I mainly stick to my Paasches as they have never let me down. My H has been with me for over 20 years and works as good as ever.[;)]
The Badger 360 I got is pretty good so far.
When I began modeling I started with the Badger 200 and later collected several airbrushes in search of the perfect airbrush. These include (in order): Paasche-H, Badger 150, Badger 155 Anthem, Aztek 1000S, 3000S, A470, Paasche VL, Badger 100LG. In 2000 I discovered the Iwata Eclipse HP-BCS. I was soo impressed with it I sold and donated all but the Paasche-H. It’s reliability, durability, consistancey and ease of use would have constituted a sin if I got rid of it. I currently use the Iwata Revolution HP-CR for general work and the Eclipse HP-CS for fine-line and small detail. I prefer gravity-feed airbrushes because less paint is needed and /or/ wasted, use less air pressure for use and the permanently attached color cup is rediculously easy to clean. The atomization, paint flow and control I have of thinned enamel paint is superb. Could it get any better than this? Well maybe; if Testors ever figures out how to make a comparable acrylic paint line of the same calibre of Gunze or Tamiya…then I’d finally be able to break out in song singing “The Sound Of Music” in a dress and high heel shoes dancing around in my local hobby shop! HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
I have a Paasche VL…only airbrush I have ever had…I have all the various needles and nozzles but have only used it…TWICE EVER and its let me see…almost 8 yrs old. Decent airbrush or not?
Chris
I started with a Badger spray gun made out of the light blue plastic until I had enough money to get a Badger 200. I used it like a spray gun which was fine, but I always hated cleaning it. Upon coming back to the hobby I asked about what airbrush would be easier to clean. The Aztek 470 was recommended to me, which I used without problems until last year. The internal seal broke, but Testors was very good sending a replacement. I started to do free hand camoflague with the airbrush instead of depending on masking during this time. Also, I started using Lifecolour acrylics and the inside of the needle assembly of my tips started to get gummed up. I could not even unclog some of the nozzles after soaking for weeks in lacquer thinner. I accidentally pulled the needle out of the tip of a nozzle and it was full of residue around the spring. But these nozzles are not designed to be disassembled and doing so will destroy them. I don’t have problems with the feel of the Aztek and one thing I like about it is the side feed which lets use it as either a siphon or gravity feed brush. In a bit of irony, I got the Aztek because of its ease of cleaning and now am going to replace it because the nozzles are getting gummed up. The other reason that I’m moving away is that it’s difficult to spray fine lines using acrylic paint with the Aztek nozzles without it getting clogged.
During this time I started using my Badger 200 again. I bought a second one used, so I don’t have to keep changing tips from medium to fine. I’m looking for a replacement for a number of reasons. I prefer a double action brush. The Badger 200 is difficult to clean requiring disassembly where you can lose that teflon washer so easily. Changing heads from normal work to fine line work is not convinient. There’s also a tendency to spill paint from the color cup with the bottom feed Badger 200 when doing fine line spraying.
I’m looking to getting either an Iwata Eclipse side feed or Badger Anthem or 360. What attracts me to these brushes are the heads which don’t need to be changed for fine to heavy spraying.
Alright Greg, you are starting to scare me now. [:O]
Stop breathing those Isocyanates when you airbrush, they are affecting your ability to use good judgement. [;)][:p]
Mike
I’ve used Thayer-Chandler, Paasche, Iwata, Badger and Devilbis. all good but I still like the Plain old badger-I’ve got 2 now-top feed for fine stuff and a side feed with detachable cup for big jobs. Don’t forget a good pressure regulator and moisture trap.