patriot 2 (pdf) - Badger Airbrush

BADGER 105 PATRIOT41er cup on the top! The rest is thesame high quality you’d expectfrom Badger... well … the engravingis different, of course. ;-)Let’s see what the Patriot 105 hasto offer:- a patented “Easy Access” needleremoval system- a self centering nozzle- a (according to the brochure)“comfort balance system”- all parts interchangeable withthe Badger models 155, 200 and360!Sounds good – but this is just whatthe brochure says. So let’s findout how the “Patriot” performs inreal life! As usual we start with adismantling... we just love to takethings apart! ;-) And in this case itis fairly easy, you almost need notools at all. All parts are well machinedand it is put back togetherjust as easy. Really important forcleaning the airbrush! You usuallydon’t have to disassemble the airvalve but of course we couldn’t resist.Green light here, too. A verysolid construction indeed.Once put back together the funcan start – or at least we thoughtso. Most airbrushes come witha “Quick Connect” adapter thatmakes it very simple to switch betweendifferent airbrush models.Not the Badger… but fortunatelywe found an adapter in our stockof airbrush accessories. Ok, let’sget ready to ruuuumble...interesting, it also makes iteasy to grab and pull. Anddue to the opening in thegrib you don’t really have todisassemble the airbrush orremove the needle to cleanit. Either clean the needletip directly at the front, orwithdraw it that far that theneedle tip sits in the openingof the grib. This way youavoid accidentally touchingthe body and bending theneedle tip.The needle has one drawback,though – the little ballmakes it impossible to removethe needle throughthe front of the airbrush –something a lot of airbrushersdo with a self-centerednozzle airbrush as this wayyou never run into danger ofruining the needle tip. Thisis impossible with the Patriotand its ball-ended needle.For our spray-test we usedseveral different Airbrushcolors:Schmincke Aerocolor,Badger Imagine-Air andLukas Illu-Color, thinnedabout 2:1 with water. Thesolvent-proof nozzle ismarked “f” for fine (Badgerdoes not give a mm-sizebut it is around 0.4mm) andit showed a very consistentspray-pattern with little overspray.From a pencil lead thin line to a wider spraythat makes gradients and smaller backgroundsa simple task – the Badger Patriot 105 does notshow any weakness. With its 10ml paint cup it isa good working horse for the illustrator, modellerand custom-painter and a good choice if you needan all-purpose airbrush.Cleaning the airbrush was as simple as wethought. The paint cup is wide enough to wipe itout and then fill it with cleaner and, using a littlebrush, swab it and dumb it out. Finally use somemore cleaner and spray it … and done!Bottom line...The Badger 105 Patriot is no revolutionary airbrush,and it wasn’t meant to be. It is the gravityfeedversion of the popular and established Anthemand as such a nice addition to the productline. Our test model showed no weakness andwith a MSRP of US$119 its future looks prettybright. Well done, a good allrounder that will surlyfind its fans.www.badgerairbrush.comThe Patriot is a well-balanced airbrush;the double-action triggermovement is smooth and precise.It is very easy to find and hold anin-between setting to spray aneven line.If you look at the airbrush you willnotice the needle with the little ballat the end. It does not just look