Your thoughts on this airbrush package

TGM

All,

I have been using spracy cans for some time and am ready to pull the trigger on an airbrush set-up. I have been looking around for a while and am leaning toward this kit:

http://www.tcpglobal.com/airbrushdepot/ItemDetailKit.aspx?ItemNo=ABD%20KIT-4004-IS850

Love to hear you thoughts.

Thanks,

Tom

If you can afford it, you cannot go wrong with these Iwata choices. Excellent products, but on the pricy side.

I have the Iwata Eclipse HP-CS and like the Iwata quality a lot. The CS may be a little easier to maintain due to its self-centered nozzle design. It is cheaper too.

The internet seller prices are pretty competitive. At you price range, make sure that they include a free hose and free shipping. If not, shop around.

If you are set on TCP, have you tried theit ebay store? I bought a compressor from them for less on ebay than they wanted on their own site.

Have you checked into Badger AB's. They are guaranteed for as long as you own it and are very affordable.  I have one that I bought in 1980 and is still hard at work. If you have a Harbor Freight close by you may be able to get a 3 gal compressor for under $60. TCP has several Badgers.

http://www.harborfreight.com/air-tools/oilless-compressors.html

http://www.coastairbrush.com/

I have an older version of the same brush that still works great.

You can get this Eclipse HP-CS for $120 then get a compressor somewhere else for under $100

That's equal to standard prices at other online stores. The C+ normally sells for $171 and the Smart Jet for $226. If you go to Coast Airbrush you can get both items, C+ and Smart Jet, for the same price(or a dollar more) and if you live in the lower 48 it's free shipping on both items. You'll still need an airline.

Tony

Tom, I don't think you can go wrong with an Iwata airbrush.  I have an HP-CS that I use for detail work and love it.  I have a Bader 150 for priming and larger area coverage, like hulls (I build ships in 1/350 and above).  Coast Airbrush is a great vendor and I've bought several things from them.  Good customer service and prompt shipping.

As to compressors, unless noise is a big issue for you, go to Wal-Mart, Harbor Freight, Lowe's, etc., or even your local flea market and pick up a tank compressor.  I have a Campbell-Hausfeld I picked up at a flea market for $40.00, with hose.  Has a one Gal. tank which eliminates pulsation issues and most moisture issues since the moisture usually gets trapped in the tank (I'd still invest in a moisture trap, just to be on the safe side).  It is a bit loud, but works great, delivers up to 60 P.S.I. to the airbrush and is a fraction of the cost of a hobby specific compressor which may not even have a tank.

Hope this helps.

Bob

Wow! Thanks to everyone. What a great group of guys. This is why forums are so great - You guys let me "jump to the front of the line" in this space by being able to leverage your experience, something that would have taken me years to develop.

Best,

Tom

IMO, the airbrush is great, but the compressor is overpriced. FOr that money, you could get the airbrush plus a twin-piston compressor from another manufacturer for much less.

Check out bearair.com, and their line of Polar Bear compressors.

Tom, your thanks are appreciated, but not necessary.  Sounds like you were "raised right". 

You won't find a better group of people than the folks on this and the other modeling forum boards.  It is a great community where everybody is willing and ready to share their knowledge and experience with each other, and especially with newbies.  Almost all of us made mistakes, and I still do, that have cost us money or grief in some way, especially when we were getting into the hobby.  I wish I'd had the smarts you do by getting on here and asking your question.  I'd have saved myself the cost of an Iwata SilverJet compressor.  Don't get me wrong, it's a great little compressor that I still use from time to time, but which set me back some bucks I didn't need to spend and won't do nearly the things my H-C compressor from a flea market does and it cost a fraction of what the Iwata cost.

So, keep asking those questions and when you get a chance, pay it forward.

Bob

I'm not sure if you have ordered from that site yet but be careful, I ordered from there and my card number was stolen and i had to cancel my card. thank god I only lost a few dollars. shop carefully online!

tlongan

I'm not sure if you have ordered from that site yet but be careful, I ordered from there and my card number was stolen and i had to cancel my card. thank god I only lost a few dollars. shop carefully online!

This is a very serious accusation that can cause a small business to go under. Without specific information about the situation and how the TCPGlobal handled your complaint, it is not responsible to post the type of message that you just did.

I am not saying that it did not happen, I believe that you need to be very specific. How did you find out that your card number was stolen? How much money did you lose and how did you recover? How did you trace the losing card number to TCPGlobal's transaction?

hey tom, you cant go wrong iwata, but the parts are CRAZYLLY EXPENSIVE, but if you maintain it properly, you probably dont have to replaces anything for many many years, i only replace 1 needle for 3 iwatas in 10years because i dropped it. i also have a badger 150 bought years ago, it does the job but just average quality, as i pust down the trigger, it rubs against the needle causing the needle de-centered against the nozzle---uneven cone spray pattern, but it has life time warranty. i am not sure about the newer badger, but  most likely dont want to try one. A car worth tens of thousands of dollars and only good for only 10+ years. AB cost $300 the most and good for life, why go cheap, pick the best quality you can afford

about the airbrush, i preferred something with a tank, a constant rattling is just annoying. i have a passche 1/10, tiger shark, and a iwata power jet. the noise of iwata is low enough. the one for air tools will do the job nicely and they are cheap,but you have to tolerate the noise, they are like lawn mowes.

Don't waste your money on a Hi-line, they are way overpriced for modeling and a cheaper airbrush will do anything the Hi-line can for far less money.

 I picked up this combo set a couple months ago. http://www.harborfreight.com/1-5-hp-58-psi-compressor-and-airbrush-kit-95630.html. I'm completely knocked out with what it can do! Think of all the kits you get with all that extra cash you'll save!!!

fermis

 I picked up this combo set a couple months ago. http://www.harborfreight.com/1-5-hp-58-psi-compressor-and-airbrush-kit-95630.html. I'm completely knocked out with what it can do! Think of all the kits you get with all that extra cash you'll save!!!

It is a nice way to try out airbrushing if you have not done it before. The combo was on sale for $79 and Harbor Freight also has a 20% off coupon in their email promotion last week.

The airbrush actually works better than name brand single action, external mix airbrushes that costs 2-3 times more. Don Wheeler has a review on his web site. The biggest unknown is the durability of the compressor over the long run. But for less than $70 when on sale, how much more you can ask for.

For those on a very tight budget and want a double action, gravity feed, I will suggest looking at the Neo for Iwata. It is now available at Chicago Airbrush Supply, but it is still cheaper at Hobby Lobby.

If you are in modeling for the long run, it pays to invest in better airbrush equipments.