than the infamous, gap-filling spraycan of mass-detail-destruction.

When i get more into airbrushing, i'm thinking of getting an Iwata. Not clear on which to get just yet.

Oh, and how about the thickness of the paint? I hear some about getting it the same thickness as milk?

Any advice on paints and thinners? I'm getting alot about staying away from GW colors. And VMC shouldn't be so ideal either...

I use and swear by my Paasche Talon brush.

As for paint, I do 2 things. First I add 5-10 drops of 10:1 water to flo-aid mix to EVERY new paint I buy unless it's an airbrush paint. So all of my paints start off thinner than they were at the store.

Second I use ammonia free organic windex 1:1 with paint unless it's airbrush paint. I put in the windex first so that the paint mixes with it better and doesn't just settle in the bottom.

VMC and VGC are fine for your brush. Be sure to clean it out with windex after each color until it sprays clear, and keep in mind cleaning eats up more air than painting. If you want airbrush specific paints, Vallejo Model Air is designed just for it and they work great.

So were generally talking about larger amounts of fluids here?

But yeah, i've been looking to buy a whole new stock of Vallejo paints (perfeerably the VGC's). Might aswell add some Air-colors while i'm at it.

I figured windex is an american product, since i have no idea what the hell it is. But google seems to tell me it's window cleaner?

yes, ammonia free and preferably organic window cleaner.

Perfect. That just answered about every question i could think of.

You've been a great help. Thanks alot