I’m just getting back into the hobby again and I’ve had airbrushes years ago and I’m in the market to purchse a new one. I like modeling WW I naval and aircraft from all eras plus some sci-fi subjects here and there. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
The question is impossible to answer unless you say something about what kind of $$$ you can spend.
DoC
I’m not so concerned about price as I want quality and a unit that can do general painting to fine camoflage and waethering, I want to spend the money once. Thanks
If money is no concern, then you might want to have a look at something like this:
http://www.harder-airbrush.de/english/evolution_03.html
One can exchange nozzles / needles, and cups (my unit, bought a year ago, came with two needles/nozzle sets and two cups). Simple to use and clean, internal pressure adjustment. A cleaning tool (extra, a year ago) ensures quick and easy cleaning of clogged-up nozzles. Can disassemble nozzle guide and nozzle guard for cleaning. Very convenient. Very easy to use.
Downside: Expensive - both main unit and spare parts. User manual not intended for novices. I destroyed a couple of needles until I found those essential details that ensure that the needle is inserted without snags.
DoC
IMHO a dual action internal mix gravity fed airbrush with a medium needle (~.5mm) is the best all round airbrush for modeling. Smaller needles are often thought to provide thinner lines, but this is less true than most people realize, and can cause issues with paint clogging. I find that gravity fed airbrushes tend to be a little faster on clean up, and leave less waste paint than siphon fed airbrushes. But we are talking a minutes worth of time and drops of paint. I have ended up with four different airbrushes: Badger 100LG dual action gravity feed; Badger 150 dual action siphon feed; Badger 200-20 single action siphon feed (all internal mix); Copycat Badger 350 single action siphon feed external mix. I use my Badger 100LG 90% of the time, the 200 10% and the other two never. I should probably sell the 150, and the copycat was only $10.
Price can be a good guide, but you don’t necessarily get twice the airbrush for twice the money. Parts availability may be difficult given one’s location, and it may be better to choose one brand over another solely on whether or not you can source parts locally. There are few things worse than waiting for a part!
Price vary dramatically depending on your merchant. Online retailers that specialize in airbrushes will be the least expensive and brick and mortar hobby stores will be the most expensive. Exceptions are Michael’s or Hobby Lobby with a 40% off coupon. Stick with a “famous” brand name, as the “copycat” airbrushes can have quality issues, and parts can be impossible to find.
The big “Three” are Badger, Iwata and Paasche. Grex and Harder & Steenbeck are also popular. All sell models in the $75 to $125 range. Iwata, Grex and H&S also sell models for double, or even more, and I’ll argue that most of the benefits of those higher priced airbrushes are more suited for illustration and not modeling.
Brand loyalty is strong, and can be compared to the brand loyalty of automobiles. For example I’m a Badger fan for the lower cost, decent quality, US built and excellent customer service. Call them the Chevrolet of the airbrush world. H&S can be compared to BMW or Mercedes. Both will get you to your destination, and in the pretty much the same amount of time, but at quite different costs. The choice is up to you and your wallet.
Wow, I wish I can say that. If I were in you situation, I will get the following.
This H&S Infinity 2-in-1airbrush. It comes with a 0.4 mm nozzle for general purpose modeling and a 0.15 mm nozzle for fine work. The workmanship is among the best.
And this Silentaire Super Silent DR300 compressor which is as quiet as your refrigerator.
They are NOT the best money can buy, but should be good enough for most modelers. Let us know how you decide.
LOL, $883 dollars later, and you still aren’t calling them the best? I guess the almost $500 Iwata Kustom KCM Micron is a bit better?
Boy, do I feel out of place with my $75 Badger!! [;)]
If you want a silent compressor and aren’t afraid of spending money, you can get a similar (if not the same!) compressor from Badger for a “mere” $490 at their Garage Sale.
True Bill! That is probably the same compressor. [:D]
It still amazes me how mislead many are in this subject. It’s sad really.
Or you can get the Silentaire Super Silent 20A for $462.55. It is the same compressor as the Badger MillionAir. Mike V has one of this. I see no reason to go to “garage sale” when the brand new merchandise is sold for less.
Badger also has these Billion-Air and Trillion-Air Compressor for a little more. They all come from the same factory as the Silentaire. All of them are way above my budget.
Quoted for TRUTH! [Y]
H&S are up there I would say. If you are looking for something realy top-whack you could try SATA, I have never used one, but they are renowned as being somewhere at the top of the stack;
Very interesting link. Apparently no relationship to the Badger SATA 2020 airbrush.
I have never heard of this brand in the US. Do you have any link to a third party review or a forum discussion?
Keilau, that’s SOTAR, not SATA!
I also really like Badger for many reasons already stated. Price, made in USA, not to mention top notch customer service and support. I plan to buy 1 more this year, on another thread, I am talking about either a Velocity or a Patriot…
Don’t get me wrong, if money were no object, an Infinity 2 in 1 would be at my airbrush station. I mean LOOK AT IT! Only Germans could build that! It’s beautiful! But I’d still probably shoot with my 100LG most of the time. Great brush, user friendly, forgiving of mistakes (thankfully!)
Whatever you decide on, as long as you get a quality brush of some kind, and have a reliable air delivery system, your results will be as good as your skill, and the practice and patience you put into it!
