I'm pretty much a beginner myself. I had just started airbrushing before I packed up my stuff and it went into storage. My first was a Paasche single action that worked very well, but I wanted to learn a bit more so I bought a cheap dual action that I didn't really like. I picked up an Iwata dual action at a local hobby shop, but never had a chance to use it. Now, I can't find it, so I bought another Iwata with a trigger control. I'm hoping to get a chance to use it here soon.
John, I have been using cheap, foreign made brushes that are just OK. It is my understanding, from my AB friends, Iwata is definitely the way to go for a good brush. I'll pass along what they have told me: Thin, thin, thin! Have fun! Hawkdriver
I have a Paasche VL from almost 20 years ago that I haven't touched in a decade... I need to blow the dust of it soon...
I decided this evening to order a new spray booth. Mine doesn't have anything in the way of lighting inside, and when I was using it before, I tried some self stick LEDs from Amazon that never wanted to stay stuck on. The new one has LEDs that plug into the front edges of the booth and detach so you can fold it into a pretty small case (my current one does the same thing). Hopefull, I'll get in on Monday.
On airbrushes, Iwata, Paasche and Badger all have good reputations for being trouble free, reliable and easy to use. I have an ANCIENT Paasche that still runs great and last year bought a Badger. Love them both, I now use the Paasche for larger jobs and the Badger, with it's finer point, does my smaller stuff.
I have a portable compressor (California Air Tools oil-less 2hp twin tank) in the garage, and while it is relatively very quiet, it is too noisy for the hobby room, and it is too heavy for me to carry inside, upstairs to the future hobby room, and back down again to the garage. I could get an airbrush compressor for the hobby room, but ones with tanks are more expensive. I'm thinking about about getting a 7 or 10 gallon aluminum air tank to run an air brush in the hobby room. I saw a video on youtube where a guy was getting about an hour of use from a 5 gallon tank between refills, using his airbrush. I think one and a half to two hours between breaks and refilling the tank will be more than enough time for me. Actually, the HF 7 gal tank is rated to 140 psi, whereas the CAT 10 gal tank is rated for 125 psi, so the HF tank should last almost as long as the CAT tank between re-fills. But like I said, I'd probably be ready for a break by the time either ran out. BTW, the youtube author decided against his tank, since he spends much more time painting miniatures. But he spends a lot more time airbrushing than I would. While the 7 gal HF tank is definitely cheaper (vs the CAT 10 gal tank,) the HF also has to be filled via a tire chuck, whereas the CAT comes with both male and female quick-connect air hose connections. The CAT's male connector would just hook up the hose on my compressor in the garage (which will fill more quickly, and without me having to hold the tire chuck on there while doing so). Of course, I have to add a regulator, gauge and filter/water separator to either of the tanks, and the fittings for the airbrush hose, so maybe the extra male connector and shut-off valve for the HF tank will not be that much more anyway. The 7 gal HF tank is also about half the cost of the 10 gal CAT tank. Thoughts? Has anyone used a portable air tank (recharged only as needed) for occasional airbrushing?
Have you considered running a line to the hobby room from the garage? That would depend on location and such, but may be worth a shot? Definitely would need a water seperator in the end of the line though!
Yes, I briefly considered it, before dismissing it as way too difficult... and costly to hire out. The cost of hiring it done would be more than a nice, quiet, tanked airbrush compressor in the first place. And I would need a small tank as an "accumulator" just ahead of the regulator in the train room anyway, with that much hose between compressor and train room. And preferably with the filter/separator before, and regulator after, the tank. If I were painting professionally for hours a day, then spending more money on it would be worth it. Alas, I'm a retired hobbyist that likes to play.
My ex wife's late uncle used to take a portable tank when they went camping, just in case a trailer tire was low. I never used one for spraying. Most of the model train magazines said to use a tank to stop "pulsing", the stroke of the piston in the compressor would cause. I've noticed that a majority of builders don't use one. My old compressor is pretty noisy, since it's meant for a garage and it's heavy. It's overkill for what I need it for.
I used a recycled refrigerant tank for a little sprayer. A cross between a regular and an airbrush. It worked a lot better than a small compressor. Nice and stable. Also took along camping.
As much as I was hoping to get anything done in the layout/hobby room, work has been keeping my busy. I put over 1800 miles on my truck last week and never left California. I am getting some stuff done. I got my new spray booth today and it's going to be great. I still need to build the cart for it, which I've had for a couple of weeks now.
Very nice! You've pulled out all the stops getting setup for brushing. I got into airbrushing back in the mid 90s and to this day still paint outside meaning I'm limited to weather conditions so a seasonal affair for me lol. I have a badger compressor but eventually retired it in favor of my much noisier shop compressor. Reason being the pulsing I'd get from the badger not being able to keep up. Just the last week I've been tempted to throw my current project against the wall with my constant frustration and redo work cleaning up a new to me type of paint (acrylic with a lacquer base). I'm so used to shooting enamels which run real easy if one builds up too much that I go too light with this new stuff and wind up buffing to the primer in places or chipping as this stuff also doesn't adhere to polystyrene as well as the enamels. I'd go back to enamels but the Ferrari red I am using is the best match out there for this particular non train project so trying to figure it out to make it work as I've got a few other kits that are slated to use the same paint. That being said acrylics are my favorite for train projects since the paint finishes are flat/dull/matt for the most part and glass like finishes are the exception and not the norm. When happy I shoot them with a clear coat to lock everything in. Exception being I still prefer enamel for wood kits as it's oil base doesn't warp the thin wood pieces and it soaks into the pieces so the paint is there to stay.
Freddy Fo try Reaper paints, they are made for miniatures for D&D, etc, so the colors are not RR specific, but they are some of the finest made acrylics available.
I build the cart a few days ago and it's staying in the dining room. When I ordered the booth, I also threw in a dual airbrush holder which I din't have before. Today, I was off early enough to stop by Target and get a couple of bins for the bottom shelf. I plan on using these to store stuff that I use most while spraying, like thinners and maybe primers. It's looking to be a pretty good little work station. I just need to get a chair.
What an opportunity you have. You've got more room for a N Scale train layout then most of us have. Your jumping off at the right spot. You are on the verge of a super cool layout. I noticed those who like N scale have jumped in and shared their ideas. Lot's of support. Think out of the box for a minute and see your layout with (here it comes) Wider Radius Curves. Your going to like what you can do with them. Not to forget how awesome your trains will look going around through them. I happen to be a fan of the Western Pacific Railroad, and am glad to see someone else who shares such enthusiasm. I will be watching how things go for you. I'll even leave a like or two. Maybe a word of wisdom here or there. Take your time. Think it through, and give yourself the opportunity to have a unique N scale train layout. Hang in there.
Yes, a crap ton of models lol. I've collected a few kits to keep me busy if/when I get to retire but that is hobby store level inventory you got there.