Which airbrush should I buy?

Alright I will put my 2cents in on this topic. I have several Aztec and Testor Airbrushes. I have the five year aniversary set that has the 470, and the 270?? (I think) I also have a 3000S, and three other smaller Testor model airbrushes. I like the Aztec because of its ease of cleaning and use. YOU NEVER HAVE TO OPEN THE BODY!!!. I have turuette's and I think that if I had to stumble with all of those parts I would go crazy. I like the way I can change nozzels and colors on the fly and I love it's lightweight and the feel of the airbrush in my hands.

f-4's rule the skies...

buy an aztek if you want a 'family car' affordable does the job and versatile. buy an brand such as iwata if you want to have a 'sports car', expensive but nothing else compares. i think mike said it best if you are only painting models get something like an aztek. i own a aztek and it is great for modelling but i am thinking about getting an iwata or something similar to do artwork with. i haven't used an iwata but have read that they are one of the best for finishes and detailing.... once you got the hang of airbrushing. read any airbrushing magazine and you will only see iwatas, paashe, olympic being used but in modeling mag azteks are slightly more common.
a lot of it comes down to peronal choise and budget. ie some people don't like the rear mounted air inlet on the azteks or the fact you can't pull it appart to clean.
get something that you feel you can master. a good fnish with a crap airbrush compared to a crap finish with a good airbrush is by far better.
the aztek 470 has the advantage where you can use it as either a double or single action brush. (i am unsure if any other brushes offer this feature). the aztek doesn't have to be pulled appart to be cleaned. pulling appart a brush can be a bit dounting for some people the first time.
i recomend if you haven't used an airbrush before get a nice cheep one, learn how to use it and work out what features you want in your 'good' airbrush.

i think a lot of the time it comes down to personal choice, your budget and what you want to use it for.
i own a aztek 470 and learnt to airbrush using this. it is fairly forgiving and quite versatile. every time i use it i feel guilty that i haven't cleaned it properly, ie i cant get in to clean some noks and crannies, but saying that it usually needs a quick blow through with a bit of gun was.
i am thinking about buying a new brush such as an iwata or paashe, they can be pulled apart and cleaned in pieces. also if a piece malfunctions you only have to replace a singular part not the whole brush. but pulling apart a brush will also wear the parts, which may lead to the need of replacement.
i would suggest that the azteks lend themselves more towards the model market while brands such as iwata lend themselves more towards the art world.
do not quote me on this but i would describe the azteks like a family car, does the job and very versatile, whereas iwatas are like your sports car, a much better product, but you pay the price to buy.

Regarding extra parts:

If you are careful and take care of your airbrush, the parts will last a long time. If it comes with a protective 'cap' for the needle, USE IT! My needle sticks out from the end of the brush and it would be very easy to bump it or damage it if I didn't use the cap. I have a couple of extra needles and nozzles, but so far I'm still using the original that came with the brush.

M.

Very sound advice. Plan on lots of practicing; it won't be an overnight success but it WILL happen. Buy an airbrush (a Badger 155 Anthem in my case) was one
of the best purchases I've ever made. Best of luck with it.
Paul

Good advice George.

Lito.sf,

Just remember that with a double-action airbrush you ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, keep the trigger pushed all the way down for air and then pull back the trigger a little at a time to get the desired amount of paint flowing. With an airbrush like the Eclipse, which is a copy of the Vega 2000 design and was designed for T-shirt artists, it will blast a huge amount of paint if the trigger is pulled back all the way. Practice as George mentioned and you will get the hang of it in a short time.

Mike

lito.sf,

I'm sure you'll enjoy your brand new airbrush and -in time- you'll be able to get the best out of it...

However, you should bear in mind that double action airbrushes are somehow "tricky" tools in the hands of a newbie, since they usually require a lot of practice in handling them so as for one to reach to their full potentials... So, grab yourself a lot of styrene sheets and ...on with the show!!!

Lito,

If you are careful with the needle and tip in that Iwata it should last quite a long time. Just don't push the needle up into the tip too hard when you reassemble it after cleaning. Push it softly until it is seated into the tip fully and then tighten the needle chuck. I would guess the original needle and tip will last possibly a few years if cared for, maybe longer.

