Badger 150

[Guest]

I use a Badger 150 I bought this before I had any real idea of what was available. I have a couple of questions. My airbrush came with three different needles and crowns which have marked on two of them F and B, the third has no mark. Am I to assume then that these marks refer to Fine and Broad respectively. Please forgive my ignorance, but I was under the impression that it was how far I pull the trigger back and the distance from the item being sprayed that determined the size of line or area being sprayed.


Also just what does the crown cap do?


This airbrush has certain limitations in that it seems to have been designed for a glass jar to attach to it in order to provide a reservoir for the paint however, it also came supplied with a small colour cup but it is almost impossible to prevent paint from spilling out as you get involved in spraying you model items!


Think I may need to invest in a new one after xmas!

[Guest]

Not quite.


An airbush (internal mix, with gravity feed, although some side feeds work similar) works by having antapered needle fitting within a nozzle. When you press the trigger on a double action, you apply air pressure, and when pulling back, you alter the hole size in laymans terms respective to how far you pull back.


That in itself doesnt alter how wide the spray pattern is, that is primarilly controlled by how CLOSE you are to the object being painted.


So lets say you have a .2 needle and tip, and you apply half trigger pull and have the tip 10cms away. Lets say that produces a 2mm line. If you pull all the way back, it doesnt increase the size or width of the line, only applies MORE paint, which isnt what you want.


Leaving the trigger at half pull back, but moving 20cms away from the object, you have now produced a line 4cms wide (this is an example and not realistic sizes!)


This is because the airbrush produces a CONE of paint spray from the tip, starting very tiny right at the tip.


The further you pull away from the object, the bigger the cone gets, and in relation to that you can adjust the amount of paint needed by pulling back further.


Hopfully, the diagram below will show that.

[Guest]

Ypur crown cap can be either solid round, or a crown shape, and anything between,


Its primary role is to prevent you smacking the needle tip against things, damaging the very delicate tip and ruining the airbrush operation.


Solid caps mean that to get very fine lines, you must remove it, exposing the tip in order to get very close to the work surface without the air splattering the paint,


Crown caps eliminate that need, by allowing the air to escape when very close to the work surface, and still giving protection for the needle tip.

[Guest]

Not quite.
An airbush (internal mix, with gravity feed, although some side feeds work similar) works by having antapered needle fitting within a nozzle. When you press the trigger on a double action, you apply air pressure, and when pulling back, you alter the hole size in laymans terms respective to how far you pull back.


That in itself doesnt alter how wide the spray pattern is, that is primarilly controlled by how CLOSE you are to the object being painted.


So lets say you have a .2 needle and tip, and you apply half trigger pull and have the tip 10cms away. Lets say that produces a 2mm line. If you pull all the way back, it doesnt increase the size or width of the line, only applies MORE paint, which isnt what you want.


Leaving the trigger at half pull back, but moving 20cms away from the object, you have now produced a line 4cms wide (this is an example and not realistic sizes!)


This is because the airbrush produces a CONE of paint spray from the tip, starting very tiny right at the tip.


The further you pull away from the object, the bigger the cone gets, and in relation to that you can adjust the amount of paint needed by pulling back further.


Hopfully, the diagram below will show that.


[ATTACH]138190[/ATTACH]

Thank Dave, in laymens terms then does the needle size control the cone size so to speak!

[Guest]

That is somewhat true, a bigger needle and tip will create a bigger spray pattern, but also a bigger fine line. IE: a .2 combo can do say a .2mm fine line, but a .5 combo will struggle to create the same fine line. It will be bigger inherantly because of the size of the hole. Remember, the bigger the size, the more paint it will tend to use for the same airpressure and trigger position.


For instance, thinned paint, inks and model air can be sprayed easily through a .2 needle tip config to do tight lines, and fine work.


However the same paint can be used in A .4 or bigger needle tip combo to create a bigger fan and more coverage.


Thicker paints, dont necessarily spray well through a .2 setup, and need thinning to spray properly. However, they may spray better with a larger needle tip combo without thinning.


For the most part, most will say a .35 or .4 (depending on make of airbrush) needle is a happy medium, giving good tight lines, but able to give good coverage as well.


As for the type of airbrush, its all swings and roundabouts. Everyone has their preference, and they all have their benefits and downfalls.


Suction types can hold incredible amounts of paint, enough to paint a 1:12 car body three times over! Also, having multiple bottles means ypu can have paint colours ready to go.


Gravity fed types have a light feel, easy to drop just a tiny amount in, and it will work fine, (suction types sometimes need a minimum paint amount to work,)


If you like the badger and its working fine, id keep it, as theyre a good quality airbrush.

[Guest]

I'd agree with Dave, keep the Badger, it's an excellent airbrush. That was my 1st dual action & I'd be using it now if I hadn't lost it!


There's really no reason to be spilling paint from the cup. When you need to get into nooks & crannies, move the model, not the airbrush!


If you think you'll need more paint than the cup holds, mix the paint up in a container (plastic vodka shot cups are what I use) & fill the AB paint cup as you go along.


Like any tool, only one thing makes you better at using it - practice practice practice!!

[Guest]

I still use the 150, great brush.


Can draw excellent fine lines and is also great for larger work.


As Patrick says don't put too much paint in the cup.


Yeah you could get a different brush but you will have to get used to that.


Stick with the 150 and practice and you will never need to get another brush.


And KEEP IT CLEAN.


Ralph.

[Guest]

Thank you all so much, I never thought about mixing more paint in a separate pot then adding this to the colour cup, ive been adding paint then mixing thinner as I go so tended to fill the colour cup to high rather than add a small amount each time.


To be honest I have had no problems with the Badger 150 other than what I mentioned regarding spilling paint from the cup.


I always clean my AB thoroughly after use too.

[stona]

Be careful spraying from too great a distance. This can cause problems with the paint finish, particularly if you use acrylic paints which can start to dry in the air before they reach the model surface, giving an unpleasant and unwanted grainy finish.


For most model painting a needle/nozzle size of around 0.3 mm works well. I'm not sure which of the Badger sizes that equates to.


Cheers


Steve

[Gern]

Be careful spraying from too great a distance. This can cause problems with the paint finish, particularly if you use acrylic paints which can start to dry in the air before they reach the model surface, giving an unpleasant and unwanted grainy finish.
For most model painting a needle/nozzle size of around 0.3 mm works well. I'm not sure which of the Badger sizes that equates to.


Cheers


Steve

Maybe not recommended but wouldn't that slightly grainy effect be just what you need for rough surfaces such as tank armour or WWII cast iron bombs?

[stona]

I don't think it would be in scale and probably won't stick properly to the model. I've only ever seen it first hand when I deliberately tried to create the effect and I didn't much like it


Cheers


Steve