I am just wrapping up my first model (Tamiya t34/76 1942) and am really enjoying the hobby.
For the Tamiya, I used Tamiya spray cans to paint it, but the lack of options in colors, and coats made me realize that everything would be easier if I had an airbrush.
I want a gravity fed, single action brush. I will be using this mostly for laying solid color coats (don’t plan to do a lot of cammo). I don’t mind eventually buying a dual action airbrush if I evenutally outgrow the single action.
I plan to paint with Acrylics.
Ive been doign a lot of research, and it looks like the Badger 200 might be a good match. Does anyone have any opinions on this? especially for a beginner?
Also, what sub model of 200 would you recomend?(I got a little confused about all of the different 200 models).
If it was my money I would opt for the 200-20. It’s considered a “detail” airbrush and is capable of very thin lines, as well as broad spray areas. Just in case you decide a complex camo is in your future. Simple, easy to use and clean, easy to get parts for it. The siphon feed allows up to a 3 oz. bottle of paint to be attached, or a 1/4 oz. color cup. The feature I like is the graduated needle adjustment screw on the back of the brush, which allows you to dial in consistant line thicknesses.
If you do decide later to get a dual action airbrush, the 100LG would be a natural choice. The two airbrushes share heads and nozzles.
In fact, it was my money, and I have one of each, as well as the 150 dual action siphon feed, which shares all parts (except for the main body, of course) with the 100LG!
I had a 200 and I used it exclusively for 15 years. Fine AB. Of all the AB’s I have owned the 200 would be my recomendation for a first ab. Mine had the same heads and needles as the 100 double action. Well made, easy to operate. Dixie Art supply has it for about $50.
[#ditto] I have a 200 and a 100LG and love them both. I cut my teeth on the 200, and used it exclusively for many years before deciding to upgrade to the 100LG.
I cant coomment on the 200, as I am a cone and needle type, with the the old Paasche and Badger 350. I appreciate the comments though, from the Illuminati. I prefer Badger, for their American company status and ease of service and parts.
On a tangent, I would like to add that if you really want to make God laugh, tell him your plans. I would decide what my budget was and then kick in 20% more to get the most airbrush I could for my money. Saying today that you won’t do camo jobs or fine details will come back to bite you - Ill promise you that. One day, some model or paint scheme wil hit you and you’ll say “Eureka, I have to do that!”
If you’re tooled up for it already, it will relieve a lot of frustration.
Looking back on your post you did say you wanted a gravity fed brush. The 200G is the one that fits that parameter, but the color cup is pretty small. If you do 1/35 scale armor you will be filling that cup up a lot!
There really is little difference between gravity fed and siphon. Siphon require slightly more air pressure to pick up the paint, but the 200-20 is easily the equal of most gravity fed brushes for it’s ability to do detail work, especially for the price.
Dahut is quite right, you may say you don’t want to do camo now, but do plan for the future. The 200-20 is quite capable of doing just about anything you can ask of an airbrush.
Popular thought has it that the Latin translation of “Don’t let the bastards grind you down” is Nil Illegitimi Carborundum, or Nil Bastardo Carborundum. However that is “mock” Latin. In fact the ONLY Latin word in those phrases is ‘nil’!
There really is no corresponding phrase in Latin for “Don’t let the bastards grind you down”, but the closest accurate translation is “Noli nothis permittere te terere” which is really “Don’t allow the bastards to drill you”.
In the interest of being completely honest, gravity fed are slightly easier to clean. I use Tamiya acrylics, which clean up with Windex and (distilled) water, which certainly couldn’t be easier.
To put my siphon ABs to bed takes me about 4 minutes tops. It maybe takes me 3.5 minutes for the gravity style. The additional time is spent swabbing out the color cup. If I use a bottle add another 30 seconds or so. That’s it. Otherwise they are pretty much the same.
The average price range for any Badger 200 series is $45-$50, so the price difference is moot. The big difference is how many times do you have to fill up the paint cup. If you build large scale armor, the siphon fed would be my choice. Slap a 3 oz. bottle to it and paint away. Actually don’t. 3 oz. is a LOT of paint!
Throw another $30 at the budget and get the Badger 100LG or Omni 4000 gravity fed double action in order to hit all the buttons. Large cup, easy to clean, good for detail. Not that much harder to use.
