As the topic says I am looking at buying my first airbrush. I have not put together alot of models over the last couple of years and always got buy with paint cans. I am now thinking about getting an airbrush but think I will have a hard time justifying with the wife for something I might use twice a year.
I have found online either thru ebay or direct vendors several rather inexpensive kits. Some of them claim to be all metal double action kits for less than $30 or single action for less than $20.
Anyone have any experience with any of these?
For a virgin airbrush user should I just save up for the absolute best? Or should I buy a lesser first brush and see if I even stick with modelling?
I had gone to my LHS and after explaining where my finances were was still given the hard sell on an Iwata for about 2 to 3 times what I was hoping to pay.
I understand that you get what you pay for… but I also expect that even a cheap brush would be better than hand painting details or using rattle cans.
Hey Andy, I’m sure you’ll get a bunch of advice on the best way to go, but let me throw my two cents in. I advise you give the Paasche “H” a try. They can be found for around $40 and will do just about anything and will last you forever. I would also advise you to pay a little more to start with and get a brush that you can use for a long time. If you don’t, a lot of the motor skills you develop with the cheap brush will be lost when you switch to a quality brush, they all feel different in your hand.
Andy
I have a cheap Harbor Freight knock-off of a badger single action. I paid about USD$5, and intended to us it strictly to spray metallics. I actually use it for all my “bulk” spraying needs. Its great for priming and basecoating, but it ain’t worth a busted drum for anything fine (like camo patterns).
Its better than a rattle can only in that I can spray any color I can concoct, therefore not limited to the range provided by can manufacturers. At USD$3 and up for a can of spray paint, per job price is consequently much lower.
If you plan to stick with it, a bottom-of the-line Badger would be a good starter, and would probably last longer. If you just want to see if airbrushing is for you, get one of the cheapies and try it.
For the first 5 yrs of modeling I used that little old light blue plastic Badger that sells for around $10.00. I’ve done some of my best work with it until the plastic got too brittle and it cracked apart.
I loved it, it was sooo easy to use. It did get costly in aerosol so I upgraded to the Paasche and bought an airtank.
Just my 2 cents but I’ve after moving away from the little blue badger I’ve had quite good luck with the badger 350. I think it sells for under $30. With the medium tip I can still get pretty fine lines with properly thinned paint. It’s external mix and I find it easier to clean, I have a more expensive Aztec/Testors but I find myself using the badger more frequently. Mine’s got to be over 15 years old and I think you’ll find it meets 99% of your needs.
gary
I picked up a Badger internal mix,dual action knockoff from airbrush city on ebay.
it came with the case, and its nicely build, all metal. It has some wieght behind it and a quality built feel to it.
It also came with 2 cheaper external mix single action brushes that are great for bulk painting.
I got all this for less than $40.00 and have been very happy with the results.
I’got a friend who has been into RC for years. He uses an el-cheapo airbrush and no amount of talking with him will get him to change. (He’s been thru about a 1/2 dozen of them in the 20 or so years I’ve known him). His argument is that they are cheap and they do the job he wants them to. (Took his wife several years to get him to up grade from a Commodore 64 computor to a 386 that he still uses, same argument).
Go with the cheap one for the time being. Harbor Freight has airbrushes from $5 to $49.95 (Paasche VL). You’ll find you get better overall paint schemes and being able to have a wider range of colors available to you is great. I’ve used a Binks Wren single action for years (bought it second hand) and last year my wife bought me a VL double action. Still fight the VL but that’s cause I have a tough time walking and chewing gum at the same time. Find what you like (and can afford) and stick with it.
Thanks for all the input everybody. I have a bid in on a “excellent” Paashle H on Ebay. I have my fingers crossed, current bid is at $21.00.
I have only recently returned to modelling and do not think I can justify to myself let alone my wife spending over $150 on the Iwata that the guy at LHS was trying to sell me.
Hey AK;
[2c] well I’ve had good luck with Badgers I have 3 badgers 2 200’s and 1 155 anthem(which I really like) but I still use the 200’s for final coats or primer coats and the 155 for Camo Paintings, and I got the 200’s for about $30.00 to 45.00 and the 155 on sale for about 75.00 and the 155 is a whole world different from the 200’s it cleans up easier too
That Paasche H will work just fine for you although I do think it is better to just start with a double-action airbrush as you will eventually be buying one someday anyhow. Don’t bid too high on that Paasche H as they can be bought online for about $48 brand new.
Keep us informed on what you get. [;)]
Well, I did not get the Paashe H airbrush on Ebay. But I am still looking, there is another used Paashe there, this time a VL or a Badger 155 that I am watching.
I have also contacted T3 supply who I believe is selling a badger nock-off for some technical information. I am mainly interested in if their nozzles and needles can be replaced or exchanged with any other brands.
I thought about you when I was at Badger’s web site yesterday and thought I would pass this along if you wanted a single-action airbrush.
Since you were looking at the Paasche H I thought this would be a good buy.
Badger has the Vega 600/Badger 150 hybrid for a measly $20 on their web site in the “Garage Sale” section. Here is a photo of it:
Thanks for the tip. The Vega 600/Badger 150 hybrid was sold out but they still had a single action model for $20.00 plus I am getting a complete 250-4 set for another $11.50. That set has everything else, hose, can of propel etc. So for less than $35.00 I am getting two badger airbrushes plus a hose, propel regulator and can of propel. Thank you again.
Sold out? The web site says the Vega 2000 / Badger 150 is sold out, which is a double-action model, not the Vega 600 / Badger 150 which is the one you bought for $20 I believe.
You are correct. The airbrush I ordered is a Vega 600 / Badger 150 hybrid. I was confused because it was not really identified. Thaks again for the tip.
One other note, I received back a reply from T3 Supply an Ebay vendor of inexpensive airbrushes. Thay claim that their product is compatible with badger parts. So … now maybe I can still get their $25 double action airbrush and be within my original budget.
Just because an airbrush is “compatible with a Badger” does not mean it will spray well or last. If you buy a Badger then the Badger company will take care of you, this company probably will not.
I would just save another $30 and get a good Badger like the Anthem.
But that’s up to you.
