Author: José Albiac

Is needed an air or compressed gas source so that any airbrush works. This source must provide us air to a constant pressure between 15 and 30 psi. The one of commonest use between modellers is a simple diaphragm compressor (Photo A),

with a cost of around $250. It can use also a greater compressor of those of car painter type, connecting with an adapter to the hose. These compressors are relatively cheap and easy to use, but they are very noisy and to fit the air pressure not always is easy. Will have to use in addition an humidity filter to contain the water condensation iriginating in the storage tank. A very small amount of water can ruin all the paint work. An alternative is the CO2 tank (Photo B).

You can obtain it in a industry gas supplier such as for hospitals and coffee shops. This in particular is used for the beer machines. of beer. It needs only a regulator to fit the exit pressure in the airbrush. The initial purchase of the tank can be something expensive (between $150 and $300 for one 10 kg tank with regulator), but soon fills up occasionally with little money ($10-$20). One fills up normally once per year, painting between 15 and 20 models. The advantages of the CO2 tank are that is very quiet and very easy to fit the pressure with the regulator, in addition to being this one very constant. The CO2 does not contain humidity, thus not necessary connect a filter to they. Another air source is the CO2 tanks of fire extinguishers. Ask in a commerce that sells them to verify what modifications would have to make to be able to use in safe form an extinguisher like air source. For the novices in airbrushing, or for who uses this apparatus very once in a while, can acquire compressed gas tins or “propeller” (Photo C)

that cost between $15 and $25. They contain sufficient gas to paint a medium model, but if you going to use followed, it becomes an expensive option.