HG AIRBRUSH NOZZLE (0.3MM)

The smallest component the whole spray rests on

The nozzle decides how narrow a line the airbrush can lay down. A diameter of three tenths of a millimeter is the classic all-round size: fine enough for the thin lines of preshading and for small camouflage blotches, and at the same time large enough to let thicker paint through without clogging permanently. Nothing, though, is as hard on a nozzle as careless cleaning. It is enough to bend its rim with a wire, to leave dried acrylic on it or to tighten the needle too hard, and the line sprays out to the sides.

What you get

This is a single piece of replacement nozzle for the airbrushes of the higher range from the same manufacturer, specifically for the models listed in the manufacturer's catalog under numbers from the seventy-four series. The package does not contain a needle, a nozzle cap or a seal; it is purely the part itself. It pays to buy it in advance as a spare, because a cracked nozzle puts an airbrush out of action in the middle of a job, and tracking one down at the last moment tends to take time.

When to change the nozzle and how to handle it

A change is called for as soon as the airbrush starts spraying unevenly, as soon as the line splits in two, or when a drop appears that repeatedly falls onto the model. When fitting it, the nozzle is tightened only gently, with a key or with your fingers, never by force — the thread is fine and overtightening ruins it. After every painting session it is advisable to flush the airbrush with thinner and to let the nozzle soak, rather than digging dried paint out of it. A nozzle that is looked after will last for years; a damaged one cannot be put right by even the best paint.