Beginners Airbrush+Compressor

AlecS

Hi All,

Ill be starting my first 1:35 tank kit soon and want to invest in an airbrush.

Initially i don't want to spend too much, so I have come up with the following airbrush + compressor which I plan to import to NZ from the UK.

I have read all the threads I could but am finding it difficult to summarise all the helpful tips and suggested products etc.

Would the following be a good start?

Airbrush (Should just to the AB-130)

Compressor (Should jump to the AB-AS-18)

Thanks in advance!

Won't it be cheaper to import from your neightbour, Australia? Why China to UK to NZ?

http://shop.ebay.com.au/i.html?_nkw=airbrush+compressor+kit

Hi :)

Thanks for the reply. 

It certainly would be, however I don't like ebay and I haven't found a store yet in Aus which I can get something from for a similar price.

Ill search harder I think because it turns out this UK store wont export compressors and its a bit of a waste of freight shipping a small airbrush around the world :)

Country of origin aside, would the product be a good beginners setup? I have seen the same compressor and airbrush branded with different names so im sure I could find something similar in Aus too if the product is decent.

Hey Alec,

Just out of curiosity, what brand is the airbrush?  Is it a Sparmax or something?

Can't answer your question about how good it is for a first airbrush, but, irrespective of that, my concern would be the availability of spare parts if you need to replace anything.  Consequently, if i were you, i'd try and stick to something that is name brand and offers easy to find spares.

Hi,

I believe it is a re-branded Fenghua airbrush (Chinese OEM), not Sparmax.

Good point about the spares. I have since contacted a supplier in NZ regarding Sparmax and I can get a Sparmax MAX-2 & TC-501/g/ compressor + airbrush set which, although being $100 over my budget, has a local supplier so support will at least be possible and from what i've read, Sparmax is reasonable quality for the price.

Thanks for the help, although not directly answering my original question it has raised a few more important things I didn't consider and helped me towards choosing a more sensible setup!

No worries Alec, glad I could be of some assistance (though I agree, my responses probably didn't answer your orig question whatsoever )

I might just add, I have a sparmax compressor - i have no idea what model it is, it's gold in colour and has an "all in one" regulator & moisture trap.  Anyhow, point of my story is, i've had it for almost 5 years now and had no issues with it.

At the time I bought it, i'd never heard of Sparmax, but, they seem to have a decent reputation.

Hope you get lots of enjoyment out of your new setup.

AlecS

I believe it is a re-branded Fenghua airbrush (Chinese OEM), not Sparmax.

Good point about the spares. I have since contacted a supplier in NZ regarding Sparmax and I can get a Sparmax MAX-2 & TC-501/g/ compressor + airbrush set which, although being $100 over my budget, has a local supplier so support will at least be possible and from what i've read, Sparmax is reasonable quality for the price.

Thanks for the help, although not directly answering my original question it has raised a few more important things I didn't consider and helped me towards choosing a more sensible setup!

Sparmax seems to have a good distribution network in Australia. PhilH will tell you that the Sparmax airbrush is wonderful.

Sparmax is the OEM manufacturer for the Iwata Jet series and the Revell Master Class compressors. Both are proven quiet and reliable. I have a made-by-Sparmax Paasche DA400 compressor before Paasche switched to Chinese supplier in Mainland. It is a wonderful compressor that runs cool in normal use.

You cannot go wrong with the Sparmax brand. You can get them cheap from Hong Kong.