Opinion on Azteks

Tools, Techniques, and Reference Materials Painting and airbrushing
21

Chap, I think you are a very wise guy

22

My response is unfair because I’ve never owned an Aztek or a Paasche and my perception them is based solely on the information I’ve seen on this forum. However if I had to choose between those two, and could only pick one of those two, I’d go with the Paasche because of their excellent reputation. If I could pick something different in the same price range I’d go with another Badger because I know what they are like.

23

Yeah, im serious. All i need is email… email me i_r_rule@hotmail.com or quake36@hotmail.com… i_r_rule more so than quake36. However, there are 4 conditions

  1. You need to supply your own bottle/gravity feed’s.

  2. You need to supply your own nozzles

  3. You need to supply your own airsource

  4. shipping.

However, I have calculated that even after all these conditions, its still under $20 canadian. It’s a decent airbrush, but you may/may not need to send it back to aztek, since the trigger is broken. Thats only a 2 month delay.

Thanks, 1337

24

Allright, first off I want to say sorry about the thinner eating away at plastic thing. I had no clue that Aztek plastic was engineered to resist acids.[D)] I still think that the Aztek is on the bottom of the Airbrush chain though (Sorry, not to offend aztek users). I have noticed that everyone says that a type of AB is good, but words can only go so far to tell somebody how good it actually is. I decided to do some drawings with my new Iwata hp-cs as a comparitive between my Aztek 4308. My goal was to push the limits of each AB and see how it comes out. After doing my Iwata’s drawing I went to do one for my Aztek and found out that the nozzle just broke on me, so there will never be a comparitive drawing. All I can do is just show you what the Iwata hp-cs can do. Here’s the limits of the hp-cs.[:D]

The face is any old face I made up, but it shows the shading capabilities of the Iwata hp-cs.

The small line where the arrow is isn’t a hair that got in the scanner. Thats a very fine line.[:D]

When I went to spray with the Iwata for the first time I got a precision flow of air (bear with me, this is hard to explain) that was way better than the Aztek. After just getting my new Iwata I’ve only sprayed about an hour in total on it and I’m allready spoiled. When I went back to my Aztek I felt the air in my hands and it felt like a cheap plug in fan was blowing air at irregular intervuals (now this wont be the case with a new Aztek, just one really bad nozzle in nead of replacement). I didn’t bother cleaning my Aztek too well after its last use because I knew I was getting something better. But I could even tell in the difference between airflow how precise Iwata is. My [2c]

25

Nice job ArmorMaster[bow] Does the capability of the Cs and BS the same coz am planning to get one for small amount painting for detailing?

26

Thanks sigman, but I don’t have the Iwata bs, just the hp-cs so I don’t know if they are the same. All I can say is I like my new Iwat hp-cs and I wouldn’t give it up for anything![swg]

27

Ryan,

Just for comparison purposes this picture was painted with an Aztek by a very talented artist named Paul Corfield:

I am no fan of the Aztek by any means but it just goes to show that any airbrush can be made to paint practically anything with practice. [;)]

Mike

28

MikeV, Airbrushing is like golf. As the saying goes, “Its the Indian and not the Arrow”, but having a better equipment is a plus.[:-^]

29

Yes MikeV, I’ve seen that picture somewhere in the ABing forums a while ago. Your absolutly right, by any means that picture is awsome for any medium of paint or equipment. But I can imagine there was a little bit of stencil work involved in that. But I’m not going to set aside the reality that it’s an awsome painting![8D]

30

Hey MikeV, which Ryan? (I am also Ryan)

I like aztek… for 15 minutes after i bought one!!! (Except my 220, which I sold for 10 bucks). I have used the side feed badger 100, and compared to the aztek, its like god.

however i prefer iwata. I have handled the revolution cr, and the hp-c. I like them both. even more so than the badger. they dont sputter, skip, flood the area with paint, and are not too light, just heavy enough but not too heavy. My hand getsl ess tired than when using the aztek with the “ergonomic design”. some day i think i should get the trigger type tamiya.

