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A bit of a background, I've been in this hobby since I was 16 and consistently been painting for the past 10 years(in my 30s now). As I've been working with the brush for awhile I decided to try a new technique. So two years ago I purchased a Badger 150 to go along with a compressor that my tattoo artist gave me. (It's a dual action siphon feed brush, for those of you who aren't familiar.) The compressor he gave me was rather old, and beat up, so shortly there after I ended up purchasing a 180-12 and a Badger Air Regulator (w/ filter + gauge) to go along with it. This gear sat unused in my care for a couple years after my son was born.

I'd not really had the opportunity to work with it until recently and after getting it all out and finally set up, the results are... disappointing and a bit frustrating to say the least. Now, I do believe that I'm either missing something, that my expectations are off or that I've messed something up when I broke down the airbrush to clean it. When I took the airbrush apart I made the mistake of doing so without taking care to observe how they all went back together. I figured it out and the brush functions, but I'm concerned the results I experienced might mean I did something wrong. Outside of that I had a few other concerns.

Where I could use your help is here:
First, my expectations.
Maybe I'm wrong, but I expected to be able to use my set up to:
- base coat my minis, (Large nozzle)
- paint large to small sized miniatures (Medium Nozzle)
- do fine detail work (Fine Nozzle) (pencil point thin)
Additionally, I expected the flow of paint to be consistent based on the videos I've watched online. I really hoped to be able to build up the paint and texture similar to working with graphics programs like Photoshop, Illustrator, & Fireworks. As of right now the smallest I can apply it is about the width of a space marine shoulder pad or a size 5 round brush. I was expecting to be able to do lines at least as thin as the edges of the shoulder pad which I feel is about 3x pencil point thin. Are my expectations off? Is the brush even capable of going that thin?

Second, brush assembly
When installing the needle or even replacing it, how far in is it supposed to be set? Should I press it in as far as it will go? Or should there be some space accounted for? As of right now I have the needle inserted and held in place so that it is pressed as deep as it will go. This is the only piece of the assembly that I believe I might have done incorrectly.

Three, paint consistency
If I'm using vallejo paints and mixing with rubbing alcohol, what is the best method for getting consistent mixes? Any recommended techniques? I also have Windex I could use as well as odorless paint thinner. What ratio should I be looking for? 1 part paint, 4 parts thinner is what I was initially going for.

I realized all of these issues required assistance last night, as while I was working with it I noticed that using the Fine Nozzle @ 15 psi the paint came out in "spurts/bursts". It was obvious the air flow was consistent as that pressure never seemed to change, but you could clearly see the paint being applied every couple of seconds as it shot out. It also did not seem that I was able to control how fine amount of paint was applied. It was either "a lot" or "more", not "barely any" on up.

I realize I've said a lot, so thank you if you took the time to read it all and reply. Any help, comments or suggestions are greatly, greatly appreciated.

paidinfull wrote:
A bit of a background, I've been in this hobby since I was 16 and consistently been painting for the past 10 years(in my 30s now). As I've been working with the brush for awhile I decided to try a new technique. So two years ago I purchased a Badger 150 to go along with a compressor that my tattoo artist gave me. (It's a dual action siphon feed brush, for those of you who aren't familiar.) The compressor he gave me was rather old, and beat up, so shortly there after I ended up purchasing a 180-12 and a Badger Air Regulator (w/ filter + gauge) to go along with it. This gear sat unused in my care for a couple years after my son was born.

I'd not really had the opportunity to work with it until recently and after getting it all out and finally set up, the results are... disappointing and a bit frustrating to say the least. Now, I do believe that I'm either missing something, that my expectations are off or that I've messed something up when I broke down the airbrush to clean it. When I took the airbrush apart I made the mistake of doing so without taking care to observe how they all went back together. I figured it out and the brush functions, but I'm concerned the results I experienced might mean I did something wrong. Outside of that I had a few other concerns.

I would not recommend that airbrush for painting miniature models, at least in the capacity that you are looking for. Number one issue with that brush is that it is siphon-feed. There are people out there that claim those are perfectly fine for miniature painting, and while they have some uses, they are generally seen as not worth it. They require higher pressure to work properly and a higher quantity of paint because of the cup design. They are okay for batch spraying one color or priming, but that is about it. A gravity fed brush can do those things and more so there is no reason not to get one. I'd hate to tell you that you wasted your money on that airbrush, but it really won't do the things you want.

Where I could use your help is here:
First, my expectations.
Maybe I'm wrong, but I expected to be able to use my set up to:
- base coat my minis, (Large nozzle)
- paint large to small sized miniatures (Medium Nozzle)
- do fine detail work (Fine Nozzle) (pencil point thin)
Additionally, I expected the flow of paint to be consistent based on the videos I've watched online. I really hoped to be able to build up the paint and texture similar to working with graphics programs like Photoshop, Illustrator, & Fireworks. As of right now the smallest I can apply it is about the width of a space marine shoulder pad or a size 5 round brush. I was expecting to be able to do lines at least as thin as the edges of the shoulder pad which I feel is about 3x pencil point thin. Are my expectations off? Is the brush even capable of going that thin?

See above.

Second, brush assembly
When installing the needle or even replacing it, how far in is it supposed to be set? Should I press it in as far as it will go? Or should there be some space accounted for? As of right now I have the needle inserted and held in place so that it is pressed as deep as it will go. This is the only piece of the assembly that I believe I might have done incorrectly.

Yes, in a dual action airbrush the needle has to be fully inserted in to the nozzle housing. If it is not, paint will get past the needle and possibly dry out and clog the tip or you will start spraying paint the second you push for air, which eliminates the "dual action" property.

