I know nothing about airbrushes. What should a newbie start out with?

what scale and type of pieces are you going to be finishing?  Are you just doing prototypical color or will you be wanting to do detail finishing as well?  Your question may be best answered with other questions to better help direct you.  If you'd like you can email at kenbadger@aol.com as although I am posting a response here I am rarely active in the forum and may not get back to any response you post for sometime.  Sounds like you're in need of information soon.

Take air,

 Ken @ Badger

Mark 10:27

In line with the above advice, spend a little extra for quality from the get-go.  You'll be much happier with the results, will get years of faithful service from the equipment, and if worse comes to worse, you can always resell quality stuff for nearly what you paid for it.  Once you know you have quality equipment, you can't blame it for your mess ups, and that's where practice and technique comes in.

Since the bandwagon for "here's what I have" has already rolled, allow me to jump on...my setup is an Iwata HP C-Plus, and an Iwata Smart Air compressor.  I paid a bit more than I had planned, but I know I won't be throwing any more money into an airbrush for a *long* time.

Happy building! 

usmc1371 wrote:

I'm currently using the Paasche H and I love it.  It's the easiest, most reliable airbrush I've ever used.  With my limited skills, I've been able to free hand camo on 1/35th armor using both acrylics and enamels.  I also use Paasche's D200R compressor and regulator.  The whole setup cost me about $200 from DixieArt.  It was well worth the money. Jesse

The Paasche H is a real classic and my first AB dated back to the 80's. The package looks identical to mine and still costs about one single box model.

It requires "Recommended Air Pressure .5 to 1 CFM @ 20 to 45 lbs. depending on tip size and fluid being sprayed". The flow rate and pressure are beyond those provided by most low end airbrush compressors. It served me well for 20+ years as my only AB, but I used very thinned paints and had to take it apart to clean. I decided to upgrade when I kept reading how much easier it was to clean the Iwata. I like the Iwata much better, but it costs 2.5 times more than the Paasche H. It's well woth it for the next 20 years.

I'm currently using the Paasche H and I love it.  It's the easiest, most reliable airbrush I've ever used.  With my limited skills, I've been able to free hand camo on 1/35th armor using both acrylics and enamels.  I also use Paasche's D200R compressor and regulator.  The whole setup cost me about $200 from DixieArt.  It was well worth the money.

Jesse

I upgraded my AB earlier this year.  I decided on a gravity feed because it was a better match to my small compressor. When I shopped, I looked for something that was easy to clean. It eliminated the Aztek. I did not want a no name brand clone. I want the full manufacturer's warranty. The Iwata HP-CS was cheaper than the equivalent Badger (Renegade) and Paasche (Talon) models when I used the Hobby Lobby 40% coupon. (It was less than $100 and came with an inline moisture filter and an extra nozzle, and 5 years warranty.) The replacement needle and nozzle are also the cheapest among the three brands as long as HL carries them.

Then, I also got an Iwata clone (Powercat 203 with the micro air valve) out of curiocity. The clone actually work quite well too. It may be an option if you are really pinch for cash. For the long run, the Iwata is still my ONLY choice.

Then, I got a new and more powerful compressor shortly afterward. See my other post on the compressor. The selection of the Iwata is straightly a personal perference based on economics and not a comparison among the major brands.

I'll throw my vote out for the Paasche H. It wasn't my first airbush, but it was the one that I really began to understand the basics of airbrushing. Defiinately buy the set; I bought the airbrush "card set" and I've been kicking myself ever since (I was a little kid at the time and didn't know any better!).

As for air supply, I use a gas cylinder from a welding supply store. My gas of choice is Nitrogen. I'd recomend buying a tank somewhere though. My rental bill is tiresome to pay (It's only $7.47 a month). Here's some tips learned the hard way: Do not buy an aluminum tank, as they abosolutely refuse to even test anything built before 1985 (bad aluminum, tank goes kablooey). Also, if you get a small tank for CO2 for sodas, make sure that you get one with no rubber on the bottom. They refuse to test these ones as well. 

 I hope this helps!