Mike

Thanks a lot guys for helping me out here, and the result was that I´ve already ordered my airbrush from dixieart: Iwata eclipse bs, I hope I like it, I´ve ordered also an extra needle and nozle, is it enough? do needles damage easily ? How long do they last?
Anyway i´m looking forward to get it in my hands, living in Portugal means wainting a couple of weeks at least

George,

It sounds like you have some good stores there in Greece.

I live in the San Francisco Bay area and the only stores in my area carry Paasche or Badger with a limited selection of each.

It all depends on your location I guess.

Mike

QUOTE: Originally posted by MikeV ...The problem is that there are very few places that have more than one brand of airbrush to choose from unless you live near a store like Coast Airbrush in Anaheim, CA or Dixie Art in New Orleans that carry at least 4 brands and several models of each brand....

Well, by saying <store> in my previous post, I didn't mean <a single store>, but rather <going shopping>, although, here in Athens Greece there are many hobby shops that may stock as many as 4 or 5 brands of airbrushes....

I have to agree with some of the folks out there that say there probably is no one best solution. I was in your shoes last year, just getting into this hobby myself. I went with the Iwata Eclipse and I absolutely love it. It has a really nice weight and feels very solid in my hands. Best of all for me at least, there is only one needle size, no changing between 3 different needles. It has been great and I am glad I made the purchase. The only thing is, I don't see a lot of local places carrying Iwata parts so make sure you order some extra needles and a nozzle or two, I see more Badger and Paasche pieces than anything else, and from what I hear, they both make excellent equipment as well.

I will agree with the recommendation for Dixies Art, they have always been quick to ship, and they offer FREE shipping on any purchases over $45. That said, also make sure you find yourself a decnt compressor as well.

Hope that helps, good luck!

George,

Good advice my friend. I agree completely.

The problem is that there are very few places that have more than one brand of airbrush to choose from unless you live near a store like Coast Airbrush in Anaheim, CA or Dixie Art in New Orleans that carry at least 4 brands and several models of each brand. Most people starting out go to a place like Michael's or another art store in their area that carries only one brand or maybe two if you are lucky and the people working there usually couldn't tell you the difference in a single-action vs a double action model.

Mike

lito.sf,

Still confused after having read this thread so far? Well, you should be!

For, you see, you've asked a question that CANNOT be answered in a single or unanimous manner. If it could, then there wouldn't be so many brands selling on the market.

So, let me give you my piece of advise here. Think about it:

1. Before you decide what's best for you, go out and get as many specs sheets as you can and then make your personal study and comparison. The net is a great help on this as well.

2. Then study some more and if you need further info feel free to ask your way around, but do ask about specifications, not about brands... Asking about brands will get you nowhere...

3. Always keep in mind that there is NO ABSOLUTE "best" and, also, that the best airbrush you can get is the one that your money can buy.

4. Eventually, after having done as said above, you'll come up with 3 or 4 candidates. Then (and only then) will be the proper time for you to go to the store. Ask the dealer to show the said airbrushes to you, and sense the way each one of them "behaves" when in your hand. Then, all of the sudden, in a pretty strange way at that, ...you'll know. Suddenly, your choice will be more than obvious... Maybe, this has to do with the fact that an airbrush is not just a modeler's tool. It's rather a modeler's companion in his/her hobby. I still get this feeling when I paint using my 10 years old Olympos HP-101...

Happy hunting...

QUOTE: Originally posted by MBiE I have a Badger 150, Badger Cresendo, and a Thayer and Chandler Vega 2000 all siphon feeded Airbrushes.

Eric,

Is your Vega 2000 one of the newer design models or one of the original Vega's? Just curious as I have heard the new Vega's are not quite as good as the originals.

I have one of the original Vega 2000's that I use for T-shirts and I have a Vega 1000 which is the same airbrush except that it is a top feed airbrush with a built-in color cup. I use the Vega 1000 for models.

