A new Badger Renegade “Velocity” is on the way to me to see how I like it. This airbrush has been getting rave reviews and sounds like it is as good if not better than the Iwata Micron and it is a fraction of the cost! Cool! [8D] Look for my opinion in the near future. [:D]
PS… I wonder how long it will take Iwata to copy it and start marketing another airbrush to compete with it?
I received my Renegade “Velocity” a few days ago. Since then, I’ve had the opportunity to put it through some paces. I’ll give you my opinions. I’m anxious to hear yours.
Construction: On first opening the package, I found a well made storage box for the AB. While the box is very nice, I think it’s a bit of overkill for me. I don’t keep my AB’s in their boxes, so having a super-nice storage box is, in my opinion, a waste of money. I’d rather see those dollars put into other aspect of the brush. (More on that later.)
The Brush: The first pics I saw of the Renegades showed them in chrome covered brass. The brush I received - and I assume it’s the same for all of them - is in a gun metal finish. Unlike the photos, on the barrel, behind the color cup, is a flat section that has “Velocity” stamped in it. All-in-all, it is a very attractive AB. I like the finish and believe it will be less prone to showing smudges, etc. Note: I go overboard in cleaning my brushes, So, for some people, I understand that this wouldn’t be an issue.
Accessories: The Velocity comes in the case described along with a small plastic container that holds an adapter to allow the use of and Iwata air hose. There is another small part in the plastic vial, but I can’t tell you what it is for. I have used the adapter, but I couldn’t find any use for the small “part.” Maybe someone else will know what it is for. There is also a set of minimalist instructions in the box. By the way, the Velocity is the gravity feed unit. The Rage is a bottom feed unit and the Spirit is a side feed unit. Both come with a few more parts.
Hooking It Up: As stated, I use an Iwata hose. So I made use of the adapter that came with the Renegade. The adapter has a female end that screws onto the smaller Badger male end for air. There is no (at least in mine) rubber seal in the adapter. I attached an Iwate male quick release fitting to the Renegade adapter. That came with a rubber seal. When I put it all together, and hooked up the air line, there was a noticable hiss of escaping air at the connection. It turns out that it was due to the fact that there is no rubber seal in the adpater. it was easy to fix, however, using a small piece of teflon tape. Reinstalled with the tape and there is no air leak.
Initial Impressions: This a very good value when it comes to dollars spent vs. painting quality. The trigger action is very smooth and easy. Not as soft as my Harder Steenbecks, but better than by Iwata HP-C. There is an adjustable trigger stop for paint volume at the end that responds very nicely. The AB allowed me to paint a very thin (not quite hairline) line with virtually no overspray. The Velocity comes with a .21 mm needle. Personally, I think this is a good compromise size for an AB. I have a .15 mm, a .30 mm and a .40 mm. In my opinion, a .40 mm is great for general model paint application, but too big for very fine spraying. A .15 mm is great for the very fine work, but will take forever to lay down a lot of paint for a base coat. If you’re going to have one AB, then I would reccomend a .21 to .30 mm needle. I believe that the Rage comes with a .30 mm needle and is a bottom feed unit. The paint cup on the Velocity is permanently attached and seems to be about 1/3 ounce capacity (9 ml?).
The Not So Good: A few things… The paint cup cover is plastic. I don’t care for that at all. This strikes me as a very good quality brush, and to provide a plastic cover strikes me a cheap. Besides, my plastic cover is already loose and prone not to stay affixed to the paint cup. I tried the metal cover from my HP-C and it fits perfectly. In short order I will order an extra HP-C cover and put the plastic one in the fancy box that I won’t use. I would have rather seen Badger use cardboard for the box and use the money for a better cup cap. Be Aware, the nozzle tip is TINY, TINY, TINY! The first thing I do with an AB is take it apart to see how easy it will be to put back together after a good cleaning. When you get to part No. R-003 (Ultra Fine Tip) make sure that you remove it in an area where it won’t get lost. it is small and could very easily be lost. I will probably order an extra nozzle and needle very soon just in case of loss or damage. Because of its small size I suspect it will be very difficult to clean. That could present problems after more usage and require replacement. We’ll see. Finally, the instructions are nothing. This is not a big issue for me, as I’m comfortable taking a brush apart and putting it back together without instructions. However, some may find this lack of information a problem. If Badger wants to sell these to new airbrush users, then I think they will have to provide more information on the brush, its use, its break down and its clean up.
I don’t think the brush is as easy to clean as my Iwata and HS’s. Not a great deal more difficult, just not as easy. This goes back to the tip size for me. It’s just so small that it’s difficult to work with. The needle seems to be of very good quality and comparable to the other brushes that I own. For some people, the fact that the paint cup isn’t removable may be an issue. I don’t care that much and the size of the cup does make it easy to clean out.
Overall Impressions: I paid $105 for my brush, including shipping, from Bear Air. I understand the suggested retail for the brush is about $165 and many places seem to be selling it for about $155. I don’t know if Bear Air’s price is permanent or not, as I was informed that they got a large number of them from Badger at a good price in order to “prime the pump.”
