Too Omni or not too Omni???

Tools, Techniques, and Reference Materials Painting and airbrushing
1

Ok, yet another question about the Omni vs the rest.

Where I live, it is totally IMPOSSIBLE to actually see let alone touch any airbrushes, the closest HS is around 1800 km’s away, 1100+ miles in your lingo, hence this question.

Firstly, I model in quality not quantity, so my airbrush doesn’t receive a bucket of use, but it does have it’s fair share, currently I use a 470 (yes I saw you cringe), and a compressor with tank and regulator etc.

I use almost exclusively acrylics, sometimes enamels for that really glossy look, Gunze or Tamiya paints, and I plan too use Alclad II alot more.

Mostly I model 1/48 aircraft, and 1/35 armour. But anything will generally do.

I was looking at the 5000, but the colour cup looks a little small.

Will the 5000 completely cover a model, ie base coat, or would the 4000 be more likely?

Can either of the above do decent detail spraying, like camo outlines on 1/35, or German squiggle camo on 1/48 aircraft?

Also, are they LACQUER friendly, or would I have to purchase 1000 ‘O’ rings after every Alclad II use?

The reason I think of the Omni, is I saw it priced for $69.00 US, so around $90.00 Australian, plus shipping.
Hopefully Bearair ships outside US.

Soz for the long post, but this is the place where people know.

Thanks in advance.

One more thing, airhose! Is there a differance between the Aztek fitting and the Omni?

2

I’m sure mikev will chime in. Look for his post.

I’m a recently converted Aztec to Omni modeler and couldn’t be happier. I couldn’t believe the difference between the Aztec and the Omni.

I got the 6000. I thought the ability to use my Aztec cups would be a good feature — and it turns out I use the large Aztec bottles all the time, for cleaning. See my other posts on my Omni experience.

3

The Omni 5000 has a 1/8 oz color cup which will almost cover an entire model, but I would prefer the Omni 4000 as it has a 1/3 oz cup and it comes with a lid to cover the cup so that you don’t accidently spill paint out of the cup.
The Omni 5000 is the exact same airbrush, it was just designed for using smaller amounts of paint for illustration use and such. You could mix up enough paint and fill the cup a second time during a painting session if you prefer this model over the 4000.

Yes, they will easily spray fine enough for that. With practice you can get down to a 1/32" line or less. The Badger rating for the Omni’s is 2x hairline to 1" spray pattern.

Yes they are. They come with solvent resistant “O” rings too. But do not submerge them in lacquer thinner as they will not take that. I would order a few extra needles, tips and “O” rings just to have for spares though since you are so far away.

Yes, you will need to buy another airhose. I like the 10’ Badger braided airhose with the quick connects. It is very nice.

I hope this helps mate. [;)]

Mike

4

I have the Omni 5000, and it is truly awesome. Like Mike said, the 6000 is the same, just with a different type of cup. Sometimes, think I should have bought the 6000 ‘cause of the cup…other times I look at the 5000 and think it just looks too sexy to pass up!! I just like the sleek look. I mix enough paint to fill my cup twice, and so far have only had to fill it up again to cover a model twice. The only time I wish it was larger, is when I spray Future…it goes through the brush like water…LOL I too have the Badger 10’ hose, and it’s the best for your $$$ I think.

5

im thinkin’ hard about purchasing another gravity feed brush with a cap on the color cup. i currently have the omni 5000 and love it. the only thing i wonder about and dont actually know for sure, is the thinner would be less likely to evaporate and the paint would be consistantly as thin the whole spray session. this just may be my ignorance, but it seems that if i have a spray session that lasts longer than 7 or 8 minutes(especially trying to achieve the fine line), that the thinner tends to rise to the surface and paint sinks to the bottom of the bowl. maybe the cap on the omni 4000 would be better suited for the larger applications such as base coat. the 5000 works great except for that little quirk. i may just be too picky. when i can afford it, ill purchase the 4000 probably. later.

6

Correction: It is an 8 ft. hose with the female quick disconnect.
It is Badger item number 50-2018. [;)]

Mike

7

I asked that very sam question recently , contemplating the purchase of my new Omni6000. Check out my report on it, hope this helps you make an informed decision.
http://www.finescale.com/fsm/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=15837