Need help deciding which airbrush to purchase!!!

It's easier to just point you in the direction of MusicCity's article on airbrushes. That will teach you everything you wanted to know about external vs. internal mix, gravity vs. siphon feed, single vs. dual action as well as the varied means to supply air.

Which is the best is completely up to the user. Airbrushes are tools, and the best hammer in the hands of a newbie is going to bend nails. It takes practice, practice and more practice to become proficient in using this tool. It's also going to be a major investment for anyone to get into a complete airbrush system.

One thing I've learned since getting into airbrushes, is that they are both easy and frustrating to use. Spraying your first flood coat of paint will make you wonder why you waited so long, and your first crack at camo will cause you to think you've made a terrible mistake.

If you're anything like me, you won't settle for just one, here's my stable:

Badger 100LG: Top mounted gravity fed dual action internal mix with medium needle. I actually have another 100LG with the fine needle. The color cup, while called "Large" isn't and requires refilling for large painted areas. This airbrush gets my "Cold Dead Hands" award.

Badger 150: Bottom mounted siphon fed dual action internal mix with medium needle. This shares the same parts as the 100LG (except for the actual airbrush body) and was my first airbrush. Came with both a 1/4 oz. color cup, 1 and 2 1/2 oz. bottles. It is a good brush, but I find the 100LG a little easier to clean, so the 150 stays in the toolbox. This brush could be pried from my fingers, but I'll put up one hell of a fight.

Badger 200-20: Bottom mounted siphon fed single action internal mix with medium needle. This shares the same head assembly as the 100LG and 150, but the needle is significently longer. This is considered a "detail" brush, and since you dial in the needle position I can spray a finer line with this brush than the 100 or 150. I find it more of a pain to adjust the needle and it takes a bit of trial and error to match previously sprayed lines, but it's a darn nice brush and also gets the "Cold Dead Hands" Award.

Clone of a Badger 350: Bottom mounted sphon fed single action external mix. I bought this for $10 at a discount parts store. It does a surprisingly good job of flood coats, and I keep it around for spraying Future as clear coats.

If I had to do it all over again, I would go buy the Badger Renegade Velocity. It's the newest version of the 100LG, though all new parts. It's very similar to the Iwata HP-CS and the Paasche Talon.

For general modeling, you cannot go wrong with Iwata HP-CS, Badger Renegade Velocity or Paasche Talon. All under $100. Personally, I have the Iwata and prefer it because I can get spare parts (cheap without shipping) at Hobby Lobby.

For compressor, BearAir, Airbrush Depot and Airbrush City have house brand compressors which are better deal than the name brand ones. Get one with at least 0.7 CFM at 35 psi or higher. Pay attention to the spec which must be xx CFM at yy psi. It is false advertising when the spec says max xx CFM and yy psi separately. Depending on the compressor you choose, expect $150-200 min.

If you are not certain about investing in airbrushing, Habor Freight has a combo of compressor with a Badger 155 clone brush for about $100. They work quite well when new. I just don't know how well the AB clone last. Just remember the old saying: Buy cheap, buy twice.

 

I have to say that my favorite is the Iwata HP-CS. Its easy to clean, use, and can spray pretty much any effect you might want to do. It easily beats my old Aztec brush I used for years. The effects that were a pain to spray with my Aztec are easy with my Iwata and I didn't realize how thick my Aztec sprayed until I got the Iwata. And the Aztec was inconsistent and looking back feels limiting. The Iwata I can slowly build up a color, spray panel lines, spray seperate panels for veriation, and then mist a covering spray to bring it all together all in one session. It can do any camo you might want to do. And I build in 1/48. Did I mention that I really like this brush. lol

I tried a Paasche once and only once and didn't like it. It was given to me and I tried it out and just didn't get into it. When I striped it down to clean it seemed to be a pain, but at the time I wasn't use to braking down an airbrush because it was right after my Aztec gave out. So today it might be a different story. I never did that brush back together.

I admit I have no experience with the Badger brushes or any other line but I think any of the Iwata brushs are good, it just depends what you want to do with them and your preverence of style. Its definitly a band to look into.

WARag05 wrote:

That being said, I would like to get an airbrush which produces more professional results. Now that I have the knowledge and funds that I need to make the transition; hopefully some of you can give me some insight on selecting the correct brush for the job.

For your needs, mostly 1/48 acircraft, and even you aren't planning to at the moment, maybe some armor, there's no such thing as the "correct" brush.

All the recommendations given, single action Paasche H, Paasche Talon, Badgers 100, 150, 200-20, Renegade Velocity, Iwata HP-CS, Badger, not to mention the Badger 155 Anthem or its single action brother Badger 200NH can potentially all give you outstanding, professional results.

WARag05 wrote:

I know that skill can only get you so far and that the right tools can get you the rest of the way.

Although the quality of a model's finish is a combination of skill and tool, once you get above a certain threshold of airbrush quality, as are each of the above named airbrushed, your skill is vastly more important than your airbrush. 

        

I highly reccomend a dual-action, gravity feed airbrush. My personal favorites are the brushes by Harder & Steenbeck. The trigger action is very smooth and the production quality is top-notch. They have a brush that come with two sizes of color cups and .15 and .40 mm nozzles and tips. The change out of the nozzles is very easy. It seems that you can buy this set for about $250.00. Pricy? perhaps... However, to get a quality brush (and there are many of them available) along with all of the parts that this set includes, is well worth the money, in my opinion.