Don't get a cheap airbrush setup because you think you are just starting out. I made that mistake, TWICE. The first airbrush I had was a bundle from Testors called "Mighty Mini." It came with a compressor and an external mix single-action airbrush. It was cheap but right from the beginning it wasn't adequate. But I still thought I was just starting, so I bought ANOTHER bundle from Testors, the "Complete Airbrush System." It came with a Blue Ice compressor and a double action Aztek airbrush. Guess what? It was fine for a couple models, then the airbrush physically broke in the middle. It broke at where the gravity-fed cup attaches to the airbrush. Since it's made of plastic, and I usually twisted the cup out, that part just became very brittle and weak.

So at the end I got myself a Badger 360 and a Hobbyico compressor with a pressure regulator/moisture trap. The small gravity cup is actually good for putting paint for pre or post-shading panel lines, then I use the siphon-fed for larger areas. In the end, I wasted somewhere around $200-300 for the Testor setups, so I suggest that you should start with an airbrush that you are going to use for a long time, rather then upgrading it one by one.

Ross and Andy have given you some good information. You'll also need an air source. Don't bother with the pressurized cans, they cause nothing but heartache and they end up being very expensive in a short while.

If you have a garage compressor get a long hose and a pressure regulator to run into your painting area. That's what I do.

You might even be able to salvage your stock of Tamiya paints. They airbrush beautifully!

ABARNE wrote:

I agree with Ross about the Aztek (and pretty much everything else as well).  I had an Aztek A430, followed all cleaning and care instructions to the letter, and it died after only a couple of models.  Testor's did replace it, but during the three week turnaround, I moved on. I have a Paasche H which I use for all my acrylic painting.  It's easy to use and as reliable as an anvil.  It's an excellent choice for someone starting out.  Technically it is not as capable as a double action, but to be fair it will handle most anything that you would likely need to do in the foreseeable future.  Its fine line control is sufficiently detailed to handle free hand camo on 1/72 armor.  If you get one of these, look for the Paasche H Set which includes fine, medium, and wide tips, color cup, small and large bottles.  Check out DixieArt.com for good prices and service. I also have a Badger 200NH which is a single action version of their double action Anthem 155.  It's also a very good airbrush.  With the same needle and tip as their double action type, it actually has a bit more theoretical control than the Paasche and probably better atomization as well, although I find it hard to really see much of a difference on the model after painting. For another double action alternative, loook into the Badger 100 series.  Whatever you get, the main thing is Practice, Practice, Practice. Good luck. Andy  Andy,  Thanks for the great info!  I've looked at the Paasche H set and I think I'm gonna give this airbrushing thing a shot.

I agree with Ross about the Aztek (and pretty much everything else as well).  I had an Aztek A430, followed all cleaning and care instructions to the letter, and it died after only a couple of models.  Testor's did replace it, but during the three week turnaround, I moved on.

I have a Paasche H which I use for all my acrylic painting.  It's easy to use and as reliable as an anvil.  It's an excellent choice for someone starting out.  Technically it is not as capable as a double action, but to be fair it will handle most anything that you would likely need to do in the foreseeable future.  Its fine line control is sufficiently detailed to handle free hand camo on 1/72 armor.  If you get one of these, look for the Paasche H Set which includes fine, medium, and wide tips, color cup, small and large bottles.  Check out DixieArt.com for good prices and service.

I also have a Badger 200NH which is a single action version of their double action Anthem 155.  It's also a very good airbrush.  With the same needle and tip as their double action type, it actually has a bit more theoretical control than the Paasche and probably better atomization as well, although I find it hard to really see much of a difference on the model after painting.

For another double action alternative, loook into the Badger 100 series. 

Whatever you get, the main thing is Practice, Practice, Practice. Good luck.

Andy 

First off, don't get an Aztek. I say this because about half the people who do swear at them. The other half swear by them. That makes me leary.

Double action brushes are slightly harder to learn (practice, practice, practice!) but more capable. Single action are a little easier to learn, but less capable.

Gravity fed airbrushes require less air pressure for a given technique than siphon fed and are usually easier to clean. Siphon fed require more air pressure, but usually have at least a potential for larger paint capacity.

I have a Thayer & Chandler (owned and manufactured by Badger) Omni 4000 (that's a double action, gravity fed type) and love it. It's a great all around airbrush capable of doing very fine detail as well as large areas without changing the tip or the needle.

Badger also makes other fine air brushes. A search of these forums should yield a nearly overwhelming amount of information and recommendations.

If you want a single action brush, the Paasche H is an old but good, siphon fed design. I still have mine.

The First Rule of Airbrushing: PRACTICE! PRACTICE! PRACTICE!!

Have fun!