Anyone out there bought anything from BearAir?

OK, one more and I'll stop raining on HSteve's thread...

May be a while Mike, have to find a job first. But that's the plan. And yes, the Crescendo is kinda thick, don't use it often but it does come in handy.

Tony

Wingman_kz

Remember, I've mostly been an automotive modeler till now and the 360 has been great for that. Can't guarantee the accuracy of my regulator but I generally spray from a bottle at 20psi and sometimes drop to 15. Anything less calls for the cup. Not to argue but I don't think you waste that much paint. If you cut your tubes right to fit the bottles you can draw right to the bottom and paint clings to the side of a cup too. And it's a 360. If you need those last few drops then turn the cup to the top and pour 'em in.

Good points Tony. Yes you don't waste much using the glass jar but what is left stuck to the sides and bottom of the jar, while only a few drops could actually paint a small part in a good gravity feed airbrush at lower pressure.

I didn't know the reason behind the needle size in the 175 but that makes sense, it will put out a lot of paint if you want it too. The reason I was looking at it was because the kit included all three size needles, tips and regulators and bought it for the deal I got.

Nothing wrong with that! I just don't care for the thick bodies airbrushes like the Crescendo and the Paasche VL for my main airbrush. Some people prefer that style and that's cool.

When I was airbrushing T-shirts with the Paasche VL my wife bought me a Thayer & Chandler Vega 2000 (The original one) and my skills improved almost right away because it felt so much more comfortable in my hand plus it has a smoother trigger.

I do see a 105 in my future...

Awesome! Keep us posted.

Regarding the original topic; I ordered very recently from BearAir, a twin-piston compressor and the Peak C-5 airbrush. Perfect service, with very fast shipping.

Shipping internationally will kill you in customs fees though.

Yeh, but that's another thing that makes the 360 a very handy AB; pull the bottle, turn the cup up and flush it out. Would be nice if that cup was little bigger but like you said Mike, I mainly use the cup for small parts. Remember, I've mostly been an automotive modeler till now and the 360 has been great for that. Can't guarantee the accuracy of my regulator but I generally spray from a bottle at 20psi and sometimes drop to 15. Anything less calls for the cup. Not to argue but I don't think you waste that much paint. If you cut your tubes right to fit the bottles you can draw right to the bottom and paint clings to the side of a cup too. And it's a 360. If you need those last few drops then turn the cup to the top and pour 'em in. The latest Badger ad I've seen calls the 360 the Raptor of airbrushes.

I didn't know the reason behind the needle size in the 175 but that makes sense, it will put out a lot of paint if you want it too. The reason I was looking at it was because the kit included all three size needles, tips and regulators and bought it for the deal I got. The heavy needle handles metalflakes pretty well. Thanks for the info.

I do see a 105 in my future...

Tony

HSteve

I didn't realize that this is a very subjective topic...

I know I want a double action, with a lock-out feature so I can go single-action for big areas..?

MikeV,

How is it very subjective?

In regards to having the airbrush, "lock-out" as you said that really isn't necessary as it is pretty easy to just hold the trigger down and pull it back for paint. You don't try and control airflow with the airbrush as that is the purpose of the regulator. It is not hard at all to just pull it back and hold it there. If you wanted you could even push down on the trigger with the needle chuck loosened and pull back on the needle with your hand slowly until you had a good flow of paint coming out and then lock the needle chuck again as this basically turns it into a single action airbrush. This is easy with the Patriot, 360 and Anthem as they all have a ball built into the back of the needle to grasp and pull back on to remove the needle or do as I said above.

HSteve

I'm now thinking about the Badger 360...

Input?

The 360 is a very nice airbrush but the color cup is very small so if you want to paint something like a 1/48 scale F-15E you are going to be filling the cup many, many times in gravity-feed mode.

I like the 360 for small parts where I need a small amount of paint and can clean the airbrush quick.

This is where the 360 excels and I use it mainly for that purpose. The 105 Patriot would be my single best choice overall in a gravity-feed airbrush along with the Omni 4000.

If I wanted to go with a siphon-feed model for this hobby I would go with the Anthem 155 or Omni 3000 as they both are excellent. I personally don't like siphon-feed airbrushes for modeling as they are more work to clean, require higher air pressure to spray and atomize reliably and they waste more paint especially if you use the glass jar in place of the metal color cup.

I didn't realize that this is a very subjective topic...

I know I want a double action, with a lock-out feature so I can go single-action for big areas..?

MikeV,

I'm now thinking about the Badger 360...

Input?

Wingman_kz

Never really gave it any thought. Why?

It's because it was designed for T-shirt airbrushing and with a larger diameter needle and tip you can put a lot of paint out if you pull the trigger all the way back for doing backgrounds and such. Some T-shirt artists even pull the handle off, loosen the needle chuck and pull the needle back by hand to have even more paint come out. I never did that when I airbrushed T-shirts but a lot of the old school guys did.

The Crescendo puts out more paint than any other airbrush I have ever used. The Anthem is not far behind as it too was designed for the T-shirt artist.

