I am quickly realizing how limited I am with not having an airbrush setup…by the way Im probably posting this in the wrong forum sorry for that…but what is the most decent least expenisive setup I could get? It doesnt have to be anything amazing…just something to get me started and that I wont grow out of too quickly.
You might get more responses posting on the Painting and airbrushing forum. Nevertheless, I’d personally recommend the venerable Paasche H single action airbrush. I bought mine in the late '70s and still use it. It won’t do the fine lines of some of the higher end units, but it’s robust, easy to use and reasonably priced.
Check to see if you have a Harbor Freight near you, you’ll want to get a compressor to operate your airbrush and they have them on sale all the time.
While you will see airbrushes at Harbor Freight, I’d shop around and get a Badger 350. It’s a great, durable single action airbrush that can last you for years. They are available, along with parts just about everywhere. Possible the best way to buy one now is to get it from Michaels, they usually have a 50% off coupon in their Sunday ad. This would allow you to get one for aobut $35…
The Paasche H is mentioned quite often here ( I have one, too), but I can tell you firsthand the Badger 200G is far and away a more versatile and better brush, and a steal for around $45 at Dixieart.com ( http://www.dixieart.com/Badger_Model_200_Single_Action_Internal_Mix.html ). I would go for the 200G-F (F for fine tip), if you like to do very fine work, such as preshading. It’s a great price/performance match (and no, I don’t moonlight for the Badger Co.!). It’s my main brush now. Add a Harbor Freight 2 gallon compressor for around $50 (ITEM 55993-0VGA), an air line filter for around $6 (ITEM 94346-1VGA) and you got yourself a great setup for low cost.
Jim a very nice setup that can be had is from Harbor Freight tools. It is a compressor and airbrush kit. The airbrush looks like a knockoff of a Badger. But you can get the whole thing for less then $100. Santa brought me this this year. THe compressor is very quiet. THe airbrush is decent not great but it sprays well.
I have a Badger 100LG and 200NH. The NH is the New Head design, and can be found priced reasonably in many places, around $47 at Dixieart that Modelnerd mentioned. It has a medium tip, but can be turned down to spray some VERY fine lines. I love mine, and along with my 100LG I can spray anythnig I want to. HTH! [tup]
thanks for the help guys. For some reason i thought id have to spend like 300 or 400 bucks to get a decent setup…so perhaps I can get sprayin sooner than I thought. Luckily I do have a harbor freight nearby so maybe next week ill go check it out. Again thanks for the help… just got off work so im off to bed.
As someone whos been AB ing for a while now with reasonable results, id never buy an expensive AB. The one i use now is from a cheap UK company called everything Airbrush. My 1st AB from the same co was £20, my latest costs £40 and is capable of doing fine .5mm lines. If it breaks, cant see how, ill replace it with the same. I just cant warrant buying an Iwatta or similar for £170 odd quid- $340. Being skint has something to do with it, LOL.
…Guy
thru the years I’ve bought four Paasche H series brushes, and still have three (well one’s lost somewhere here at the house). The fourth one was a gift to my brother inlaw to paint stuff on fenders of cars. I now have it, and it still works great (about 25 years old). I also have an Iwata Eclipse, and it’s a very nice brush. Alittle better than the Paasche, but also a lot more money. The one thing I like about the Paasche is that I can use jars with it instead of small paint cups. But for 98% of modeling that’s just not needed (nice for a big Uboat). But for commercial work the Paasche is very good (so Larry always said).
gary