I got my Iwata HP-C for $165, less shipping. So, I would say that $105, the Renegade is a better buy. Based on my inspection and limited use so far, it is at least as good of a brush as my Iwata HP-C. If the price settles in at the $145 to $155 range for the Renegade, then the value benefit will diminish. As far as I can see, this Badger is aimed directly at the Iwata HP series of brushes. They look very similar, have similar weights and features, and spread paint as well as the Iwata. If the market price of the Renegades stays at around $100, then Iwata will have to reconfigure their pricing accordingly.
The Velocity is, at this early stage, a very good brush. I think that Badger has done a very nice job putting out a high quality product at a very good price. I’m looking forward to using it a great deal more over the next month or two to see if it continues to operate well and the parts and finish hold up to continued use. A few minor early gripes. but all things that are fixable or can be overlooked.
I’m looking forward to reading other people’s impressions of the Renegades.
C’mon, Mike! What’s it gonna do that your other twelve or thirteen won’t do?[;)]
By the sound of the above review it doesn’t sound like Iwata users, or many other users for that matter, will gain anything from ditching their present gun for the Velocity. I have a Paache VL, Iwata CR, BR and HP-C. I paid less for all of them than the new Velocity. But I did buy the HP-C used.
Stickin’ with what I got but it will be interesting to see more review material.
Won’t gain anything? How about supporting one of the few American companies still left in this country? I value that far more than buying something perceived as “better” because it’s higher priced and made in Japan!
I read a review of a Renegade on an airbrush forum from a man that has been airbrushing automomobiles for many years (25 years + I believe) and he said it was every bit as good or better than the Iwata Micron at half the cost. That is impressive.
Let’s see how long it takes for the Japanese to try and copy it somehow as they did the T&C Vega 2000 and Omni 3000 for T-shirt artists.
None of yours are in the same league so you are comparing apples to oranges. [;)]
Also, there are some new innovations in the Renegade series that Iwata can’t match such as metals used, etc so that must also be taken into consideration.
I wish Ken was not so busy right now as I would have him come on here and give a rundown on this new airbrush from a technical point of view.
Both Coast and Bearair have the Renegade Velocity in stock for $92.40 plus shipping. It is reasonable to believe the under $100 price is good until Badger raises it. It would be better if Badger copies what Paasche does with the Talon airbrush, sell it in two version as airbrush only or complete package with fancy box. The airbrush only option is attractive to users of multiple AB’s.
Shoot, Mike. The difference in performance has got to be like splitting red c-hairs. I don’t know about the rest of the modeling world but I’ll freely admit that any itsy bitsy, teeny weeny amount of difference there may be, perceived or otherwise, will make no difference to me and my ability to use it. In other words, it won’t make my panel lines look any better, it won’t make my paint finish look any better, it won’t make my flat coats any flatter, it won’t make my NMF look any more realistic.
If I had more experiance than my five years with an airbrush, did it day in and day out, got paid for it and was putting feather whisps of color on a $5000 paint job as icing on the cake, I might be able to see the difference and be able to put it to use. As it is I don’t see any benefit and my guess is that most modelers won’t either. Whether or not they would be honest about it, well…
The part about the US made product, is it really? I mean I really don’t know. Harley Davidson is supposed to be about as american as one can get but there are foreign made parts all over them. I bet if one dug deep enough they’d find “made in china” somewhere. I really think there is no such thing as american made anymore. The market is to global for it.
Well my friend I could say the same thing about the “perceived” differences in the HP-CS and the Badger 100LG also. The Renegade airbrushes are not really geared towards modeling IMHO unless one wants a high-end airbrush for their modeling needs which I am not sure how that would fit in as I have not used one yet.
Yes it is really! Ken is very adament about supporting the USA unlike Harley and their junk bikes.
BTW Harley’s are upwards of 60% Japanese parts on their bikes now and they are still overpriced, and underpowered. [(-D]
I can say that as a proud owner of a Honda VTX which was made in Ohio by Americans with mainly American produced parts. [:D]
I’m so with you about the Harley’s!!! I’ve never riden one but I’ve heard from those who have and say the same thing, underpowered. Maybe that’s why the owners have to take off the mufflers and rejet the thing. My old Yamaha 850 would probably blast a big V-twin of twice the displacement.
Man, do I want a 750 Nighthawk…
As I read my earlier review, I realized that I probably didn’t make my impressions clear. I think the Renegade “Velocity” is a very good AB. If people can continue to buy it in the $100 range, it is an excellent buy and a much better expenditure than $165 for an Iwata HP-C. (Which is also a very good AB.) But if you can save $65, then I think it would be silly not to. My initial impression is that both brushes are very similar to each other. So, being able to buy a quality AB and save that much money is a big deal.
Ken has been really busy but asked me to post this in regards to your post.
