You know,I can't understand why so many of you guys use double actions.I own a VL,and a single action Badger..I never use the VL for anything but the occasional weathering job on structures,shading on a custom motorcycle paint job,ETC,I never use it to actually paint anything.Pushing the button down,and then pulling it back for every paint stroke I take is just rediculous when you're really just using it as a spraygun,especially if you're painting more than one loco at a time.My single action Badger just gave up the ghost after 30 years,I just replaced it with the same model[250?] it's a single action,the old one painted thousands of locos,model cars,and RC car bodies.I just taught 2 guys how to paint,one went to a hobby shop,the shop owner sold him a top of the line Badger double action.He couldn't use it to save his life.I let him try my single action,he said:'Why the heck did he talk me into this?" and went out and bought a single action.Unless you're using it for actual shading where the control is needed,a double is harder to use,and harder to clean..
I agree 100%. I also have a Badger single-action, external mix and a Badger dual action internal mix. I never use the dual action. The single-action is what I use to paint rolling stock, track, etc. As you point out, all most of us need is a simple, small spraygun. The single-action works great with a variety of paints, it's simple, easy to clean and cheap. John C.
Thanks for all the tips and feedback gang. I'm back in business now, putting a 40% off coupon at Hobby Lobby to good use!
I've used both and I have tons more control with a double action. After getting used to a double action, I can't see going back. I can control how wet or dry I apply the paint without having to mix a new batch. I can fade, I can touch up a small area with out worrying about it bleeding or blowing over other area's and affecting the color. A single action is fine if you are just shooting a single color, which most people are doing but if you want to weather grilles on a diesel or paint rust streeks, it's hard to get a single action brush down to a fine enough pattern.
Tony,I don't see what the difference is between a single or a double as far as how wet or dry you apply the paint.Any airbrush is adjustable as to how much paint it applies,I mix my paint the same way for every job I do.If I want a lighter/heavier coat,I just regulate the speed at which I shoot the area.And as for streaking/weathering/shading/ETC,I agree 100%,you want a double action for that,but for straight painting[which is what 99.9% of modelers use it for] a single is all that's needed.Why use a tool that needs twice as much maintenance,costs twice as much,and is far more difficult to clean and use? There's no need to "get used to" a single action,you just set your flow,and push the button.Also,if you really do stink at using an airbrush,a single can be set to deliver a minimum amount of paint,and then it can be used by a total amateur to do decent weathering,it just takes longer..If somebody uses a double,I understand that,but I just don't understand why everybody recommends them.Most non experienced painters can't even make one work.
It's pretty simple really.... A double action can be set up to act as a single action should you want it too. There is no way a single action can do some of the things a double action can do. Buy one brush, adjust it for you needs. Not buy a single action, find out you need more control then have to go out and buy a second brush. The difference in price between a decent single action and decent double action is not really that big, about $20-30 bucks depending on the model. Just today I had a customer come in the shop with a Badger 250 that was trying to paint camoflage on a 1/48 model. He was complaining that he couldn't get a fine enough pattern to free hand the edge of the cammo. He wanted a fade that was equivelant to the width of a full size airbrush in 1/48, about 1/8" to 3/16" pattern. He tried everything he could with paint mix and pressure. He walked out with a VL today. I know a VL can go down to a 1/16" line so 1/8" to 3/16" was easy. BTW - Dave bought an Iwata and is glad he did. I just got an e-mail about how smooth it feels and how tight the pattern is. Having a gun with a nice tight pattern also makes for less masking. If you have enough control of the paint, you can free hand a lot of things you might have masked before such as weathering trucks without getting overspray on the sills.
Have to agree with Lou. I can adjust my single action ( by air pressure and flow) to spray such a fine mist (for weathering etc) it would take forever to see any real amount of paint applied. I suppose its what someone gets used to...and I find a single action a lot easier to deal with and get the hang of. I realize everyone has their own personal preference...hence...no right or wrong type of airbrush eh? :tb-wink: JMO...thnxs .
