Opinions of Badger 155 Anthem

I love my Anthem, it was my first air brush purchase and I am happy with it.  Last year I added a 100LG for some detail work that I could'nt accomplish with the Anthem.  But I still use the Anthem more then the 100LG.  Don't know about the trigger pad, lost it long ago.

Interestingly, I have both!  I wanted the 200 NH originally, but was given the 200 g for my birthday a few years ago.  So I bought a NH from Michales (love those 50% off coupons!)

As I have 1 of each head type, I will probably stick with the 155.  Do you use a 150?  What is the difference between the two?

Mainly I shoot acrylics (tamiya, goldens, vallejo).  I paint some starship models and armored veicles.

You can find a review of the 155 and the 3155 on my website here

Don 

Killjoy wrote:

Interestingly, I have both!  I wanted the 200 NH originally, but was given the 200 g for my birthday a few years ago.  So I bought a NH from Michales (love those 50% off coupons!) As I have 1 of each head type, I will probably stick with the 155.  Do you use a 150?  What is the difference between the two? Mainly I shoot acrylics (tamiya, goldens, vallejo).  I paint some starship models and armored veicles.

Basically it's old vs. new tech.

The older 100/150/200 series utilize fine, medium and coarse needles with matching head/nozzle assemblies. The coarse can be ignored as it is designed for larger pigments found in craft paints and is more of a T-shirt AB. The medium can spray from 1/16" up to 2 1/2" while the fine can spray down to a pencil line while still outputting a fair amount of paint when wide open. In reality, I use the medium needle and have (so far anyway) not found a need to exchange needle size for fine lines.

The newer 200NH and 155 Anthem (along with the 360) all use the new two angle cone that was supposed to eliminate the need for changing needles. However, Badger must have realized that there was a need for a different size as they offer a fine line needle and head for the NH series. That is sold as the 3155 as Don pointed out in his review (nice review, Don! )

In pratical use, there probably isn't a big difference in use for the typical modeler between the 150 or the 155. I have deliberately kept within one series as it is problematic to get off the shelf parts where I live so I have to keep an assortment of parts on hand for those moments that make you go "oops". Having one spare head assembly that can fit three different airbrushes is a big plus.

Since you have a mixed bag already, go for the one that either fits your hand, or your pocketbook, whichever is the most important. They are ALL fine airbrushes.

Thanks for the info!  This has helped a ton!  I do think I'll go with the 155 based on what I have heard and read here as well as elsewhere.

Bgrigg, yeah, I can see how getting stuff off the shelf could be difficut way up there!  I have spent quite a bit of time in BC, but it was always around Vancouver, Victoria, Nainimo, sechelt, etc.  Never been up your way.  What's it like there?

Chris

Hi Chris,

Kelowna is very similar to the Napa Valley region of California, except it gets forking cold in the winter (0 fahrenheit right now!), which is good for the icewine guys, I guess. Lots of sunshine in the summer with tons of fruit trees, golf courses and wineries, not to mention the skiing. We're big on tourism

I grew up in Nanaimo and spent 15 years in Vancouver, so I'm very familiar with all those regions.

Good luck with the 155! It's a good airbrush.

Cheers, Bill

Just my opinion, but I like how easy the 155 (and 200NH) is to dissasemble and thoroughly clean. The older style brushes are a real pain to re-assemble. The 155/200NH practically falls together.

DMK,

Just go to Don Wheeler's airbrush tips website.  He does reviews on the 200NH as well as the Badger 155 Anthem.  He also has a cleaning airbrushes page that is very informative.  Don is a very great person and responds to just about all e-mails that you send him.  I have gained quite a knowledge base by reading his website.  Any questions I have had I just shoot him an e-mail and his response is almost immediate, at least within a day.  His style and manner are very straightforward and very informative.  I consider him to be the expert guru on just about any airbrush.  He has tips on how to "tune" your airbrush to fit your particular need.  A really stand-up guy.

Rusty in eastern Tennessee (Witherington Place Railroad)

W Rusty Lane, 

Nice thread necromancy. Only 9 years since the last reply!  

I believe that Rusty is a relatively new member of the forum who has only made a very modest number of posts here. It is sometimes easy to forget that there is a vast catalog of information about this hobby made in the archives. When you find a thread that inspires you to contribute a thought to a conversation, it becomes very easy to click on the reply button without giving thought to a date on the posts. It is merely a minor faux pas that is common in this forum and it is more the stuff of enthusiasm than ill intent.

Rusty made a contribution and his opinion is shared by many other members, as Don Wheeler has been recognized for both his expertise and his kind nature. A very good number of us regard him as an authority on all things related to airbrushes. Seldom does a week pass without at least one person recommending to seek his advice. All in all, Rusty has done fine in his third post with us.

Thank you both for the contributions- both the advice and the smile!

IT'S ALIVE!!!!!!!!!!! RUN!!!!!!!

Thanks Rusty.  

I agree that Don is a great guy and his site is a wealth of information. 

For anyone who hasn't visted it yet (or hasn't in a while), here's a link to his site:

https://sites.google.com/site/donsairbrushtips/home

I feel like I should make a comment here, but I'm not sure what.  I appreciate the kind words.  I'm just an old fart with time on my hands.  If I can help someone with an airbrush question, it makes me feel good.  If it didn't, I wouldn't.

Don