Choosing An Airbrush (154)

[@flyboy2610]

I have one of those paint mixers, too. Mine was made by Badger. One important tip for using them: Make sure they are turned OFF both before you insert it into the paint bottle and before you remove it from the paint bottle. Otherwise you are going to have paint all over everywhere! As Justin Wilson used to say "I gair-on-tee!"

[@TheDCCGuy]

I think these are generic and everybody puts their name on them. I know that MicroMark sells them but I bought mine at a train show a few years back and it has no brand on it. But it works great!

[@68Jaguar420G]

@@TheDCCGuy The Badger one has a slide switch so it has discrete on-off positions which is a more deliberate action and inherently slower. The Micromark one shown which has a momentary contact switch that makes for a quick on/off to "pulse" mix the paint.. I have both and prefer the Micromark by far!

[@musoseven8218]

Great advice and a great video. I'm considering buying a Badger 200 or Paasche SI - even though I've more sophisticated airbrushes - to use for primers, base coats, track weathering. Also my hands aren't as steady as they once were so a single action will help in that regard. Parts and availability in the UK are/can be an issue. The Iwata SAR is a nice SA airbrush, but it's a bit fiddly, plus more pricey, parts availability is good though and all the connectors match my existing kit. Lots to think about, Badger and Paasche seem to make airbrushes that last though👍✌️😊

[@TheDCCGuy]

I still use my 40 year old Badger single action most of the time.

[@HumancityJunction]

Larry!! We all know and love you as The DCC Guy. Are you planning a complete rebrand? Hanging up the DCC Guy hat? Looking forward to what the future holds for your channel. Thanks for all the great tutorials. -Heath

[@TheDCCGuy]

No major changes, just shortening the title. “Model Railroading With The DCC Guy” tended to fill up and overflow the space. Plus “Model Railroading” better reflects my focus.

[@HumancityJunction]

@@TheDCCGuy sounds great. Looking forward to the new videos.

[@MRR_Shadowolf]

Great instructional video, thanks! Have been wanting a airbrush for awhile but have been hesitant. Feel more comfortable now. Can't wait to see next video on compressor you use.

[@peterjhillier7659]

Thanks Larry, I been thinking about sorting a Sprayer myself so your Video well timed. Keep Safe.

[@TheDCCGuy]

Peter, for many years I used a Badger air compressor but it died about 2010 and I replaced it with a compressor having a built-in tank made in the US by Porter Cable. It also provides air for my brad nailer, vehicle and bicycle tires, and to blow water out of the exterior pipes each fall so they don’t freeze up. It can go up to about 150 psi but has a regulator to control air pressure to the air brush. You also need an in-line filter to remove condensed water vapor available here at large hardware stores.

[@julianrobinson8177]

Hi Larry good demo on spay painting thank you.

[@wilzdart]

I noticed you take the needle out the back of the air brush, I have always pulled the needle out the front for two reasons: paint will stay on the needle and pulling it back will stay inside the air brush and the other putting it back of the air brush you risk bending the tip which cause uneven coverages. I prefer gravity feed A B I know you can't filter the paint but to date that has not been an issue. Still great video.

[@mannyfernandez2921]

Nice info on airbrushes!

[@terryblackman6217]

Good morning Larry. I don't believe it. It is just this weekend I have bought a new airbrush and compressor. Thank you for some great tips. How about showing some tips on paint and mixing especially suited to model railway. Thanks again. Terry 🎄👍

[@TheDCCGuy]

It’s coming.

[@dexterdog62]

Very timely video as I am just about ready to get my first airbrush. An informative and helpful video as always.

[@Steelerfan820]

I know this is off topic but thought replying to most recent video was easiest quickest way to get a reply. I have a lot of the older mantua Pacific's. Could you please do a video on how to convert them to dcc. There are none out there. They have a open frame motors which gets its power from the frame and tender.

[@TheDCCGuy]

Basically just isolate the motor from the frame and connect pickup wires (red and black) to the frame and tender contacts. Be aware that those old open frame motors were power hogs so make sure to check stall current and choose an appropriate decoder.

[@mikedurhan9941]

Would love to know more about what kind (and how) an compressor can be made compatible for an air brush. I have a "family" air compressor - 1.5hp job which I use in my shop for various tasks, including airing up bike tires, lawn mower tires, etc. It has no water trap, which I suspect I would need, assuming it is of a type okay to use with an air brush in the first place. I am in Florida and the humidity is nearly always high; I constantly drain the tank of water to keep it from rusting out. (That happened once.) I am looking forward to having and using an air brush. Thanks, Larry, for another great video. You are definitely a genius for sure.

[@TheDCCGuy]

I use a Porter Cable I got at Lowes for about $100. I then got an oil filter to add to the outlet and some connectors for the air hose and voila I can crank the pressure up and spray quite a while with the built in storage tank before that noisy compressor kicks in again. These last a long time as long as you drain them after each use.

[@mikedurhan9941]

@@TheDCCGuy Thanks, Larry.

[@ricter591]

Thanks Larry!!

[@KingTrump2024]

I used a Paasche Talson for years, great air-brush but a little on the pricey side. Recently I picked up an Vigiart dual action, and it works just as good for almost half as much as the Paasche.

[@TheDCCGuy]

Yes, it is amazing the variety of brands now available. When I bought mine Badger and Pasche were what was generally available for general hobby use. Even Badger now offers a range of sub brands. It makes it harder to figure out the best deal for your own needs.

[@louanderson1264]

Badger does make a cap for the 1/4 ounce paint cup (part #50-0484.) I have one for my Badger Krome. However, since you have an older airbrush, I don't know if it will fit.

