I am currently looking to purchase my first airbrush and since there are so many different ones to choose from I’m kind of at a lose right now. Should I go single- or double-action.
I would greatly appreciate to know what other modelers are using and would suggest.
Tks,
Greg
Absolutely go double action, and gravity feed if you can, you’ll have a lot more control that way. You can still spray with higher pressure and larger paint volumes if you need to, but you’ll also have fine control when you need it.
I use an Iwata Revolutiuon, it was cheap and it works beautifully. Others would suggest a Pasche VL or Badger or Thayer & Chandler newer double action brushes (sorry Mike, I can’t remember their names just now) all of wich would work wonderfully. I went with the Revolution because it was cheap and good. Any good quality airbrush will work fine for you with a bit of practice.
Search through the last several pages of posts and read any that seem relevant to your question. We drift off topic some, but you’ll get tons of good answers and suggestions.
Also, welcome to the forums Greg!
i have an omni 5000 gravity feed ab and i absolutely love it. i have 2 single actions that collect dust since ive got the hang of the double action. if your on a budget and dont have the money to make a mistake with, buy the double action gravity feed and you cant go wrong. i assemble 1/48 scale exclusively, use tamiya acrylics and thinner exclusively (mainly because ive tried pollyscale and mm acryl with much frustration) and thoroughly enjoy myself. maddafinga is on the money. here is the place i purchased mine with free shipping. http://www.dixieart.com/Omni.html
Greg,
What are you going to use the airbrush for?
Aircraft, cars, tanks?
Mike
Mike,
I model primarily aircraft (WWII-present) but am getting into armored vehicles as well.
Greg
Greg,
Then I would agree with the other posts and get a double-action model.
Many people like gravity feed models and others prefer the siphon feed models. If you like the gravity feed models then I would look at the Omni 4000, Eclipse CS, or the Revolution CR. If you like the idea of different sized color cups and bottles then go with a siphon feed model such as the Omni 3000, Anthem, Vega 2000, Eclipse BCS, or Revolution BCR.
The Paasche VL, Crescendo and a few others are also popular.
The gravity feed models are capable of spraying at a little lower pressure and are easier for some people to achieve fine lines with less overspray although I don’t see a big difference. The siphon-feed models are faster at color changes if you need to go to several colors at one sitting because you can just pull the color cup off, spray some thinner through the brush and put another color cup back on with a different color. If you decide to use your airbrush for other things that require more paint then the siphon feed would also be the better choice in that manner because you can attach anything from a 1/4 oz color cup to a 3 oz. jar on them.
Mike
Greg, …hey nice name!
Read my last recent post to another modeler who was looking for his first airbrush.
http://www.finescale.com/fsm/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=13072
Greg: You would not go wrong in buying an Iwata Eclipse BCS. This is an outstanding double action airbrush. Easy to use, clean and maintain. In my opinion it is the best all around airbrush for model builders.
Mike
dont go aztek. lots of people made that mistake…
i would buy an iwata revolution cr… its perfect! if you dont like duels go with revolution sar… dun like it tho
WHAT??? After all that noise we had to listen to about that Iwata HP-CS you are still touting the Omni??? For shame! [:D] Just kidding!
I agree though. I’ve got a Badger 200 and Omni 3000. I use the 200 for “General Coverage” and the Omni for everything else. The 200 is a little easier to clean, and I tend to overclean my brushes by completely disassembling them at the end of a painting day.
I feel like I have a lot more control with the double-action Omni than I do with the single-action 200 and would never try to paint something tricky with anything other than my DA brush.
i dont like aztek at all…hate them infact. i wish i just bought a badger instead
Sell it on Ebay then and buy something else.
Mike
yah, thats what im going to do… probubly. then buy a badger 100 or 200 or tamiya hg-sf in addition to my iwata hp-c
I have an Iwata bs gravity feed and i really love it to me i´t’s perfect.
Buying a good airbrush lika a Iwata will be more expensive but you wont regret it!
so in a way, its actually cheaper! and its altogether better
Anyone have a paasche VSR90 if so how do you like it?
I owned one once that is : I bought it, I used once, I thought it was a piece of crap, and I sold it; on the other hand, you should not listen to me, as I think that Aztek are fair airbrushes and I still own one although I prefer German airbrushes at this time.
Agree 100%! If you want an airbrush that has good results and great durability, go Iwata or Bagder. But for the love of everything good and holy, don’t get an AZTEK for that purpose (please don’t!)[:(] If you want something where you can learn the typical characteristics of an airbrush and basically learn how to use one and learn how paint works in an AB, then (I can’t believe I’m sayin this[V]) get an Aztek. Please understand what I’m saying here everyone. If you want an AB that will teach you how to use one and teach you the characteristics of paint in an AB (basically a AB you learn on and YOU PLAN on getting another better AB later) then get an Aztek. But if you want an AB that you plan on keeping for a long time and this is what you saved up for and don’t plan on getting another AB for a long time, then get something high quality like bagder or Iwata. Aztek is something you (as I did) can learn on and junk around with, but Iwata or bagder are high quality and it’s kinda overkill to give a beginner an AB like that. But if you want to buy an AB and thats it for a long time, then I recomend you learn and master your skills on an Iwata or Bagder. It all depends on how much money you have or are willing to spend for a long term AB or something you can learn on, and get a new higher quality one later.
this is an old thread scott! those were the pre-iwata days. i still love my omni 5000 though. i spray all my alclad lacquers through it as to keep my iwata’s clear of enamels.[;)][:D][:D]
im the opposite of you armor master, i want the best to tinker and learn with. theres no use in getting used to a mule when you can ride a stallion to begin with!! ofcourse this depends on your budget. omni and iwata are among the best because these are the only two double action companys ive tried. both make superior airbrushes. i have the omni 5000 which is only about a half a notch under my iwata hp-cs and hp-c and all are excellent airbrushes that i plan to use extensively. among the 3, the iwata hp-c is my favorite with the .4mm n/n combo. in a few months, heck, ill probably purchase the iwata revolution with the .5mm n/n combo just to round out the iwata line. later.
I’d be interested to see how you feel the Revolution compares to the CS and the Omni. I love comparisons like that. I still haven’t gotten an illustration airbrush and Silentaire compressor yet either. I had to spend that money on computer parts and getting Claire’s car fixed after those punk spoiled rich kids stole it. It’s always something [:)]
We keep soldiering on though.