So I want to get into airbrushing for my models. I am thinking of getting a cheap kit that comes with everything to start with. I understand that you get what you pay for but my Question is this. For a beginner how bad are the cheap sets? Are they worth buying for a beginner?
People here better than I in this department can answer your question. Speaking just for myself having built a lotta model kits terrible to magical of different kinds over decades there really aren’t “bad kits” just those that are bears to build. I even look foward to yet again building another 1950s vintage Airfix Ju-87, not really a bear but does take some care to build without messing up.
I apologize for not being more specific but I meant an airbrush kit.
Apologies not needed, focused in on “kit” as in models, my apologies for misreading!
Repeating; people here better than I can answer your question regarding air brush kits; speaking again for myself I prefer Testors Azteks.
How bad? You just answered your own question. Cheap is cheap. Go to Hobby Lobby armed with a 40% coupon and pick up a dual action or single action airbrush. The HL in my area carried Paache and Iwata NEO.
If you really want to go cheap, Harbor Freight has Chinese made airbrushes. Again, you get what you pay for.
Of course you’ll have to buy an air compressor too.
Husky 2 Gallon Hotdog Model 0100211A, use it near every day, lightest diaphram tank compressor I’ve used to date, least noisy also but keep ear muffs handy when pumping up.
The cheap Chinese airbrushes will just frustrate you and turn you off to airbrushes. An airbrush is a prescision tool. A cheap airbrush will clog, spit, not atomize well, leak, have a sticky trigger, rust and on and on.
The tolerances with needle to tip, shape or needle, finish or nozzle, needle and tip are much higher quality with the name brands.
Do yourself a favor, spend the money. A good airbrush can last a lifetime and is a game changer in your quality of paint work. I personally recommend a grex tritum. Its 200 bucks, yes I know a bit high but the tritum is three airbrushes in one.
It has the learning curve of a basic single action brush, it has the control and output of a double action, it can go from super fine lines all the way to a broad mini spray gun. It can be turned nto a fan spray and has several needle sizes to choose from. This airbrush will grow with you and you won’t need to upgrade to a whole new airbrush as you can just buy different needles and nozzles to upgrade this aibrush over time.
I recently picked up a Passche EZ-starter kit at HL. ~$26 before the coupon. Comes with 2 jars, hose, and adapters for using canned propellant or a compressor. I just used it to spray a kit using Vallejo modelair straight from the bottle and it worked just fine powered by a portable compressor. I did add a seperate regulator/filter/moisture trap. I haven’t tried any detail type work with it yet but it did work as well as a spray can anyway. I’m hope to try a little finer work with it before the weather goes downhill. If I do I’ll post the results here. Just my $0.02.
Dave
Here is my 2cts. Iwata Neo from Hobby Lobby…3 gallon compressor from Harbor Freight. With accessories and coupons, spent about $100. Noisy but no complaints. Cheap ABs are junk…I bought one off of Amazon that came with 3 sized needles…I bent the needles just cleaning up dry tip.
Never used one as I do not build all that much but I always wanted one. Maybe cause they look so dang cool in that box! I would have to agree with others. If you get a cheap one and it’s doing you no favors you may just start blaming it on yourself and give up. I’d eliminate as many variables as I could.
I agree with others here if your on a budget buy ountry level name brand you will save your mucho headakes.
I purchased a harbuer freight combo for $85 I still use the air compressor there gun is on sale at times for $10 it has never worked properly. I have a Chinese $15 it works better nut not much.
my main use airbrushed are a budget 150 $90 set up with a fine tip.and the 1 that never gives me problems is my iwata eclipse hp-bsc these 2 work nice if kept clean. any airbrush you use must be maintained. if I buy another it be another iwata top feed as the 1 I have is a bottom feeder. so even if you have to wait a bit to buy a air source try and start with a good name brand and learn a good maintenance program. good luck with your purchase.