[@TheDCCGuy]

I’ll look it up, thanks for the tip.

[@philipwells9498]

Larry, Enjoyed your video. It seems that a lot of model railroading requires a knowledge and skill with airbrushing. I have never done it but have ordered a 'gun' and hope to try it soon. I wonder how one learns about the different paints available. I live in a rural area without hobby type resources available and therefore no one-on-one learning is available so utilizing the web is the mainstay iI have to use. Where do you obtain your air brush paints and what types do you recommend? Maybe if you do a more in-depth video of associated aspects of airbrushing you might add a portion on paints and their selection. Thanks for the work that you do...it is very instructive.

[@TheDCCGuy]

One of my first purchases as a serious model railroader was my Badger airbrush. At first I used Scalecoat II paints which are lacquer based. However as soon as Accuflex and later Modelflex acrylics became available I went with them to avoid the toxics in Scalecoat. I still am using Modelflex 25 years later. Badger still makes it but most hobby shops only sell Testors paints as well as the various war game paints. The good thing about Modelflex is there are tons of railroad specific colors. You can also use craft acrylics from shops like Michael’s. Acrylic takes a bit of practice to get used to so plan to practice with it before jumping in on a project. You likely will have to find a reliable Walthers dealer to order Modelflex, I use blueridgehobbies.com .

[@philipwells9498]

@@TheDCCGuy Larry, Thanks. That helps a lot. Right now am waiting for my badger gun and will try the website you mentioned to look at acrylics...thanks...phil w.

[@jhoodfysh]

Great video Larry, you mentioned doing a video on airbrushing in general, including a spray booth and masks etc. I know you have been very busy on other topics, but is that topic in the planning stage? I know it would help me.

[@TheDCCGuy]

John-that was not an especially popular video so I have to assume that a second one would not be either. I only have so much time and I don’t lime to waste it making videos that aren’t all that popular. Plus there are lots of very good air brushing videos on KZbin already.

[@jhoodfysh]

@@TheDCCGuy Okay Larry, I understand, especially with all the time you invest to make the content, and then don't get a good number of views. Its unfortunate. In my mind its all about trust. I have seen other videos which leave scratching my head. Thank you for the reply.

[@geesharp6637]

Another topic that would be great is the hose and compressor. I picked up a Badger 105 Patriot and I have a small compressor I got from the local auto parts store. But I have no idea how to connect them together. Any advice from the community would be great.

[@TheDCCGuy]

I’ll do a followup with more tips os painting and also my setup.

[@greerdavidson525]

@@TheDCCGuy Did you ever do that follow up? I am agonizing over investing in an airbrush, and your comments on a compressor would be helpful. Thanks for all you do for the hobby!

[@TheDCCGuy]

@@greerdavidson525 That video did not prove popular enough to justify a followup. For my compressor I bought a Porter Cable one at Lowes for about $100, added a pressure regulator, filter, and fittings from Home Depot and have been using it for about 8 years. The great thong about it is I can use it to inflate all my various tires, blow out my outside water lines each fall, and power several pneumatic tools in addition to air brushing. Sure beats my old Badger compressor.

[@dundasjunctionmodelr.r-jam8267]

Gary great video, what is the part # for nozzle used for Acrylic paint

[@TheDCCGuy]

It looks like 50-0371, 0372, 0373 depending on whether you want fine, medium, or large. But you really need to go to their website and look at the parts list for you specific air brush and even those vary by era. My old model 200 has been redesigned so there are old and new part numbers. Fortunately it appears they still offer the old parts.

[@FKHTrump2024]

What if you used a ultrasonic cleaner to clean your air brush?

[@TheDCCGuy]

I am sure it would work great but it might get to be more trouble than just disassembling it and cleaning with IPA. I can usually do a complete turnaround in a few minutes.

[@68Jaguar420G]

If you are discussing external mix versus internal mix airbrushes it might be a good idea to have an external mix on hand to illustrate the differences. Many of us start with a Badger 350 external mix or other manufacturer's equivalent because they are inexpensive and readily available. During that segment it first appeared that you were calling the Badger 200 an external mix brush! Where is the discussion about siphon feed versus gravity feed? That is a huge consideration when one "graduates" to an internal mix brush that could have been a good discussion for people considering their next airbrush. And while your brushes appear to be pretty clean your colour cup and bottle adaptor are outright scary! They should be as clean as the internal portions of the brush. At some point particles of the dry paint are going to get drawn into the brush and lodge themselves in the nozzle and affect the spray pattern or the thinner is going to dissolve a bit and affect your colour. I was always taught and truly agree that airbrushing is really all about routine and cleanliness. Sorry Larry but this was not your finest video and is missing a lot of critical information. It will certainly leave people short on many differentiating aspects of air brushes when considering what airbrush to buy. At least your dual action spray demonstration illustrates why when painting you start spraying off the model, pass over and off the model before stopping the spray and then repeat the process going the opposite direction. The "splodges" at the top and bottom are what happens on the model when you don't "start beyond" and "finish beyond" the surface being painted.

[@1701_FyldeFlyer]

What do you expect him to do, go out and buy one he isnt going to use just to satisfy your criticism?

[@68Jaguar420G]

@@1701_FyldeFlyer Maybe borrow one from a nearby modeler, maybe show a photo of one and describe the air and paint flow on it..... I like Larry, he usually does a decent job explaining things at a level well suited to new modelers or those moving up from dc into dcc etc. But this video is certainly an incomplete treatise for a video titled "Choosing An Airbrush"..

[@modelrailroader5145]

Thank you for the nice introduction. What is the needle size that is sufficient for most jobs in model railroading?

[@TheDCCGuy]

I’ve been using medium since about 1980.