hey all! i was lookin on-line while the paint was drying on my model and i kept seeing things about Fine detail air brushes. Being new to air brushing I never really thought to any thing about it, but the more and more i use my air brush i find that its not too usefull for those fine detail pieces.
so any way on to the question, which air brush is the best for fine detail?
thanks in advance.
There is no “best” airbrush for fine lines but there are several good choices.
For the finest lines possible the choices are mainly the Badger Sotar 20/20 and the Iwata Micron, but these are the top of the line and are expensive, especially the Micron. They are also difficult to get to spray smoothly with model paints as they have very small tips and needles and were designed to spray very fine pigmented mediums.
The next level down would be the Badger 100, Iwata HP-C, and HP-CS. These are capable of almost as fine of a line as the top of the line airbrushes and will clog less because the tip is not so small.
You do not need one of these airbrushes to get a nice edge on a freehanded camo paint job as some people think though.
Mike
subliminal msg
BADGER 100 LG!!!
/subliminal msg
lol subliminal messaging.
thanks for the info im gonna check into them and see how it works out.
thanks… damnit i encountered a problme on dixieart
when i click the 100LG, then go to shopping cart, then i refresh, the items gone!!!
Badger 100LG is fantastic for freehand camo. the Iwata HP-CS better than my sotar for detail using inks or model paints. These are the two brushes I use now though I have the sotar on hand if I change my mind. The Iwata is easier to clean than the badgers. Can’t go wrong either way.
Fine detail is relative. To me fine detail airbrush painting painting is 1/4-inch. Anything smaller than that I use a brush or consider doing a wash.
How fine do you want to go in your model painting? You can get those expensive small nozzle airbrushes to work with model paints but I think you will be fighting the airbrushes all the way. The fine nozzle airbrushes with model paint do not like each other. The fine nozzle airbrushes really like a watery airbrush paints.
I say badger. why? because its cheaper. parts and overall.
I’m using a Badger 100G more and more lately. I’m impressed with how well I can control the paint flow. Able to do very fine detail without any problem.
Murray
I use a Harder & Steenbeck Evolution, it has a 0.2 mm nozzle. Its not just a question of airbrush its also about paint and airpressure, thin paint and low airpressure ( about 15 Psi )
What about the Badger 200-20 Detail Airbrush?? Is that a good airbrush for detail work?? Right now I have a Badger 200-3 which I love for general stuff, and an Aztek with the fin nozzle (tan) which keeps splattering the paint. Here’s a link to view the Detail Airbrush. Thanks.
http://www.dixieart.com/Badger_Model_200_Single_Action_Internal_Mix.html
bleh, its just a name. its never as good as a double, except aztek
I’m thinking about buying a Badger 200 for fine line work. I have a Testors/Aztec that is about 12 years+ old. I’m having a tough time getting a fine line. Would you recommend the 200? Have you ever heard of the Testors leaking behind the tip or not giving a fine line?
delta: welcome. yes replace the aztek at ANY cost, you will be shocked how good badger/iwata is. the aztek leaks behind the tip is common place, and fine lines are an oxymoron.
Lie another member posted eilier, fine lines are relative. It’s important to ask yourself exactly what it is you want to do with your airbrush in the way of detail painting. Are you an arcrat modeler that wants to replicate the “tight blend lines” technique free hand for most modern military jets? Are you a car modeler who wants a smooth paint finish with minimal orange peel or do some flames free-hand? Or do you do armour and want to do some simple free hand multi-color camo or replicate simple exhast stains and shading? Knowing what you want the airbrush to do will help you narrow down the type of airbrush that will be best suited. To help me pick the best suited airbrush for free handing multi-color, tight-blend camo for my small 1/72nd scale jets was the Iwata HP-C with the .3mm tip. With this airbrush I can do the exhaust stains and subtle shading because of it’s excellent paint atomization. But for general spraying of basic colors I use the Iwata HP-CR. This airbrush has a larger tip (.5mm) and is great for laying down a smooth, even paint job. These were my preferences but other airbrsuhes that works just as well for detailing as I have done for camo and such as well as general all-around spraying are:
*I ranked these according to atomization quality and performance for an airbrush engineered for our thicker model paints