Iwata hp-c testimonials ?!?

AJ,

Unless you are going to be spraying very thin acrylics I wouldn't buy the HP-C. I think the Eclipse series of Iwata's would be a better bet if you want an Iwata.

Mike

What others would you recommend Mike ? I want something around that price range that can give me both wide area coverage or fine detail if needed - preferrably Gravity Fed, also ease or cleaning. I've been hearing that there are airbrushes that only use one nozzle for all apps. Which are these ? Do you know ?

The Iwata I use is sold under a local companies name.

I got both the 0.2mm & 0.3mm nozzles and needles, didn't feel like swapping them over so I got 2 brushes.
With the 0.2mm nozzle I can do really fin work.

For large things like priming, large area paintjobs and similar I use a different brush.

IMHO, the brushes are easy to clean and to replace parts if needed.

QUOTE: Originally posted by ajthomas What others would you recommend Mike ? I want something around that price range that can give me both wide area coverage or fine detail if needed - preferrably Gravity Fed, also ease or cleaning. I've been hearing that there are airbrushes that only use one nozzle for all apps. Which are these ? Do you know ?

How about the Eclipse CS? I am not sure as to how detailed you need your airbrush to be but the Eclipse will spray a pretty fine line as will the Omni 4000 which is another great gravity feed model. Airbrushes like the HP-C, Sotar 20/20, and others are illustrators airbrushes and although some people have used them with good success with really thin acrylics they are for the most part, overkill for modeller's use, that is unless you plan on freehanding some nose art on the side of a 1/48 scale P-47 or something.
What specifically are you planning on painting with this airbrush?

Mike

Mike,

As I said, it's to replace my Aztek 470 as my general airbrush. I'm doing 1/48 aircraft, 1/350 ships plus getting into figures. I just want something that will give me a good allround brush.... So I can get in for the fine stuff, panel lines and maybe some detail on the figures (won't be doing any nose art though) - through to laying down base colours for my aircraft and ships.

Also of note, I'm using primarily acrylics - tamiya and getting into vallejo.

Thanks

AJ,

For a general, all-around gravity fed airbrush, I would chose the Eclipse CS if you want an Iwata or the Thayer & Chandler Omni 4000 if you want an airbrush almost as good for less money.
Those would be my two best choices of gravity fed models.
If you eventually get into extreme details then I would look into something like the Sotar 20/20 for that use.

Mike

Has anybody heard of the HP-CP or C Plus ?

This is the only one my local dist. has, they say it's very similar to the CS except it's a 0.3 nozzle ?

Any thoughts ?

AJ,

If you don't mind a long distance phone call then I would call Dave Monnig at Coast Airbrush in Anaheim, CA U.S.A.
He knows airbrushes better than anyone around and can tell you everything you need to know about the Iwatas or any other brand for that matter.

His number is (714) 635-5557

Hours PST
Monday Fri Sat - 9:30am to 5:00pm
Tues Wed Thur - 9:30am to 6:00pm
Sunday closed

Mike

i have the iwata hp-c.
i built mostly robotic resin kits so i'm not really sure about a plane or a car.
this airbrush has served its purpose for the most part.
but i have no clue as to how anyone can do panel lines with these. i mean, it won't give a fine hair line type of mark. it can give a pretty thin line though but not sure if it's to your liking.
i don't draw lines with these only paint the overall surface.

if i want the paint to come out to cover a larger surface area, i just slide the airbrush needle back a little to create a larger hole and the paint comes out more largely. covering a larger surface.

i've heard that it's not the best airbrush out there. but i don't know much about an airbrush so i can't really say specifically.

but the hp-c is pretty good for an overall ground of work.

just make sure that the airbrush compressor is as good as the airbrush. not get a cheap one that can't even adjust the psi pressure.

QUOTE: Originally posted by lonerbboy i've heard that it's not the best airbrush out there. but i don't know much about an airbrush so i can't really say specifically.

Actually the Iwata HP-C is considered by many to be the best illustrator airbrush ever made. It continually sells year after year for this purpose.

Mike

Hey, I was thinking about getting either an Iwata Eclipse SBS or Badger 360 for upgrading my Aztek 470. The Aztek had served me fine until recently when I was getting a bunch of clogged nozzles. Can't afford to keep replacing them, and also I wanted to do more freehand detail work.

The reason I was looking into those brushes are twofold. One is that they have a cone nozzle so you don't have to change tips to get fine and heavy spray patterns. Two is that they can both be used in siphon and gravity feed mode. That was one feature of the Aztek that I really liked. The Eclipse is also the airbrush recommended for models. It has a side feed and best of all takes Aztek color cups and siphon caps.

The Badger 360, I did eventually get, and just did some test spraying with it. It's very nice. I could get some very fine lines and also blast my model with clear coat just by varying the trigger. The Badger 360 is almost identical to the Badger Anthem except for the body. All the other parts are the same. The Badger 360 is also very similar to the OMNI Matrix.

Since Iwata is like the Mercedes of airbrushes, I just got to own the Eclipse SBS. I'm pretty sure I'll find one in one of my coming Christmas presents. Then I'll get a chance to compare between the Badger 360 and Eclipse. By the way, when I called dixie art regarding these brushes the guy was very helpful. He told me that I won't be able to do anything with these brushes that I can't do with the Aztek 470 or Badger 200's I got, but one of my reasons for getting another brush is that I don't want to bother with changing tips for the different spray patterns.

I've got an eclipse HP-CS and a Sotar and I can tell you-get the Iwata, don't bother with the Sotar. With a little practice you can get incredibly fine lines with the Iwata spraying enamels as long as you thin a little more than usual(1:1 or more) and use low pressure(10 psi). My Sotar wasn't worth the money, not even close. The Iwata can do no wrong. One of these days I'll get an omni 4000 just out of curiosity as it's seems like it's the only one that I don't own.