Ok, I just got a “Neo for Iwata, gravity feed airbrush” home. I had to drive an extra 15 miles because the closest Hobby Lobby has sold the gravity feed one. Apparently, each store gets only one sample of each, one gravity and one siphon, in the first shipment. I will report on my first impression in a few days after I take it out for a spray. And check on parts compatibility with Iwata needles.
The good news:
It is a 0.35 mm nozzle airbrush, ideal size for modeling.
The cup design is excellent for paint flow and cleaning. (It does not have the recess that Don Wheeler reported on the Master G-22.) This is the most important factor in choosing a budget airbrush.
The trigger is not stiff or loose. It is ok.
The connector is Iwata standard.
Two interchangable cups at 1/3 and 1/16 oz. (Holds 1/32 oz paint with no cup.)
5 years warranty.
The not-so-good news:
It is “Assembled in China from Components of Taiwan”.
The trigger does not have the smooth feel of the high end Iwata or H&R.
I paid $36 plus tax. It is 1/3 of the Iwata Eclipse and 1/2 of the Badger Patriot. From the cup design and trigger action that I quote above, we may finally get a budget airbrush that is good enough for any modeler.
Replacement parts will be plentyful and easy to get. Any Iwata knock-off needle from “FengHua BiDa machine Manufacture” or similar should work.
The needle is plated and has a reasonably long taper.
The really bad bad news:
The needle has the same diameter as the made-in-China Iwata knock-off needle, 1.18 mm or 0.465". No chance of using made-in-Japan Iwata parts.
Look closely at the needle, I found signs of not-so-springy steel is used. A trade mark of “made-in-China” knock-off.
I still give Medea-Iwata the credit for improving the cup shape and trigger finish. They are important improvement over the current crop of knock-offs. I also expect the performance to be good when new. (I have to test it yet.) But they made a business decision to make Neo non-compatible of the main line Iwata.
At this point, I will have to say that a genius Iwata Revolution HP-CR is a better deal for the serious modeler. Or for another US$30 more, get the Eclipse HP-CS with a easier to clean self-centering nozzle. The Neo for Iwata may still be an option for those with very limited resources. (A high school student managing the allowance from parents.)
Until end of November, the Harbor Freight 1/5 HP airbrush compressor can be had for $70 using their discount coupon in the flyer. Coupled with the Neo, you can have a decent starter airbrush system for about $110. Not a bad deal.