Ok, now what?

[VonRyan]

So I got myself this here air paintbrush device ray-gun thing:

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Only problem is... I don't know a thing about it or what the heck I might still need for it... Let alone how to use the dang thing.

So, now what do I do?

[ednadolski]

So, now what do I do?

RTFM?   

[VonRyan]

RTFM?   

This here newfangled space gadget don't got none of them fancy paper book things.

[davefoxx]

There are tons of videos online with how-tos about buying and using an airbrush.  Start there.

DFF

[peteski]

It is a new-fangled airbrushy-ray-gun-thingie.    One thing I'm a bit leery about that model is that the sealed plastic nozzles cannot be taken apart for cleaning.  I like the ability of conventional (all-metal) airbrushes to be fully dissembled and cleaned.

Friend of mine used an ordinary Badger airbrush for years, then he decided to get one like you have (sold under Testors name).  He used it for a while but at this time he is back to using a conventional Badger airbrush.

[James Costello]

So, now what do I do?

Practice.

Start with water, then a bold water color. on just paper or cardboard. Get a feel for holding the brush and how the trigger works and varies both the paint and air flow. Experiment with how close to hold the brush to the surface.

Practice lots on scrap paper before a model.

Try something like drawing or masking a 2D circle and converting it to a 3D sphere via shading applied from the airbrush.

The instruction page that comes with the Aztek is pretty decent and tells you which nozzles are for acrylics or solvents. The nozzles pull apart easily for cleaning, just don't lose the needle or spring.

[wcfn100]

It appears to be the same as the Aztec A470.

Here's the manual for that.

http://testors.cust.shopatron.com/simg/177509840.pdf


Jason

[Spades]

There are tons of videos online with how-tos about buying and using an airbrush.  Start there.

DFF

Best model railroading/ life advice ever. Just take a large sampling of videos for due diligence, and try some airbrushing.  A great first try is to strip and paint a cheap (MDC ish) boxcar. Golden rule for airbrush use and care always clean the airbrush before the paint drys.

[Chris333]

Step one: flip it over.

[basementcalling]

Step one: flip it over.

+1

Step two, don't cross the streams.

[160pennsy]

You will also need an air source and hose to push whatever it is (model paint, nail polish, watercolors, goth makeup, edible cake decorating colors, fake sun tanning liquid, ...etc  ) that you're trying to spray using this Aztec.

[Philip H]

It is a new-fangled airbrushy-ray-gun-thingie.    One thing I'm a bit leery about that model is that the sealed plastic nozzles cannot be taken apart for cleaning.  I like the ability of conventional (all-metal) airbrushes to be fully dissembled and cleaned.

Friend of mine used an ordinary Badger airbrush for years, then he decided to get one like you have (sold under Testors name).  He used it for a while but at this time he is back to using a conventional Badger airbrush.

this is not actually true.  While not recommended by Testors, I have had the same Aztec for years, and you can in fact take the needles out of the nozzles and clean everything. As long as you reassemble them carefully.  They are just engineered differently then metal airbrushes. 

[chicken45]

I hope it works for you, but I did not have success with my Aztec airbush. I don't like siphon feeds, either.
You'll need to spend possibly more money on a compressor than you did for the airbrush. Those cans of propellant did not last long and will quickly add up in terms of cost.


One thing I never understood...why do they come with so many different nozzles? Is it because there's no needle?

[Philip H]

Each nozzle is for a different spray pattern - Fine, ultra fine, large area, wide flat, etc.  they all have needles that move in and out .. . .

[VonRyan]

So this thing isn't just a point and shoot...
This is why I should just stick to buying trains and not modeling implements...

Ok, so should I get rid of this thing and get something else, or is it worth keeping even though I can't afford a compressor... I only spent $15 on the airbrush thing, so I doubt I can find a compressor/tank for under $35.