Tony,I did say that for that kind of work,you should probably get a double action,but If your customer couldn't get a fine enough line with a 250,he either didn't have the proper tip/needle on it,there are fine/medium/large tips,or there was a problem with it.I can get consistant,barely perceptable amounts of paint out of my 250,and can adjust it infinately with the needle adjustment,I can literally use it as a "fuzzy" inkpen.If you take a 150 and a 250,both equipped with the same tip/needle combination,there's no reason one should outperform the other as to paint pattern.The guy bought a VL,comparing a VL to a 250 really isn't a fair comparison anyway,the VL is probably the best airbrush you can buy. I'm not knocking doubles,as I said,I have a lovely VL that I haven't used for 5 years sitting in a drawer,I'm just saying that for the far vast majority of model painting,and modelers in general,it's just a waste of money buying a double action..
Ditto that. I totally disassemble the 'brush after every color, after every use for a complete cleaning. I use the cotton pipe cleaners you can buy at specialty tobacco stores. Lacquer thinner won't eat them! Yes, I use a paint booth, and I even bought a respirator. No more technicolor boogers!:tb-tongue:
Multiples give options Okay, so I spoil myself, I admit it! I started with a Badger 150, wa-ay back when. Eventually de-stroyed it from poor maintenance. Went out and bought an Aztec back when they were still Model Master, ran with it for years, eventually learned how to use a double-action with it. Then I bought a Tamiya Ultra-Fine - same thing as the Iwata double-action. AND bought a NEW Badger 150 Single-action. NOW I've got my brace of guns, and I'm like Rambo in the spray booth, and it's the classic "cold, dead hands" attitude! The Badger is solid, full-bore, covers ANYTHING for large jobs; I can shoot a big 1/72-scale B-52 with primer in minutes, or drag the compressor and hose over to the layout and shoot water-base ground cover paint as fast as I can refill the big bottle. She'll clean up easily, I can pull the needle - CAREFULLY! Do NOT Bend that point! - and wipe it down with alcohol or mineral spirits, and be ready to shoot the next color as soon as my first coat is set enough to handle it. The Tamiya/Iwata is beautiful, it gives me fine control to the point where, after a LOT of practice, with the right paint mix, I can actually sign my name as if it were a fountain pen. It's a different kind of strokes from a pen, but it gives the same results - and I was NEVER able to do that with a single-action! Or I can drop a pin-stripe on an HO engine (too chicken to try it on an N-scale, yet!) and only need masking tape on ONE side - IF I lay off the coffee/Mt. Dew that day! Free-form color shapes are no problem. Weathering - get outta the way, I have a rust patch to lay down. We need more dirt and grime to put in here. And that's my story, and I'm sticking to it.
I use pipe cleaners as well. The only problem is that you have to make sure all of the "fuzzies" are removed from the pathways. If not, paint will collect on them on the inside and cause a blockage.
Yes, I've gotta say after shooting w/ my 30 year old Binks Raven forever, my new Iwata shoots like a dream! Wonderful control, spray pattern, and really easy to clean. I figured the extra $ was worth it considering this is a once in a 30-year or so purchase , and so far I'm glad I did. Plus it's my birthday so I decided to treat myself . And it's so well engineered, feels and looks great. I can't speak to the single vs. double action, as all I've ever painted with is double action...
Dave: Which Iwata model did you buy? I have an Iwata Revolution DA model CR gravity feed on order. The sales lady at WestCoast airbrushes recommended that since I have an old WR Brown air compressor that delivers a steady 30 psi
I use this Iwata and am very happy with it. IWATA-MEDEA Medea Airbrush Products It is a fixed dual action brush. I had to go with it as I am "pointy finger challenged" do to a wood working accident. I am able to do everything I want with it. Painting rails, locos, none railroad model painting, etc with fine lines is easy. I would imagine any Iwata is a nice purchase based on researching what really fits your requirements.
That is the exact same Iwata model that I have and I love it! I highly recommend this unit to anyone. I bought it because as you stated, it is a fixed dual action spray brush that does a wonderful job and easy to use.
Iwata Revolution I like what I've read about the Iwata Revolution. I'm thinking about getting both the CR and the BCR, as sometimes I have larger areas to cover and would like the convenience of a bottle-feed. I'm checking prices right now, but so far, Dick Blick Art Supplies seems to be the best price. Any comments or suggestions? david
