Well guys my Badger quick connect for the Iwata came today and so I thought I would try out the HP-CS in the same way that I tried out my other airbrushes a while back in a quick test. I mixed MM Acryl Flat Black in a 2:1 ratio with a 50/50 mixture of 70% iso alcohol and water.
I shot it at 20 psi and achieved these results for the heaviest and finest lines I could do at the moment:
I then dropped the pressure to 10 psi and took the air cap off the HP-CS exposing the needle for the sharpest lines I could achieve. The result was this line:
This airbrush does not put out a lot of paint as you can see from my thickest line, but then again most people want this type of airbrush for thinner lines which it does pretty well.
Here is my honest, unbiased opinion of this airbrush with the little bit I have used it for so far:
It is a nice airbrush, well-made, and the finish and chrome on it are first rate.
The balance is nice and it sprays very well. It is able to achieve some very thin lines and I think the biggest reason for this is that the needle has a long, sharp taper more like the fine #1 needles do in Badger’s and Thayer & Chandler’s.
The trigger is very responsive and a big part of this is because the spring is snappier than some of the airbrushes I have. Some people prefer a faster returning spring and that is why my buddy Scooter “hot rods” his Omni’s with a stiffer spring. I have been told that putting a Badger Crescendo trigger spring in an Omni makes it snappier because it is a stiffer spring. Something else you may want to experiment with. [;)]
I am pleased with this airbrush and I like it a lot, but I don’t think it is worth almost twice the cost of an Omni 4000. Sorry to disappoint you Iwata fans. [:D]
I think that the Iwata airbrushes are kind of like Snap-On tools, they are a little fancier finish so people get the impression that they are better although in the real world there isn’t much difference in results over other brands.
So that’s my unbiased opinion at this point of this airbrush.
So, once again we find out that dollar for dollar a Badger is hard to beat. I think I might have heard you say that once or twice [:)]
Thanks for the report. I was wondering whether you had played with it. When I read your post I then remembered about your not having the disconnect yet.
That would explain why Badger manufactures and sells more airbrushes annually than all other companies combined. [:D]
If the HP-CS was around $75-80 I would say it would be an airbrush to definitely consider, but they are $105 which I think is outrageous. For about $30-40 more I can buy a Sotar 20/20. [;)]
not a disappointment at all my friend. thats fair enough for me. my decision for the iwata over omni lies in the comfort more than anything else. later.
The price of Iwatas has gotten out of hand. When I bought mine it was nowhere near the $105 that is is now. Probably because of the weak dollar and not price gouging.
Thanks for the report. I’m still learning with my Iwata HP-CR after years with my Paasche H, but I like it more all the time. Not sure the HP-CS would be a lot better than the Revolution, especially for the $ difference.
hey 1337, does your mind change with the wind my friend?[:D] or, are you just trying to buddy up with old badger dog mikeV?[:P] he aint gonna take you to arizona bubba!! he’s takin’ his wife!![;)] just hackin’ on ya my friend. later.
I wonder if the popularity of them has made the price rise also? It’s hard to say.
I would agree Rick. You know, when it comes down to it most of the airbrushes we use can spray freehand camo on 1/72 scale aircraft, which is about as much as most modelers will ever need an airbrush to do. There are many that are good enough for this hobby that cost $65 and less to fit that bill, but then again everyone has their own opinion on what they like and some want to spend upwards of $200 on an Iwata. [;)]
Like salty dog, not a dissapointment to me. I went from an aztek to a hp-cs and it’s from rags to riches. I’m extremely happy with it. The price is a little high, but you got the best deal here mike! 30 bucks! I think you got some good quality for that money.
hey rick, i just emailed iwata customer service a couple of days ago to question them as to whether i could use the hp-bcs .5mm n/n in the hp-cs. they said yes that i could buy the nozzle cap, needle, and nozzle and convert my hp-cs to a revolution for around $21 from dixieart. so, instead of paying for the whole hp-cr, i’m gonna just order the 3 part conversion so i can swap between the 2. when it gets here, i’ll have the .3mm, .35mm, .4mm, and .5mm n/n combos so that should cover all my needs(or wants more like it). i said all that to say this, i wonder if you could get the .35mm n/n to work in your revolution? that would be cool. later.
Why waste the money on a .5mm tip when you have no real need for it? [%-)]
Are you planning on spraying house latex through your airbrush or something? [(-D]
never can tell mike. i have a cabinet shop ya know!! why do you keep askin’ mike, your gonna get the same answer my friend. i just like to play with airbrushes brother!! [:D] just to have it man. i like to see first hand what the differences are. i may be able to get a tighter line with less thinning which covers better. future may go through the larger needle better. i just plain want one to play with. you have more than one airbrush right? why spend more money on another airbrush if the one you had was doing just fine. i know some of yours were given to you, but didnt you buy more than one? why? you know how it goes my friend, i really cant explain it. i dont buy airbrushes for my hobby alone, i like to play with and experiment and things. [;)] i would be fine with what i have but my curiosity wont rest until i try it for myself. later.
See? I was right, it was a set up. [:D] But MikeV bought the Iwata for $30 so isn’t that half of the price of a T&C? Now Mike can sell the Iwata back on Ebay and go back to the Badgers-but tell everyone he used the Iwatas and they stunk. [B)][xx(][:)]
I know where you’re comin from Salty. I had a HP-CS and I could have lived with just that one airbrush to do everything I wanted with ease but I decided to get a HP-CR Revolution as well. To be completely honest the real reason I bought it was just because I wanted to see first hand if metallic paints spray better through that .5mm nozzle and sure enough they do. Now I have two airbrushes, love both of em and wouldn’t part with either one.