Three, paint consistency
If I'm using vallejo paints and mixing with rubbing alcohol, what is the best method for getting consistent mixes? Any recommended techniques? I also have Windex I could use as well as odorless paint thinner. What ratio should I be looking for? 1 part paint, 4 parts thinner is what I was initially going for.

I don't care what anyone else says, don't use rubbing alcohol or Windex to thin. Spend a couple of dollars on a premade thinner like Vallejo Airbrush Thinner (71.061). It is pretty cheap and lasts for a very long time. Windex, however, is great for end of the day cleaning of your airbrush. What line of Vallejo paints are you using? They have 4 major lines (Game Color, Model Color, Panzer Aces, and Model Air) and all of them can be used in an airbrush. The Game Color and Model Color require thinning and I have found on average that 1:1 works fine for most cases. The thing to note is that there is no "magic ratio" that works for all paints in any given paint range. People tend to forget that and assume that X amount of thinner is needed to thing Brand Y paint every time. This is a learned procedure and no one can tell you everything. Trial by fire, man.
In theory, Model Air does not need to be thinned, but I often times do it anyway to up the translucency of the paint.

I realized all of these issues required assistance last night, as while I was working with it I noticed that using the Fine Nozzle @ 15 psi the paint came out in "spurts/bursts". It was obvious the air flow was consistent as that pressure never seemed to change, but you could clearly see the paint being applied every couple of seconds as it shot out. It also did not seem that I was able to control how fine amount of paint was applied. It was either "a lot" or "more", not "barely any" on up.

Your brush will not work on that low of a pressure. The siphon feed brushes need air pressure to push the paint into the brush and 15 psi is not enough to do that and push the paint out of the nozzle. With my main workhorse (Badger Renegade Krome), I average around 20-25 psi for general purpose work. I up the pressure to around 30 psi for priming and varnishing and will lower the pressure to around 10-15 for very detailed work or OSL effects. The sputtering is caused by paint building up in the nozzle and being pushed out one big clump.

I realize I've said a lot, so thank you if you took the time to read it all and reply. Any help, comments or suggestions are greatly, greatly appreciated.

You're welcome!

You rock.

Thank you so much for the informed response.
It's okay to tell me I wasted my money. From what I've read online I was coming to that conclusion but would have preferred someone in the know to simply say, "Yes, dude, you wasted your money".

With respects to the Renegade, as no one had responded previously I was looking at the Badger Renegade R1V Velocity as a potential replacement. Is that the model you are using? If so, would you recommend it?
It fits in the price range that I'm comfortable with paying as a I "S*** the bed on my previous choice, baby", when I explain this to my wife.

How about the tank? Should I shell out the $$$ there as well? I've found a few online that are pretty cheap, but wasn't sure if that was going to effect my experience as well.

paidinfull wrote:
You rock.

Thanks! I tell my wife that all the time with the hope that she'll start believing it one day...

Thank you so much for the informed response.
It's okay to tell me I wasted my money. From what I've read online I was coming to that conclusion but would have preferred someone in the know to simply say, "Yes, dude, you wasted your money".

I still don't want to tell you that.... but you kind of did. However, what you have is not "bad" by any stretch of the word. You could resell it on Craigslist or eBay and recoup some of you money back. There are plenty of uses for it, just not as many in our hobby.

With respects to the Renegade, as no one had responded previously I was looking at the Badger Renegade R1V Velocity as a potential replacement. Is that the model you are using? If so, would you recommend it?
It fits in the price range that I'm comfortable with paying as a I "S*** the bed on my previous choice, baby", when I explain this to my wife.

Yeah the Velocity is a nice brush, it is well made, works great, and the black metal look of it rocks. The two airbrushes are in the same Badger "family" with the Krome being the slightly fancier version of the Velocity. The Krome comes with another, larger needle along with the .21mm, has the cut-away back, the plastic hand rest, and the polished chrome look. Other than that, it is largely the same, usually costing $30 or so more than the Velocity.

How about the tank? Should I shell out the $$$ there as well? I've found a few online that are pretty cheap, but wasn't sure if that was going to effect my experience as well.

That is a diaphragm compressor, which will work for miniature painting, but it is not ideal. Typically, you should look for a piston-driven compressor with and air reservoir (a.k.a.- tank) because they have a smoother air out put because the air comes from the tank. Diaphragm compressors do not have a tank and can have an uneven airflow and a tendency to heat up after be used for prolonged periods of time. The one you have works and I would keep it around for now, but definitely look into upgrading it in the near future if you become serious about airbrushing. I use a Badger Air-Brush Co. TC910 Aspire Pro I picked up off of Amazon. It is quiet and pretty small, so quite nice.

Sidenote: I see you have the Iron Fist league linked in your signature... Rock on, I am also in the DC area (Leesburg, VA)!

I got into airbrushing in the last year and all I can say is that whilst cheaper models are fine for a lot of uses, the more intricate you want to get the more money you'll need to spend. I wish I bought a compressor with a tank not for any reason other than a red hot compressor scares me.

If you are looking for a cheap compressor with a tank and not too noisy I recommend this one:

http://www.chicagoairbrushsupply.com/d3000.html

It has a tank, pressure regulator and water trap. Perfect for our kind of work.

There are tons of airbrush vids out there....check out some from "awesomepaintjob.com" and "buy painted".

For mixing paints, I use an actual airbrush medium (golden or liquitex), or just buy actual airbrush paint (worth every penny) for not having to mess with it. (I prefer vallejo model air, or golden).

Your pressure might be too high, which is required for the siphon and poorly mixed paints.

Experiment, see what kind of spray you can get with just water...this is your baseline...

There is a some good advice in this thread, but I can not emphasize how important just practice and experimenting is.

Increase pressure, decrease pressure, hold the brush differently, use different mixes, etc.

Best of luck!!!!