Did I just waste $$$$$

Tools, Techniques, and Reference Materials Painting and airbrushing
1

After years of whining and complaining about my dinky little canned air cartridges that I use for my Airbrush, I finally took the plunge and bought a
Scorpion COmpressor.

Without too much fuss I have been able to do large scale painting, but when it comes down to camoflage or the like I get spattery overspray all over the border instead of a nice fuzzy line.

From reading the forums I understand this is too much air pressure, but…alas…I have no clue how to adjust this.

I think the Scorpion is set to 40psi per the manual.

Did I just blow $140? Is this fixable?

My F-105 looks like it got hit with taggers.[:(]

2

Nah, just go to Wal-Mart and get yourself a regulator with a water trap. It shouldn’t cost more than about 20 bucks and will do you right. Set your pressure about 15 psi to paint cammo, play with your thinning mixture and pressure to get the paint where you want it.

3

Ditto what Madda said and also realize all airbrushes cannot do fine work. I have hefty and ultrafine Badgers in my arsenal.

Dan

4

A regulator.

Okay sounds do-able.

I have a Paasche Double action (I find myself wishing I had gone for a simpler single action) soI’ll play around with it.

Also its not so much that I want to do fine thin lines, its just that I dont want one color to splatter over onto the other.

For instance on the F-105 Im working on, the cammo tones keep splotching over onto the light grey underbelly where the two colors merge.

5

Don’t forget the moisture trap.

You may want to use some paper masks to reduce overspray-that stuff goes everywhere.
And of course, practice, practice and practice. I’ve still practicing after 30 years.

6

40 psi is about 5 times too much pressure. I painted this F-105:

at about 8 psi. Low pressure, thin paint, close to the surface, and lots and lots of practice fixing mistakes that I make.

7

I usually go at 15-20 psi, and really fine lines appear with proper thinning.

8

I usually go at 15-20 psi, and really fine lines appear with proper thinning.

9

Some of the auto shut-off compressors lose their auto shut-off capability when you put on a regulator. I am not sure about the Scorpion though.

Mike

10

I have ascorpion compressor with the auto shutoff… the shutoff is on the water trap that came with the compressor… I just put my regulator/water trap onto the existing assembly and the auto shutoff was not affected… just be sure to install the regulator past the auto shutoff valve and it won’t be a problem…

and by the way I think the scorpion air compressor is good choice… been using mine about 2-3 years now…

11

I have not had a chance to pick up a regulator yet, but a appreciate the little photo of how you have your scorpion set up.

It’ll be helpful when Im trying to insert Tab A into Slot B.[:D]

Nice ‘Thud’ pic BTW. Gives me the incentive to go out and try try ( and try some more) again.

12

[:0][:0] Good god Scott…that is awesome work !!!