31

After reading all this,I would say that the best air brush is what you are more comfortible
with.As for me my aztec does what I want it to do and with out any problems.Lucein if I was you I would go to your lhs and ask those who model,what they like.Also have them show you the pros and cons of these brushes,even if they could arrange a demostration of the product.Then ask what kind of serivice they have for brake downs and if they will stand behind there product that they are selling.This is what I did,this is why I got a aztec,due to most of my lhs used them and had no problems with them.Digger
p.s.Armormodel you need to calm down before you blow a fuse.I can understand where you are coming from but still people need to choose for themselfves.It does not help to post 3 topics in order to get someone to side with you.It does help to post your views in a logical manner and leave it at that.

32

I was answering ArmorMaster as I was not aware your name was the same . [;)]

Diggeraone is correct when he says, "After reading all this,I would say that the best air brush is what you are more comfortible with. "

There is not a “best airbrush” out there. there are only the best choices for your particular tastes.
Badger, Thayer & Chandler, Iwata, Paasche and Aztek are all good enough to perform anything that you will ever need painted, but some people prefer one brand over another.
I personally think that Azteks have too many problems overall in comparison to traditional airbrushes and for that reason I would not recommend them, although some people love them. The design that has been used on traditional airbrushes has been working well for a long, long time so why fix it if it isn’t broken? [:D][;)]

Mike

33

Ok for the record my name’s ArmorMASTER (it’s ok digger I’m not mad[8D]) because my name’s been mutilated a little bit (check out the D-day GB![B)]). I’m sorry I appear to be a little angry at Azteks. I just wanted to know if what happened to me with my Aztek story happened with other people and I was trying to figure out if Azteks breaking down was normal. I may have taken it over the line a little, but I’m sorry for doing that.

34

Aztek airbrushes, other than their interesting design, do not impress me. Something about a plastic airbrush makes me want to put it down and find something better to spray with.

Using more reliable and better designed airbrushing equipment gives a modeler better odds of achieving a decent and consistent paint session.

35

Avoid these like the plague. For the money, the Iwata line is the very best and, in particular for modelers, the Eclipse can not be beat.

Mike

36

Wow. Reading all this since I last posted, I think I’ve learned a few important things-

-Get an airbrush that suits your needs. (Duh! [D)] )
-Azteks aren’t necessarily bad airbrushes, just fragile.
-One name I’m hearing a lot is Itawa.

Partally because I don’t fully trust my abilities yet and would like someting a little robust (see second reason above), and partially because I might be looking at something else, me getting your airbrush, though not completly out of the question, is not looking good. Whatever I end up deciding, thanks extremely for the offer. Either way, I’ll let you know- just don’t hold your breath!

[:I] [sigh]

37

Oh yeah, one more thing. In the midst of all this crazyness, let me throw out another name-

Paasche VL.

Anything about that… ?

38

i like the paasche VL, tho not as much as the badger 100 sidefeed. and i like the 100 a lot. tho not as much as an iwata.’

the reason for the above is because…

  1. You need to supply your own bottle/gravity feed’s. reason: too big and bulky to ship efficently, if needed i can/will send them

  2. You need to supply your own nozzles: they get broken somewhat easily, even tho mine have lasted long enough, the needle parts are bent, and its clogged so its easier just to get new ones

  3. You need to supply your own airsource: obvious reasons

  4. shipping. see above reasons 1,2

yeah thats about it, its good to train on, practice.

39

1.Sorry to armormaster I did not mean to offend you with armormodel,that was my mistake.I appoloizes for that.
2.For lucein one more piece of advise.When you buy your air brush make sure that replacement parts are advalible at your local hobby shop and if order,how fast they can get it in for you.This should play an important part in any decision on buying that you make.This list in replacement parts should include needles,nozzels,hoses,compresser
parts and filters for compressors.Depending on were you live and how much air brushing you will do,a mosture trap my be needed for your compressor and the type of
needle need for a pencil type air brush.Sand paper for the needle type to clean the needles.Also fine scale modeler in there january issue had an article on buying your first air brush,this maybe very helpful to you in making your decision.Digger

40

IF anyone wants, i can provide them with scans from that… what you do with it is your matter. seriously, its copyrighted and all, so i am not sure if i am allowed to do that, if i am then i might. if not, knowledge will always find a way [;)]