I got your name from Armor forum.
I got couple of question, I got a Badger SOTAR and 150.
SOTAR can do fine line but sometime it get stuck and no paint come out, is the paint dry too fast in the air brush?
my 150 some time spit out thinner rather than paint, it is like the paint and thinner were seperated in the airbrush. or the water?
thanks,
here is my models web site, most are 1/15 or 1/16
http://mysite.verizon.net/vzeochp7/id6.html
http://mysite.verizon.net/vzeochp7/id37.html
tomzag,
What paint are you using and which needle/tip is in the Sotar?
In regards to the Badger 150, I don’t understand why it would do that. [%-)]
What paints and thinners are you using with it?
By the way, I looked at your armour models and must say that you do excellent work!
Very impressive.
Mike
I have been using Tamiya Acrylic and sometime Testor Enaml.
the needle is midium.
On the 150, I use rubbing alcohol as thinner and tamiya acrylic.
thanks for your kindest words.
Tomzag,
Yes acrylics dry very quickly and that is probably what you are experiencing with the Tamiya paints. If you can find some retarder for acrylic paints it will help in that regard as it will slow down the drying time of the paint.
The Testors enamels shouldn’t dry quite as fast but that depends on the thinner.
If you are using Model Master thinner it will dry quickly because that thinner is fairly “hot” in regards to drying time. Have you tried any other thinners with both the Tamiya acrylics and the Testors enamels?
The rubbing alcohol you are using will cause the paint to dry extremely fast.
Try mixing the rubbing alcohol with some filtered water in a 50/50 mixture and use that as a thinner for the Tamiya paint.
Mike
thank you Mike,
will try to add some watter to alcohol and see what happen.
I use Gasline for enaml paint as thinner.
thanks, tom
Huh? [%-)]
You didn’t mean gasoline did you?
Mike
[:O]
Tom,
Can you imagine the potential for explosion with gas through an airbrush? [:0]
That is atomized just right for detonation just like a fuel injector.
Mike
I need an emoticon for a shudder …
Do you have a moisture trap in your air line? This might be moisture condensing in the line and causing problems.
Um. You might want to find something else. Something that doesn’t turn your airbrush into the world’s smallest flamethrower.
Unless this is a new weathering technique?
[;)]
I did mean Gasline. I found it is the best thinner for enaml paint, of course, you have to spray without somking and window fan on.
Just started using Tamiya thinner with Tamiya paints in a spray session tonight. What a world of difference. Thinned at 1:1 and blowing 20 lbs pressure…coverage was perfect and control made me as comfortable as I’ve ever been. Working on the basics for my Tiger II with winter clothes.
bud
Tomzag,
What is Gasline?
exactly what I was thinking… I was kinda speechless… definitely modeling on “the edge” there…
thats what I found bud… in fact I use Tamiya thinner for all my acrylics but Vallejo now… (they thin with a different water based thinnner, or just plain distilled water) … I swear by Tamiya thinner, and in the big 750ml bottle it goes a loooong way!
Doesn’t it attack the plastic?
I would never, ever use gasoline in anything other than an internal combustion engine…period!
Use mineral spirits for enamel paints, they are far less dangerous and were designed for enamels.
Mike
I think this emoticon may be fitting: 
This may be what he looks like if he keeps using gasoline.
[:0]
Mike
I do have moisture filter in my compressor, Thayer & Chandler Air Star V.
I would like to share a story about my SOTAR and AirStar.
I went to East coast hobby show in 2003 to help promote 1/16 RC battle tanks.
On the way out, I saw an airbrush booth. I only had Tamiya SprayWork then. I stoped and wanted to see what was good for me. The gentleman started to tell me defferent kind of air brush. He told it is all depending on what I use airbrush for.
I opened my carrying case and showed him my two RC tank,
http://mysite.verizon.net/vzeochp7/id11.html
http://mysite.verizon.net/vzeochp7/id9.html
He looked amazed and told me those were the best big tanks he ever saw.
He told me I should send some pictures to Mr. Tamiya and told me he would sell SOTAR to me for $100 and SOTAR and AirStar for $100 and all fast switch coupling and hose for free. But I have to send him some pictures.
I thought he was trying to sell me something, I told him I did not have enough money and had to come back next day if I wanted it. I asked him for a name card. IT WAS PRESIDENT OF BADGER AIRBRUSH, MR. KEN.
I got home and did some research this package was $700 value, I would only pay $200.
I went to his booth next day, he told me he was sorry because he sold the airbrush at full price for $400. he told me do not worry. He would send me one after he went back to office. also he cut another $40.
A week later, Brand new SOTAR and Thayer & Chandler Air Star.
I send him some pictures and told him SOTAR is not really good for 1/16. It took so long to spray the whole tank, then brand new 150 came to my door and full line of paint.
In the hobby show, he told me the meaning of “SOTAR”. anybody knows?
mike, i can imagine using a spark plug in a machined chamber, with an aztek as a fuel injector 
Sotar stands for, “(S)tate (O)f (T)he (A)rt (R)esults.”
Ken is a good friend of mine Tomzag. [:D]
Mike