Aerograf FA-186AK typ 7790 0.2 mm, 0.3 mm, 0.5 mm

Fine Art FA-186AK airbrush type 7790 (0.2 / 0.3 / 0.5 mm)

A modeling airbrush from the Polish manufacturer Fine Art. It is a double-action airbrush with gravity feed, so the paint is poured into the cup on top. One trigger controls the air and the amount of paint separately, so you change the width of the line and the density while you work. The key feature of the package: it contains three nozzle and needle sizes, 0.2 mm, 0.3 mm and 0.5 mm, together with interchangeable cups, a wrench, an air filter and a quick coupling. So there is no need to buy another airbrush when you take on a different kind of work.

What each nozzle can do

• 0.2 mm, fine. Thin lines, misting, soft camouflage transitions, shading figures. It does call for thinner paint, clogs more easily and covers a large area slowly.
• 0.3 mm, the all-round middle. The most used size, it handles most ordinary modeling work from base coats to camouflage.
• 0.5 mm, coarse. Large areas, primers, clear coats and thicker paints. It lets more paint through and clogs less, but it is not suited to fine lines.

What else you need

An airbrush on its own is not the whole setup. To use it you need a compressor, ideally with a tank and pressure regulation. A compressor is not included in the package and has to be obtained separately; without it the airbrush cannot spray. Allow also for a thinner for the paint range you use and for an airbrush cleaner.

Maintenance and service life

Clean the airbrush immediately after use; dried paint in the nozzle and on the needle is by far the most common cause of spraying trouble. The needle is the most sensitive part: a bent tip means the end of an accurate line. Always pull it out backwards, never forwards through the nozzle. When spraying lacquer paints, work in a well ventilated space and use a respirator, not just a dust mask.

Who it is for

• Modelers who want one tool to cover the whole range of work, from a figure to a tank hull
• More advanced beginners moving from brushes and rattle cans to an airbrush
• Users outside modeling: illustration, custom paintwork, decoration

A compressor, hose adapters beyond the quick coupling supplied, paints and thinners are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise. When working with solvent-based paints, ventilate the room and protect your airways.