Good luck!
Chris
Chris,
You’ve hit on a key point. I’ve long argued that patience, practice and a reliable air supply are more important than the airbrush. That’s why compressors usually cost more money than the airbrush, and patience and practice are priceless.
And I completely agree, the H&S Infinity IS gorgeous!
Guys I appreciate all the recoms and info. I’m looking at either Iwata or Badger, Badger I was told has a combination of gravity feed and siphon feed unit. I am a auto mechanic by trade and I have a very large shop compressor so I use an air tank that can easily be filled at convenience. As far as an AB, when I said cost is not an issue I’m thinking ballpark around $75-$450 tops and I think that’s enough to get a quality unit no ?? I like the gravity feed for detail, weathering, and camo and the siphon for general painting for large surfaces and such. Please any more ideas, pointers, or recommendations I’d really like to hear them.
What’s the best airbrush??? One that you can afford and get the most out of. I have gotten my ABs from ebay. I won a compressorwith a 3lt tank and water trap/regulator, and a set of 6 AB’s in a plastic case with jars and air fittings wrenches for less than $220AUD and have not once let me down. My fave AB has a micro air control and a 7ml cup gravity feed and a .2 mm tip. I have shot fine enough lines that I could do Italian smoke ring camo in 1/72 and not afraid of doing it. When I paint, the left over paint gets used on practice. I have a piece of paper I have managed to put dots about 1/32 of an inch. Braided airline about $10 if you look around. Bottom line is this, don’t discount ebat even though what you buy is not a name brand and you will accomplish the mission at hand. I also look at it as if it does not live up to expectations, it was relatively cheap enough to get another and use old one for parts. Just use your best judgement and shop around. LOL sorry to ramble and hope I have helped some.[t$t]
I have four airbrushes: Badger 100LG (two actually, 1x medium & 1x fine) dual action gravity feed; Badger 150 medium needle dual action siphon feed; Badger 200-20 “Detail” medium needle single action siphon feed; and a Badger 350 Clone single action external mix siphon feed. 90% of the time I use the 100LG medium, and the rest the 200-20 detail. I build cars mostly in 1:24, aircraft in 1:48 and a bit of armor (1:48 & 1:32).
The 100, 150 and 200 all use the same nozzle and air valve, and the 100/150 differs only in the actual body of the airbrush. I could disassemble both, swap all the parts and not tell the difference. The 150/200 use the same color cups or bottles. This gives me parts redundancy. Split the tip on the 200 and I could swap in the one from the 150. In a pinch I could use the 200 needle in the 100, it’s just longer in length.
The number one reason I use the 100LG gravity is because it is slightly easier to clean, and wastes slightly less paint. I use the 200 for fine details, as it is simpler to dial in the needle position and lock it in, than it is to modulate the trigger on the dual action brushes. So basically I choose tools which make my job easier.
Ship builders and larger scale benefit from siphon fed airbrushes, but only in that they don’t have to add more paint to the color cup, like you sometimes must do with a gravity fed cup. Otherwise, siphon fed brushes don’t paint larger surfaces any better. The time spent cleaning the bottle and siphon tube equals or surpasses the time spent adding paint to a color cup.
Badger offers the Universal 360 which combines a smallish color cup with the ability to rotate the cup to the bottom and attach a siphon bottle. It’s likely a fine airbrush, but I tend to dislike tools that try to be different things, as I find they don’t do either very well. I’m sure that’s not the case with the 360, and is solely my personal preference. I wouldn’t buy one because of a preconceived notion.
Since you’re a mechanic you’ll appreciate how your job is easier by using the right tool for the right job. You won’t have just one 9/16" socket, you have both shallow and deep. You won’t have just one size of “slot” screwdriver, you’ll have various sizes and lengths. Painting and airbrushing is the same. It is better to use a tool designed for the job at hand.
If I were you, and money no object, I would be tempted to get the H&S Infinity 2n1. Consider it the Snap-on of the airbrush world. It will work great, be comfortable in your hand, looks fantastic, and with a big price tag.
But I wouldn’t actually get it. I would get the same airbrushes I have (but not the 150, I just don’t use it anymore), though I probably would update them to the Renegade Velocity and Sotar 20/20. Consider them the Craftsman equivalent. Works as great, almost as comfortable, and who cares about the looks? I’m more concerned with the money!
I just had a thought and looked at the online Snap-on catalog, they actually offer airbrushes! To my eye they look like Badger airbrushes with a custom handle, except for the single action which looks like the Paasche. They even offer the Universal 360! All with Snap-on prices! Which is why my toolbox is full of Craftsman tools![;)]
Well said Bill! Snap-On while good tools are so overrated it’s not even funny.
MAC, Proto and others make just as good, if not better tools but the general public wouldn’t know that as advertising has clouded their ability to think for themselves! [8-)]
Well put Bgrigg, I’ll look into that H&S Infinity but I might look into your recommendations as far as what you like to use. When it comes to my tools not everything is Snap-On and yes there are items that they carry like those ABs that are basically $75 Abs with their name on it for the sum of $400 or whatever ridiculous price (Snap-On’s mark up on some of their items is like 200%) but some tools there’s nothing better than Snap-On especially if your paycheck depends on it.