HSteve, is BearAir next door to you? Don't know what you mean with your little frowny face but I don't care where you buy. Sorry for getting off topic. Won't happen again.

Tony

Never really gave it any thought. Why?

Wingman_kz

BTW, the 175 uses a larger diameter needle.

Yes, but do you know why?

Wingman_kz

HSteve, I think that's a great idea. Hope it works out for you. If you happen to have one near you, Micheals occasionally has 50% off coupons this time of year. They are kinda high priced but, 1/2 off helps. The one local to me usually has 3 or 4 Badgers and a couple Paasches in stock.

 

Tony

T-

I don't have a Michael's but Hobby Lobby is a short bus ride from my place...

They have a 40% off coupon offered occasionally, but to be honest, I like to spend my money more locally, non-chain stores...

Small business is good business...

Yep, I'm aware of the similarities between the brushes. I know where the 360 came from. All the brushes I have perform just fine. Except the Aztec. And yes, the reason I want something along the lines of the Patriot is to have a gravity feed brush with a larger cup.

BTW, the 175 uses a larger diameter needle. It's .0695 - .070 versus .0475 - .048. They do use the same taper and the tips, regulators will interchange with the other brushes and the appropriate needles. At least that's the way mine is.

Tony

tyamada

Wingman_kz:

If you have the Badger 360 you shouldn't need to get a Patriot.  The 360 is a Anthem and Patriot all in one.  In the suction freed mode it's performance is the same as the Anthem.  In the Gravity feed mode it's performance is the same as the Patriot.

The tips and needles are the same on the Anthem, Patriot and the 306.

As a matter of fact the Cresendo uses the same tips, air regulator and needles  as all the all the airbrushes listed above.

The Anthem, Patriot, 3155, and 360 will accept the same needles, tips, and regulators.  But the 360 comes with the standard Anthem needle while the Patriot  and 3155 come with the fine needle.   The 360 should perform the same as a Patriot if you change out the needle, tip, and regulator, which doesn't cost very much.  The main reason you might want the Patriot instead is the bigger cup.

Don

Wingman_kz:

If you have the Badger 360 you shouldn't need to get a Patriot.  The 360 is a Anthem and Patriot all in one.  In the suction freed mode it's performance is the same as the Anthem.  In the Gravity feed mode it's performance is the same as the Patriot.

The tips and needles are the same on the Anthem, Patriot and the 306.

As a matter of fact the Cresendo uses the same tips, air regulator and needles  as all the all the airbrushes listed above.

HSteve, I think that's a great idea. Hope it works out for you. If you happen to have one near you, Micheals occasionally has 50% off coupons this time of year. They are kinda high priced but, 1/2 off helps. The one local to me usually has 3 or 4 Badgers and a couple Paasches in stock.

I started with an Aztec 470. It was probably less than a month I went back and bought a Badger 360U. Then I got a Badger 200NH for my kids to practice with but they didn't really get into it. Then a couple years ago I had one of those 50% coupons and Micheals had a Badger 175 Crescendo in the case that someone had bought and returned. The cup was missing but all three needles, tips, caps and everything else was there and it looked like new. There was also a Badger single action in the box. The manager didn't know where it came from, they didn't even sell that model, so he told me if I wanted the 175 I could have the other too. They had $65 on the box and STILL accepted my coupon. I couldn't pass that up. But I seldom use any other than the 360. Now I'm thinking something along the lines of the Patriot would be very handy...

Tony

The plating is poor quality. In fact just recently they had a batch of patriots where the tube shank part #50-030 would not unscrew out of the airbrush body because of the plating process. Overall the finish is not equal to the competition. The renegade series is just a gun metal color - and that really sucks when you spray a dark color and want to make sure you cleaned it well - a big issue when using solvent based paint - not such an issue with water based. On the patriots and other Badgers you can see the brazing/soldering of the cup to the body.

I'm not saying it is a huge issue - i mean an airbrush is not about how it looks it is how it performs. I just like to give Ken crap about the finish because I know years back their finish was a lot better and would like to see it improved.

nofosg8

 The one thing i do not like about the Badger airbrushes is the finish - Ken and I got into a heated discussion over it at the SEMA show a few months back - LOL.

What is wrong with the finish?

Badger is a great airbrush - i have been using them for years.

I have over 40 airbrushes - some are 15-20 years old. I have tried all most everyone out there and I can say there are very few out there that can do extreme detail like the harder and steenbeck infinity. I would say the richpen 212c and Iwata microns match the infinity. The Badger renegade spirit and velocity are very close and half the price - The iwata microns are a waste of money -  parts are way over priced. The harder and steenbeck has a really nice nozzle assembly - it is more of a cartridge and very durable - parts are very cheap. The infinity also has a quick-fix handle - i thought it was a big gimmick but i always use it when i use that brush it is pretty cool. Whoops way off topic - sorry. Badger is a great airbrush for the money. I think Badger has been doing a lot of research lately to improve their airbrushes and love to hear feedback from its users. The one thing i do not like about the Badger airbrushes is the finish - Ken and I got into a heated discussion over it at the SEMA show a few months back - LOL.

