Iwata Neo at Hobby Lobby - Any good?

Here is a thread you might want to read.

Don

Hmm - interesting...

I haven't seen the airbrush, but looking at the discussion linked above and at other similar discussions, there seems to be much scoffing and derision by "brand loyal" users who have never, in fact, laid hands on the said airbrush.

Given Iwata's long association with them, I wonder if it's made by Sparmax...

Phil_H

Given Iwata's long association with them, I wonder if it's made by Sparmax...

I don't know.  I was guessing maybe Grex, based only on the color of the package.

Our friend Kei Lau bought one.  But the last I heard, he hadn't tried it out yet.

Don

I read some more reviews last night and none were good. People are having a hard time getting a decent spray pattern out of this.  I do like the interchangable gravity-feed cups, but I will stick with my 20-year old Badger 150 that is still going strong. Maybe a Badger Patriot 105 will be in my future.

it's an iwata product but isn't made by them like their other brushes. if you want something in that price range go for a paasche talon,iwata hp-cr,or a badger 150.

Don Wheeler

Phil_H:

Given Iwata's long association with them, I wonder if it's made by Sparmax...

 

I don't know.  I was guessing maybe Grex, based only on the color of the package.

Our friend Kei Lau bought one.  But the last I heard, he hadn't tried it out yet.

Don

No, I still have not shoot any paint out of the Neo for Iwata yet. Shame on me. (I have travelled to Toronto 2 times since January because of a family illness.) But I did manage to take it apart and take some pictures. I also had some coments about its construction in an earlier post.

According to the literature inside the package, the airbrush has parts made to Iwata specification in Taiwan and was assembled in Mainland China.

The airbrush feels very well balance in hand. The trigger is quite smooth. Judging from the nozzle size and needle taper, it should draw finer than the Iwata HP-CR or the Badger Patriot. And the trigger action is quite close to that of the Iwata HP-CS. The finish quality is much closer to Iwata than to Badger. I hope to report actual airbrushing result some time. (Don, I am not promising how soon.)

You wont be sorry if you get the Patriot 105. I love mine. It sprays great.

Bill

Martin,

The Aztek airbrushes seem to be a love or hate thing.  A lot of people like them though.  Could part of your problem be just getting used to a dual action brush?  The 430 should spray pretty much like your old 320, since they use the same nozzles.  I believe all the dual action Azteks are pretty similar inside.  There are some tips on the Aztek 3000S and a review of the Badger Patriot on my website.

Don

i was looking at the 150 but ended getting the paasche talon. 

Don, I suppose that could also be, but the weight is too light for me and the resin body does not feel good in my hands. Make no mistake, I am an Aztek fan, and as I said the interchangeable nozzles are great, but I am having difficulty with the finish on my model. It could also be the paint. I prefer acrylics and I used to use the testors model master paint, but I can not get it in Cape Town. 

I am sort of sold on getting either a Paasche Talon, Iwata HP-CS (Not sure of the 0.5 needle though) or the Badger Renegade Velocity. 

Can I upload a MS word file here or mail you guys what I have found out so far ? I made a MS word document with apple for apple comparisons in it. 

Randypandy831

Did you also look at the Iwata and Badger ? Why did you go for the Talon rather ?

Thanks

Martin.

martinh2

Don, I suppose that could also be, but the weight is too light for me and the resin body does not feel good in my hands. Make no mistake, I am an Aztek fan, and as I said the interchangeable nozzles are great, but I am having difficulty with the finish on my model. It could also be the paint. I prefer acrylics and I used to use the testors model master paint, but I can not get it in Cape Town. 

I am sort of sold on getting either a Paasche Talon, Iwata HP-CS (Not sure of the 0.5 needle though) or the Badger Renegade Velocity. 

Martin.

I am biased. I have an Iwata Eclipse HP-CS which works great with acrylic paints. The standard nozzle is 0.35 mm for the CS which will require you thin the acrylic a bit more. If you are not use to it, you can change it to the larger 0.5 mm nozzle. The Talon has the larger nozzle option too. But the Badger Velocity has a 0.2 mm nozzle.

Besides, I found the Iwata has the best manufacturing and quality control among the three. Its needle is more resistant to accidental damage or bending. Good luck in your selection.

One of the reasons I am also looking for an airbrush now is because I will be in the USA for the next month. Going to Houston for 10 days and then Orlando for 2 weeks. These items are a lot cheaper if you buy them there than I would pay back home in Cape Town. So I want to use the opportunity. So, can you guys recommend some places in Houston or Orlando I can go to for airbrushes ? 

martinh2

One of the reasons I am also looking for an airbrush now is because I will be in the USA for the next month. Going to Houston for 10 days and then Orlando for 2 weeks. These items are a lot cheaper if you buy them there than I would pay back home in Cape Town. So I want to use the opportunity. So, can you guys recommend some places in Houston or Orlando I can go to for airbrushes ? 

That is a very good point that you can get Iwata airbrush at very good price in the US. I got mine at a Hobby Lobby Craft Store using their 40% off coupon. I paid a small local sales tax, but not shipping charge. It turned out to be a very good price of under $100 for an Eclipse HP-CS. (You price may be slightly higher now, but should still be the best in US.) The Hobby Lobby package includes the Iwata Pistol Grip Filter which would cost another $20+ elsewhere.

Hobby Lobby is a big chain store in the US. You will find many locations in Houston and Orlando. To get their best price, you need to get their 40% off coupon on line. You will find the coupon every other week or so. With your 3.5 weeks stay, you have a good chance of getting the coupon.

Hobby Lobby stocks spare parts for the Iwata Eclipse series of airbrush. You may want to get some before returning ot your country. The only inconvenience is that they allow only one coupon in each trip to the check-out counter. (Officially, one coupon per person per day. But they do not keep track.) You may need to make multiple trips to get everything you want. I got all 3 parts I need for the 0.5 mm nozzle for $18 total.

martinh2

Don, I suppose that could also be, but the weight is too light for me and the resin body does not feel good in my hands. Make no mistake, I am an Aztek fan, and as I said the interchangeable nozzles are great, but I am having difficulty with the finish on my model. It could also be the paint. I prefer acrylics and I used to use the testors model master paint, but I can not get it in Cape Town. 

I am sort of sold on getting either a Paasche Talon, Iwata HP-CS (Not sure of the 0.5 needle though) or the Badger Renegade Velocity. 

Can I upload a MS word file here or mail you guys what I have found out so far ? I made a MS word document with apple for apple comparisons in it. 

Randypandy831

Did you also look at the Iwata and Badger ? Why did you go for the Talon rather ?

Thanks

Martin.

sorry for the late reply. i was looking at iwata and badger products. i was looking for a dual action gravity feed brush. he sold out of his dual action iwata's. he had the badger 150 but the talon was $10 bucks more so i went with that. he recommended iwata due to the fact he uses them but said you can't go wrong with neither iwata,paasche,or badger. it's all personal preference. hes a awesome guy and doesn't try to push every penny out of you.