Although I feel like I’ve been steadily improving with my brush painting skills, I’ve gotten frustrated enough that I’m ready to go ahead and buy an airbrush so I can achieve better finishes more easily and paint larger models such as 1/35 armor and 1/48 aircraft. I had a cheap $20 Central Pneumatic airbrush which doesn’t really work and as such I’m ready to invest a decent amount of money ($120) to obtain a decent airbrush which can consistently work and is forgiving to use for a beginner such as myself who will undoubtedly not thin my paints enough, struggle with dry tip, etc. So far I’ve narrowed down my options to three different airbrushes:
Does anyone have any experience/knowledge with these airbrushes? Which do you recommend? Are there any others that I haven’t listed for a similar price which you recommend?
I have owned all three and I currently have the Badger Patriot and the Neo. I prefer the Badger. It is more versitile, easy to clean and does a better job at atomizing paint, but it really is a toss up between the two for painting, They are both good.
The ultra is cheap. The paint cup doesn’t thread in, it just pushes in. Bad design. Let us know what you choose and how you like it please.
Of those, I’d go with the Patriot and stick with the .5 needle tip at first. As you get used to it give the .3mm set a try. If you feel that you’re having to thin your paint more than you think you should, give the .7mm a try.
I don’t own that particular Badger but really the best deal and bang for the buck out of the ones you’ve listed is the 105. And I agree to start out shooting the .5 tip, you can do most work with that one tip really. You might end up liking the smaller tip but my suggestion is don’t start out there till you really get to mixing your paints consistently. That’s a solid product and one of Badgers main line airbrushes, a lot of folks here use them too.
I can’t really comment on which is best as I haven’t owned them… However as a complete novice to airbrushing I purchased the patriot 105 and use it with the .5 needle,and it shoots pretty much anything with ease so very forgiving on mix ratios… And myself as a complete novice can still control the flow easily and create some very thin lines when needed as well as spraying the larger areas…
Badger offers a lifetime warranty on all their products. Labor is free and parts are 60% off. You need to pay postage both ways (that’s what the 12 bucks for up to 3 brushes is for). My IPMS club got a brush as a donation - in pieces. Got it up and running for 4 bucks.
I like my 105 It takes practice to get used to the paint mix, air pressure, trigger use, and spray distance Vary one variable at a time until you are satisfied
I had a Neo I liked it but the trigger toggle broke and have not found a good, cost effective repair service for Iwata brushes
If I had to choose between those 3 model of airbrushed I will go for the Patriot 105.The Badger Patriot is a very versatile airbrush. Its 0.5 needle/nozzle (.50 make it perfect for detail work but also some background painting or the larger model you are going to paint. It’s a a good priced high quality airbrush airbrush. The The Badger Patriot 105 has an “Easy Access” needle removal system that make it easy to clean and disassemble if you are a beginner.
I think the Patriot is the ideal airbrush for beginners but it will also suit more advanced users.