As many of our followers know, I have been using Aztek Airbrushes since the late 90’s when I first acquired a humble A4709 set. Since then, I started to use the airbrush with excellent results. Even with the versatility of the nozzle exchange, I had to acquire more of the resin bodies sold directly thru Testors. No more than 4 years ago, I acquired the Ultimate Aztek Airbrush set. That’s the A-470 with a metal body.
Did I mention I plugin the system all around social media and related community forums? Especially when people trash the system and 98% of the work showcased here has been done with an Aztek airbrush? I mean, if I can do it, they can too.
Now, let’s cut to the chase. Since Rust-Oleum took over Testors, it is evident that the line has suffered as a result and with those shortcomings, the modeling community; especially my fellow friends in the model railroad segment. We lost the Polly Scale paint line. Although some have been added to the Acryl line, there is no question that the Polly formulation was better than the Acryl equivalent. I still own plenty of jars of PollyS and one can feel and see the difference. Now back to the Aztek airbrush: One of the resing bodies I own, was in need of being fixed. I sent it in for repair and along with it, a letter came back:
This is a brand new body and due to the number of times you have sent it in, this will be the last one we will replace for free.
Now, what happened to the LIFETIME GUARANTEE? Even my wooden cases stir bear the stickers.
I want to let this very clear. I am well aware that all good things come to an end. If they changed the policy, well. For the amount of work done with them including commisioned work, I rarely was in need of repair. This system leaves all the work to the nozzles and nozzles do wear out. I would say that I was in need of service at least every 7 to 8 months. Considering the service required was divided into 6 bodies, that is not as much as it seems. I have tried to contact the person who sent the letter whom BTW, forgot to include her last name on it. I’m so Pro-Aztek that I inquired about uploading the accompanying videos on our YouTube Channel.
Two emails and I have yet to hear from them. How much will it cost to fix my resin bodies from now on? This is not the type of airbrush that you might find an exploded view online and fix it ourselves with a bit of mechanical know-how. Michaels Stores phased out the line recently. I managed to get some nozzles dirt cheap. My local hobby shop not only phased them out too, but they also confirmed that Testors is suffering a broken knuckles syndrome. They aren’t answering emails and having a hard time to get responses from vendors. Something is obviously not right in the way Rust-Oleum is managing the model building community. They seem to be more concentrated on glittery spray colors and other crafts stuff.
Even submitted for review products here are treated as if I have purchased them with my hard earned money. With their deafening silence, the phasing out of the line from mayor dealers and local hobby shops, I will issue my buyers beware for the time being.
I’m sad to hear about all this. I bought an Aztek back in the UK around 92-ish. Idid use it a bit for uni projects and then cleaned and placed it back in it’s nifty plastic container.
Fast forward to now and I found it in a box of mine at the bottom. I’m now in the US so the fact that Aztek over here (I guess) was run buy Testors shouldn’t have been an issue. Testors have discontinued all of the Aztek line so it appears that I’m fuct.
I’m probably wrong but I thought the Aztek airbrush was a British product?
Hello Patrick,
I would love to know if Aztek was originally a British product. I don’t think it is but if you find otherwise please do let me know. My 1st hint (amongst a few others) that Aztek was going the way of the Dodo was their prices at Michael’s Craft Stores here in the USA. It is a shame indeed. Perfect they aren’t, but they weren’t as bad as some people claim they were. They were versatile tools and dozens of model kits featured here were finished with Aztek airbrushes.
Thanks for your comment Gary.
To this day, they haven’t answered my 2 previous emails I sent them. I even question the fact that the person who sent the letter along with the fixed A-470 didn’t include her last name.
I doubt they haven’t read this blog entry after spreading it on social media. I will repeat what I’ve been told by the management at local hobby shops, including one Michaels store.
”They have no idea and are not listening to the model builders crowd.”
They are leaving me no option but to believe them. One of my local hobby shop’s manager assured me that the space they have allotted for AZTEK only sold $40 in one year.
I have had my Aztec for many years. I just started airbrushing . This is the dream machine. I too am having trouble finding more tips. Lucky some Michaels art stores have a few.