On another web site, westcoastairbursh.com, it quoted Ken Schlotfeldt, owner of Badger Airbrush Co., when asked how the Renegade compared to the Sotar and the 100LG:
They have a mix of technology - some from each of these and some other guns as well. Then we have some new spring and seal technology, and a new polished needle process that makes the line fineness and atomization detail tighter than anything I’ve ever seen before on anyone’s airbrush. Cost wise they are less than the Sotars, capabilty wise they are better than 100s and as good and better than the Sotars as they have the Sotar nozzle technology with this new polished needle.
He did not mention the “new metal” that Mike talked about. I was really interested in the “micrology polished needle process”, and whether it uses better metal than the old Badger needle. So I went to the Badger web site and was disappointed that the site is PRACTICALLY EMPTY of information. I understand the desire to improve their web site, but do not understand why they took down the old one before the new one is ready. At least, they could have just kept a link to the old site at the new home page. Ahhh!
I’m glad to see that Badger has not been infiltrated by the commie masses and are, indeed, made right here by Americans. I wish more companies would hold that practice as policy.
His last statement is confusing though. Is he refering to me? If so what makes him think I’m so patriotic? Not that I’m not but he really doesn’t know me.
Second, being patriotic requires believing the constitution guarantees my right to think whatever the heck I want of whoever or whatever I want to think it. “Amazing” or not.
Third, just because a company claims to be one thing or another doesn’t mean the statement is true, no? The list of claims companies make that are proven to the contrary is as long as the distance to the moon and back and grows exponentially everyday. When I said I didn’t know Badger was really american made, I meant just that. I didn’t know. While I’m glad to find out they are, I’m not about to let my boy start making snacks out of chineese paint chips just because they claim them to not only be lead free but make a great topper for my ice cream, just because the company said so.
If Ken and Badger can be blessed with the title “true to their word”, great. Sound the trumpets. They can be considered a rarity amoung the masses. And a message to Mr. Ken. Don’t be amazed. Only realize how rare your company is that it is “true to it’s word” and Made in America actually means something to you. It’s not something we as consumers see very often and therefore, those who can think for themselves will tend to question those who claim it.
While I have no intention to dump the brushes I have to start over with Badger, I’d love to tour the facility. I’m sure it would be interesting. It’s not to far away, maybe I’ll make the trip sometime as long as I can avoid chi-town.
So MikeV did you get the AB yet and how does it compare to your other Badger ABs.
I received the airbrush a couple weeks ago but have not tried it out.
I get up for work at 2:45 am and when I get home at 1:00 pm I am dog tired and haven’t had the spirit move me to do any modeling. I will soon though as when summer ends and fall rolls around I tend to do more modeling.
I hope you can go and see Badger in person my friend, I would love to someday but I am 2,000 miles away. [:D]
Ken is the real deal and I hope you can talk to him in person. He is an amazing individual and is one of the kindest men you will ever meet and as you stated it is rare to find a company like Badger but there are still a few out there.
Anyone ever thought of sugesting Badger Airbrush as an idea for an episode of “How It’s Made”. That would make an awsome segment.
The editors at FSM got tired of waiting for Mike’s review and put up their own. (Subscription required.)
http://www.finescale.com/fsm/default.aspx?c=a&id=3183
The review is a big disappointment. After mentioning “needle clogging” as a major shortcoming, FSM put up the lame excuse that “The (paint/thinner) combination produced some tip clogging; I suspect this had more to do with the paint-thinner combination than the brush”. If true, the author should not have mentioned the clogging at all, much less listing it as a “con” item in the review. Does other airbrush clog under the same paint/thinner combination?
The author also said that “(The Renegade has) very fine needle requires caution to keep straight”. Is it easier or less easy to be bent compared to other brands, say, an Iwata HP-CS needle at the same price point? All needle deserved to be treated gently. He stated the obvious and list it as a “con” is beyond comprehension.
The author, Hal Miller, did both Badger and the FSM readers a big disservice because of the omissions. The “con’s” should mean that the Renegade is worse than other comparable airbrushes in those respects. Is that what he really meant?
I agree. it was a disappointing review. As I posted some time ago, I have a very favorable impression of this brush. That said, I did find the needle to be very prone to being bent. (And I am very careful with them.) My other AB’s from Harder & Steenbeck and Iwata are not nearly so sensitive.
I think the Velocity is a great AB at a great price. Just be careful with the needle!
It is good to hear the clarification from a first-hand user of the Renegade. I thoroughly enjoyed your earlier account. FSM should have asked you to write the review.
Ken Schlotfeldt said that Renegade uses “a new polished needle process that makes the line fineness and atomization detail tighter than anything before on anyone’s airbrush.” It is a bold claim and a shame that Badger would not use better raw material to make the needle.
It had been said for a long time in other specialty airbrush sites that Badger needle does not last as long as the Iwata needle. Anyone has insight as to WHY?
Ken’s a member here, but he doesn’t come by very often. A shame really.
I haven’t sprung for a Renegade yet, but I have numerous other Badgers and have never had an issue with the needles.