Anyways, Everyone has their own certain feel they are comfortable with - that is why a lot of people have more then 1 airbrush.

I think if I lived in Europe, I'd get a H&S.   Or if I lived in Japan, I'd get a Tamiya.    But I l'm in the US, so it's a Badger.

It comes down spare parts and serviceability more than anything else.

Torio

Mike, do yourself a favor, I know it's not made in USA, but get a H & S Infinity, you won't be disappointed. And what is 14, when one honest chap can have 15 ?

Sorry but I am faithful to American made airbrushes, especially Badger.

I have no reason to buy any other brand as the ones I have will paint anything I could ever possibly want.

See, Mike, my friend, i live in Cornebarrieu, a small town, near Blagnac, a bigger town near Toulouse. Between Blagnac and Cornebarrieu, there is a big plant ( at least for us ) named Aeroconstellation, where they assemble the A380, the biggest airliner nowadays. Toulouse, where I lived before, is the fourth French city, behind Paris, Marseille and Lyon. So I don't live in the middle of nowhere...but if I want to try a new airbrush, either I go to Paris to try it and come back with or without it, or I spare the travel cost and I buy it anyway. As for now, the only one I'm not really delighted with is the Iwata HP CR as I already own an Omni 4000. Waiting for a Patriot which is somewhere in the mail, so I did not touch it yet. And the next one is a Mig H02, from Mig Productions, who make pigments, washes, etc, for armor. I bet it is a Chinese copy of Iwata, but I must see it to conclude. Mike, do yourself a favor, I know it's not made in USA, but get a H & S Infinity, you won't be disappointed. And what is 14, when one honest chap can have 15 ?

Torio

 

MikeV:

 

 

Some here have 14 airbrushes. Bunch of hoarders!

 

 

 

or even more.

The only French term that comes to mind......Sacre Bleu!

MikeV

Some here have 14 airbrushes. Bunch of hoarders!

or even more.

I bought a Paasche(sp?) H from them a little while back during a sale.  Granted the sale price wasn't bad, but by the time I paid for shipping and handling I could have driven from Texas to pick it up cheaper.  Not really, but you get the idea.  Although they have a very limited stock you might try getting a 40% off coupon from Hobby Lobby's web site and see if they have what you might be looking for.

Hope this helps,

Regards,

Michael B. 

HSteve

Thanks for all the input, folks...

Wingman -

I actually know of a couple of art suppliers who have airbrushing classes, I'm thinking about talking to them to see if it would be worth it to take one or two- maybe I can "test-drive" 1 or 2 different models before spending my hard-earned cash..?

You're also right...I don't know of many people who've been in this hobby a while without purchasing a second, third, etc. AB.

Some here have 14 airbrushes. Bunch of hoarders!

Thanks for all the input, folks...

Wingman -

I actually know of a couple of art suppliers who have airbrushing classes, I'm thinking about talking to them to see if it would be worth it to take one or two- maybe I can "test-drive" 1 or 2 different models before spending my hard-earned cash..?

You're also right...I don't know of many people who've been in this hobby a while without purchasing a second, third, etc. AB.

The problem is they aren't like cars with dealerships on every corner where you can take one for a test drive. You just have to make a decision and go with it. I've never used one but there are a lot of folks that have had their VLs for a long time, I'm sure it will serve you well. Besides, you'll probably be wanting a second brush somewhere down the line anyway.

Tony

Well, I bought from Coast airbrush and from Bear Air. An Omni 4000 from Coast that had some problems (the airbrush, I mean) as some chrome was missing, and it was oddly assembled. Coast were very kind and not expensive on shipping ( I live in France) but when I complained on the airbrush they said to me it was a pity and good luck. I then wrote to Ken Schlotfeld and proposed to send him the airbrush to see if something could be done, and he sent me back a complete new airbrush for free. This chap is great.

As for Bear Air, I bought them a Renegade Velocity at great price, but it cost me on UPS and customs (if it goes through UPS, it goes through customs) as much as the bargain price, around 170 € (around 230 $).I got it in five days but could not use it as I could not sit due to the pain I felt in my bottom.

What I am saying now is very subjective :

_if you own an Omni 4000, you don't need an Iwata Revolution (how do I know?)

_Paasche Talon is a bit thick to my taste (but it's a Paasche after all) and is slightly unbalanced so it tends to dive in the front end though it's a nice airbrush all in all.

And in the end, I'm no Badger addict  but I appreciate their products ( I own some), but as I'm European, I dare say : Long live Harder & Steenbeck

If you are still looking at the VL check out the Millennium, it's a slimmer version of the VL.  It will take all the tips and needles the VL does.  It comes with the #3 tip and needle.  Same performance as the VL.

Chicago Airbrush has them starting at around $50.00 with free shipping.

http://www.chicagoairbrushsupply.com/pamise.html

Bear Air usually charges around $13.00 for shipping.

Bear Air prices seem lower than most e-tailers but they charge more for shipping, so in the end you will probably pay more for the same item. 

Make sure you look at the bottom line.