Greetings, all. I have gotten back into modeling after a 50 year hiatus. I’m old school and have been using rattle cans but I found the finishes on 1/72 scale airplanes to be a bit rough. Now that I am using my 50 year old Badger 150 airbrush again, I’m stuck on returning back to do airbrushing! At this time, my Badger airbrush works great but I constantly have to re-supply with the air-in-a-can approach. Therefore, I’m looking for advice on a decent air brush set with compressor. My current Badger has the paint bottle attached to the bottom. I see that many new brushes have the paint pot on top of the brush. Which do you guys like better? Top or Bottom? Badger? Other brands? I’ve seen a relatively good set on Amazon (with compressor) for about $70 ( Amazon.com: Gocheer Airbrush Kit with Air Compressor, 40 48 PSI High Pressure Air Brush Non-Clogging with 0.2/0.3/0.5mm Nozzle/Cleaning Sets, Ideal for Painting, Modeling, Cake Decor, Makeup (Black, 40 PSI) : Arts, Crafts & Sewing
I suggest looking into CO2. I switched over 30 years ago and have been very pleased. No noise and zero moisture.
Welcome Back Jerry!
I’ve been using a Gravity Feed airbrush (cup on the top) for 20+ years and wouldn’t change.
When teaching Airbrush 101, we would always tell our students to stay away from Canned Air. Total waste of money! Just about any compressor will suffice, as long as you can regulate the air pressure and there’s some sort of moisture trap system to prevent water from getting into the airflow.
The Gaahleri TurboX compressor and airbrush combo has been getting really good reviews for those on a budget. Might be something to look nto.
Thanks for the info! I used the canned air when I was in high school (I’m 68 now) and it’s hard to change. But, after using my air brush again, I’m convinced I need to upgrade and ditched the canned air. Appreciate the feedback.
Definitely get a compressor and a gravity feed airbrush. As stated by veedubb, make sure you have a moisture trap and pressure regulator on your setup. Just for giggles, my setup has a moisture trap and an inline moisture separator. The inline separator is not a must have but not bad to have if you are in a high humidity area.
Doug
A compressor makes a big difference,mine just went bad and I got this one last month.I use an Iwata Eclipse BS
I have a Paasche VL and an Iwata Neo. I like the Paasche VL, it’s a workhorse, but it’s a siphon-fed brush. I agree with those who recommend a gravity-fed brush: the VL’s cup gets in my way. It dresses left or right, and I can’t quite hold the brush comfortably because of it. The Neo is gravity-fed and the cup is out of the way.
As far as a compressor goes, I got one that I use for my airbrush but also for tools in the garage. It’s a Craftsman 1.5 hp, 125 psi compressor with a horizontal tank:
If I had to get another one, I would get one just for airbrushing, probably one of the Iwata models that allows hookups for 2 brushes and is as quiet as a refrigerator compressor.
I use a Silent-Air TC30. A bit on the pricey side, but IMO, well worth it. Since I work in my Hobby Room, I value silence or quietness.
When it comes to airbrushes, I use several different brands. I use a bottom feed for big jobs and a top feed and side feed for most everything else. While I generally like the higher end Iwata airbrushes. I’ve found some Badgers and Paasches that do a really good job at a lesser price point.