What type or model of Airbrush would you guys recommend for someone just starting out?
You might want to post this in the airbrush forum. But I started out with a cheap single action, just to learn the basics. As my skills improved i moved up to the Badger double action 150, and have be very pleased with it so far.
You wouldn’t want to have your first mistake or an airbrush you want to use 2-3 years down the road. Buy a cheap airbrush first to learn the basics and the dos and don’ts. A great starter airbrush is the spray gun that you can buy in a kit from Wal-Mart for $20. It is great for large jobs and it is easy to clean. It teaches you the basics of using an airbrush and how to take care of it.
For a nice airbrush, I’ll recommend two companies that are now one in the same who produce top of the line aibrushes for great prices, Badger, and Thayer and Chandler. I currently have a Vega by T&C and I love it! It is easy to use and clean. I am yet to have any problems with it.
Thanks for the advice!
While many will tell you to go out and buy something basic, there’s a few things to consider first.
How often do you build models? Are you a casual builder, or is this something you’ll pursue with vigor? What do you model? Armor, aircraft, ships, cars? What is your budget? Do you want something to mess around with, or are you looking to make an investment into a tool that will bring you the results you want later on, once your skills have improved?
If you’re looking to get a good quality airbrush that you will be happy with 2-3 years down the road, then don’t waste your money on single action or use propellant cans.
You can buy a decent compressor from your local home-improvement store for under $200, and a Badger 150 or Iwata HP-BCS will cost less than $100. Then you’ve got a rig that you can use for the next 20 years.
Jeff