I know you do need to be careful, but hey, for you Aussies out there, you may just find a bargain. I bought a brand new never used Paasche VL on Ebay, and including shipping to Australia (four days with insurance) it came to $67.86 USD, or approx $AUD93.11. This was the Paasche VL set with the airhose, three different bottles, all the needles etc. At a model shop here in Australia, the same set would have set me back over $AUD200!!! A quite substantial saving methinks. However, the POS Aztek that I have thankfully upgraded from originally set me back $AUD120 from a pawn shop, which was cheaper than the store price of over $AUD300!!! So it pays to shop around, as the Aztek was the A4709, in the wooden case, and had never been used. OK, it was a waste of money, but was a brush to learn on. I could have spent over $AUD500 on brushes, yet the two combined have cost me only $AUD213.11. Both brand new never used brushes, although the Aztek was bought here in Aus, I just figured it was worth mentioning that if you go into a pawn shop, you may find a bargain there as well.
I too got a great deal on e-bay on a Paasche ‘H’. It cost me $46.00 USD plus $6.95 in shipping. That comes out to about $70.00 CDN. The same thing here would have cost me $130.00 CDN plus tax. The only thing is I have to get it shipped to my brother in the U.S. and he brings it up for me when he visits. This way I avoid getting killed on shipping, duty, customs clearance, and taxes.
He brought it up this week ,and I am going to have a crack at airbrushing for the first time this week-end.
I don’t know what they charge for shipping but the Paasche H is only $45 new with free shipping in the U.S. from Dixie Art. The Paasche VL is $59.95.
Mike
michalanstess
I assume from your post you are in Australia. Did you have any problem with import duty?
Its just that my research is showing airbrushes are a lot cheaper in the US and especially so with the current exchange rate. I just hate the idea of getting a bargain and then being hit a fortune in duty.
Brian
Dixieart is better than Ebay when it comes to airbrushes.
I agree with you on the Dixieart. Especially on parts. I had to buy a new needle for mine. Badger wanted $35.00 for theirs!!! I got the same exact one , Badger brand from Dixie for only $18.
Cough[:(!] Cough
I bid on that and if its the one I think it is, I had it won with my bid but you snuck in under the wire and snatched it away from me.
I really needed that brush too[V]
Just kidding,
Congrates on the winning bid.
Enjoy it.
[:D]
Huh? Badger wanted $35 for a needle? You can’t be serious. [:0]
Even Iwata doesn’t charge that much. [;)]
Mike
Yes I am in Australia, as I said it cost me all up 67.86USD including postage, 93.11AUD. As far as I know, there was no customs duty, the airbrush cost me 44.51USD and it was 23.35USD for postage. Postage from Dixieart was the same, it included insurance, but I saved over 15USD on the brush, and it was here within 4 days. It may have been better to go through Dixieart, but I had a budget, and got what I wanted within my budget. For parts though, I would definitely go through Dixieart.
My apologies Iroc, but I had a sure win on another Paasche VL snatched away from me as well. I share your sorrow [:(]
Check out http://www.airbrushcity.com
Lil safer than ebay, besides they sell a lot on Ebay!
yep, 35 buckaroos for a gosh darn needle[:(!] It was either the needle or the tip, I cant remember. I bougght both at the same time. Had to, I runined both of them at once. I dropped my a/b , and the point of the needle that sticks out hit first, bending it. So, when I pulled it out, it damaged the tip opening. [censored][banghead]
Just out of curiosity, what airbrush was it for?
I have never seen a needle and tip so expensive except for a Sotar 20/20 or Iwata Micron.
Even the $18 you mentioned from Dixie is very high. [:0]
Mike
MikeV, What’s your opinion of the Sotar 20/20. I just bought one, by coincidence, off eBay. Its on its way now.
It’s a great airbrush, but not for modelling.
Paints like Model Master and others will not spray well through it.
If you are going to spray inks, urethanes or other very fine pigment paints it is awesome.
Mike
Dang. Why because its like the Iwata HP-B, it stoo much of a fine detail airbrush? Guess I should have listened to you and gotten an Eclipse. I just figured (wrong on my part) that since its so highly touted on Micro-Marx that it was a good modeling airbrush. Having the dial to adjust the spray pattern really appealed to me.
Are most acrylics fine pigment? I use mostly Gunze, Polly, and Tamiya. I rarely use enamel, only as a last resort if there isn’t an acrylic that will work.
From what I have heard, yes. Now it is possible the acrylics might work with it, you will have to try it and see.
I am going by what I have been told by somene in the airbrush industry who uses the Sotar. He told me that most model paints have pigment that would be like a boulder going through that airbrushes fine tip, but maybe the acrylics might work as they tend to be finer than enamels.
Here is what Badger’s web site says about the Sotar 20/20’s capabilities:
“Finely pigmented properly reduced paint’s, watercolors, inks, dyes, and low viscosity acrylics can be sprayed with the 2020.”
Let us know how it turns out. [;)]
Mike