Airbrush Advice - Pros & Cons

Tools, Techniques, and Reference Materials Painting and airbrushing
1

I have searched and I haven’t been able to find the pros and cons concerning different styles of airbrushes. I will be purchasing my first airbrush soon. Decided on a dual action type. I model mostly cars and the odd military model. Already have built a paint booth and purchased the compressor with a 3 gallon tank.

Which do you find better and why.

Internal mix vs external mix?

Gravity feed or bottom feed?

General purpose needle tip size? 0.3mm or 0.5mm or other

Is buying a kit with multiple needles worthwhile?

Thanks all

2

If you really want to go double action, I recommend the Badger 100G (or LG) with the medium tip.

With internal mix, you’ll generally get a finer spray than external mix.

Gravity fed lets you use less pressure for spraying plus I find them easier to clean.

I recommend a medium size needle due to the thickness of modeling paint pigments.

I really don’t see the need of multiple needles if you’re only doing modeling.

I have two airbrushes, a Paasche H and a Badger 100G. I used my Paasche H the most.

-Jesse

3

Danger - see my answer in the previous topic about compressors.

Good hunting! [;)]

4

I like airbrushing, so I have several. I highly reccomend a .15 to .21 needle for fine work, including camo application. A .30 to .35 for general paint applications. If you’re going to have one needle, get a .30. Gravity feed, IMO, is the way to go. Go for a good quality brush, e.g. the Badger Velocity, Iwata or Harder & Steenbeck. Iwata has their Revolution series that are good buys for the money. Finally, as to the AB, go with a double action. Once you get use to using the trigger, you’ll find you have much more control over the paint application.

5

I use the Wagner Power Sprayer for all of my projects. Great coverage. It takes about 57 bottles of MM enamels to fill the sucker but, hey…

6

I put some hard set glue into mine, let it set up, and now it only takes 20 bottles of MM to fill.

you should try that [;)]