Mike

I have a Badger 150, Badger Cresendo, and a Thayer and Chandler Vega 2000 all siphon feeded Airbrushes.
I also have a Holbein Homhi Y3 gravity feeded airbrush for detailing.
If must choose one of the Siphon feeded airbrushes I would choose the Thayer and Chandler, this one gives the best spray patern without a lot of exercise.

http://users.skynet.be/mbie

Regards

eric

in So. Cal, Micheals is an arts & crafts store. Almost every week they put a coupon in the LA Times for 40% any single item. You can use it on anything!! Even your $100+ airbrush!! www.michaels.com

QUOTE: Originally posted by unnamedplayer i still say get iwata casue they are the best

The best? That is a relative term my friend.

They are great no doubt but there are others just as good.

We are painting plastic models here and an airbrush like the Iwata Micron or Sotar 20/20 is not necessary unless you want to freehand noseart with it.

Any of the above named airbrushes in this thread are more than adequate for this hobby and in the hands of someone experienced you could not tell the difference.

Mike

i still say get iwata casue they are the best

Lito,

As a T-shirt airbrush artist I have some experience with airbrushes so I hope I can be of help.

The Iwatas are great airbrushes but they are expensive for replacement tips and needles. There are several well-made airbrushes out there depending on what you want in an airbrush. I feel the best all-around airbrush is probably the Thayer & Chandler (Badger) Omni line. My second choice would be the Vega 2000 also made by T&C (Badger).

Some people like the Paasche VL (I don't), others like the Badger Crescendo, and Anthem models.

The choice is yours and holding them is the best way to see what feels best to you. I had a Paasche VL to start with and they are big, bulky and unbalanced in my opinion. I bought a Thayer & Chandler Vega 2000 and noticed a huge difference right away and started painting better on my T-shirt work.

In regards to buying at Michael's art supply, I would'nt buy anything from them unless you have no other choice.
They are high priced, and the people working there are clueless as to what an airbrush is.

My recommendation is to shop online or on the phone with either Dixie Art in New Orleans, or Bear Air in MA.

Here are their web addresses:

dixieart.com

bearair.com

Let me know if you have any further questions if I can help.

Mike

I have a Paasche VL and am very happy with it. Does a great job, well built, no troubles, etc, etc, etc. Very versatile sice I have all three needle/tip combinations. I just ordered a Badger 100G because I want to try working with a gravity feed brush rather than siphon. It should be here in a couple of weeks.

M.

I have an Aztec and while it's ok, I have a feeling one of the other brands may be a little more flexible. They may also have a little steeper learning curve though. One problem I have with mine is that sometimes you really have to tighten the nozzle to keep it from leaking air and paint from behind the nozzle and occasionally the needle will stick even though I try to be very thorough when I clean it. I do like the fact that you can use it as a single action or double action brush and it wasn't expensive. Maybe I'm not fine tuning the adjustments closely enough but there does seem to be too much of a gap between nozzle sizes sometimes. Or maybe it's just me. I don't have that much experience with airbrushing. I wish I would have had the chance to try different types before I bought one.

Check Dixie Art and Airbrush Supplies for good online prices. WWW.dixieart.com/.

I have several models of Azteec that I'm satisfied with. I also have an old Binks Wren mocel A that I still use for general detail and broad surfaces. Stick with the brands you are familiar with, since your circumstances don't permit testing a variety of brushes. Good luck with your search. -Ed

I have the aztek and am very happy with that. It was easy to learn and to clean, and seems to hold up reasonably well to abuse.

My best advice though would be if someone in your area will show you how to use an airbrush. In that case, I would purchase the same model they use, to save the learning curve.

Otherwise, the only way to teach yourself is to put a lot of paint through the nozzel. Try painting file folders, and then old models before stepping up to your current masterpiece!

Happy painting!

Kurt

do you know the website name?
thanks
I dont have friends modelers, I´m alone in this decision,
the guys at the stores here in Portugal know less then I do,
they just don´t know nothing about the products

Try several types (if your modelling buddies have 'em, try theirs!). and make your mind up then. By the way, Michael's does have a website. - Ed

get the new aztec made out of metal. its highperformance and easy! if you get the passhe or badgers (double action) you will have a long time to learn it.

don t buy Revell