I have added a review of the Iwata Eclipse HP-CS to my site. Comments or suggestions are welcome.
Thanks,
Don
Very nice, Don! The CS is my workhorse brush - nothing else I’ve used can match its phenomenal all-aroundedness
Don, Thank you for the review! This is indeed one of the best all around airbrushes I have used! Personally I have switched to a Badger Krome and sold my HP-CS to a fine member of these very forums! I just seem to get on with it better for fine use, But the HP-CS is most likely better for most modellers and I used it for many years.
Don, thank you for the review, after all these years of nagging. [;)]
This is what sets the CS apart from its competitions. Its needle looks fragile, but is in fact tough and springy. The “proprietary material” of the nozzle may be a nickel based superalloy and is tougher than the stainless steel most other manufacturers use. All these make the CS a very durable airbrush and one of the easiest to clean after a session.
I never had the nozzle stuck in the head problem. When I removed the head, the nozzle stay on its base. Very interesting in what happened to your sample.
I have a collection of 7 airbrushes now. The Iwata HP-CS is still my work horse for modeling.
Thanks, guys. I’m glad you liked the review.
Don
I appreciate all of your reviews, Don. I am looking to eventually replace my Aztek and I’ve been debating between the Iwata HP-CS and the Badger 105.
Thanks, Griffin.
They are both good airbrushes. You wouldn’t go wrong with either. The Iwata will give you finer lines, but the 105 will give you broader coverage and still pretty fine lines. Kei Lau would probably recommend the CS. For general model painting, I would pick the 105.
Don
The Iwata HP-CS and the Badger 105 are not in the same class in term of material, finish and performance characteristics. The trigger action are very different between the two. If you want to stay with the Badger brand, you may want to take a look at the Badger Krome.
For the skillful modeler, either airbrush would be fine.
I like the CS better NOT because it draws finer line. I seldomly did free hand. I like the CS for the finer, more linear control of its trigger vs. the quicker release type action of the Patriot. It probably makes no difference to the more skillful modelers. To the average Joe modeler like myself, I found the more precise control of the CS easier to learn from and build up skill.
The Badger Krome is much closer to the CS than the Patriot in this aspect.
The choice of airbrush is very personal, so, try them before you decide by all means. Then, you would understand the difference we are talking about here.
Nice review!
Reading it makes me believe that you really would like the H&S Evolution or Infinity. It’s trigger is a lot softer than the Iwatas. I find it a bit wobbly, and not as distinct as the Iwata triggers, but I can see why people who like a light trigger preference it.
Personal preferences differ, Griffin. The Eclipse is a fine airbrush. I’m sure you would be happy with it. Many people are. But, I’ve seen comments from many people who are happy with the Patriot too.
As far as material, I haven’t seen any evidence of the Patriot being inferior. I’ve snagged my needle many times and it isn’t bent yet, in spite of the fact it’s only 404 stainless. The Patriot nozzle isn’t proprietary, it’s nickel silver, and seems to hold up well. It gives a range of spray pattern that I find well suited to painting models. And the .5mm size is more forgiving about thinning. The Badger air valve is of simpler design, but I never hear of it sticking, which is a common complaint of the Iwatas. The Iwata is prettier. it has a white chrome finish rather than the nickel chrome of the Patriot. And, the Iwata comes with a nice chrome cup cap. The Patriot trigger action is different, partially because of the difference in nozzle size and needle shape. But, it feels good to me.
There’s no question the Iwata will do finer detail. That’s just simple physics of the nozzle size and needle shape. If that’s important to you, go for it.
That’s my opinion. Actually, if I could only keep one of my airbrushes, it would be the Badger 155 Anthem. But, that’s just me.
Don