Detailing airbrush for $100 or less???

You can have a badger anything from Michaels for %40 percent off.  Now for the holidays its %50 off.  Well under $100.

DWood538

Im looking for a good double action airbrush for detail work, mostly 1/48 panel lines and stuff like that. Anybody know of a gravity fed airbrush less than $100? I was looking at the badger patriot 105, anyone know about that?

For detailing work, you would like an airbrush with fine atomization and small overspray which requires small diameter nozzle and small linear flow angle. The Badger Patriot is not one of them. However, it is quite adequate for general modeling works. Patriot's dual cone needle allows quick paint release for larger area painting. See below for the comparisons:

Not all of the above are under $100. But it should give you some general idea. The best deal in detail airbrush under $100 is probably the SOTAR 20/20-2  at the web site.

Do you have the SOTA? Id like to hear more about that

DWood538

Do you have the SOTA? Id like to hear more about that

No, I do not have a SOTAR 20/20. It is a detail airbrush for artist. With my limited skill, the Iwata HP-CS has more than enough detailing capability for modeling for me. If you like Badger, I will recommend the Krome, but they are both above your $100 budget.

Ask Don Wheeler about the SOTAR. Or visit his web site here.

I can recommend a good brush for well under $100, a Badger 100G or LG with the Fine tip setup. The G model is a little shorter and has a smaller 1/16 ounce cup, the LG is full size with a 1/3 ounce cup. Not sure of the cup size on the G model but that's how it's advertised. I've been using an LG for the last couple of months and it's a nice brush. Been thinking of buying a G but already have a couple of brushes about that size so haven't done it yet.  The Fine tip is .030mm on these brushes and it will allow you to pull a fine line or do very fine shading. Replacement parts are inexpensive and would be very easy to switch between Fine, Medium and Heavy by changing the complete head and needle. You can buy a head assembly, which includes the head, tip and regulator for about $14 and a needle for $4 to $5 from Coast Airbrush.

I also have a Sotar 2020-2 and it's a nice brush. The Fine tip on it is .020mm. You can do some really fine work with it and it's very responsive. At least mine is. Paint flow starts immediately when you pull back the trigger. It's a very precise little brush. Turn the air down, get your paint mix right and you can work with almost no overspray. Replacement parts for it are fairly expensive but as far as I know you can use Renegade tips, needles and regulators which cost a good bit less. Not much else to replace under normal use.

For anyone that wonders about my recommendations, well, Iwata Revolutions have seen a recent price increase of almost $20. I like and use mine quite a bit but got them for $73 apiece. I think $93 is too much. You can get either the 100G or LG from Coast Airbrush for about $69 plus $7 shipping. You can get the 100G for $69 or the LG for $79 from Chicago Airbrush Supply with free shipping. I paid $107 including shipping for the Sotar. And BTW, new 100LGs use the Patriot style cup, don't have a setscrew on the body in front of the trigger and have the gray GlydeCote on the trigger and follower.

Tony

Wingman_kz

I can recommend a good brush for well under $100, a Badger 100G or LG with the Fine tip setup. ...........  The Fine tip is .030mm on these brushes ........

I also have a Sotar 2020-2 and it's a nice brush. The Fine tip on it is .020mm.

Tony

I hope that the nozzles are 0.30 mm and 0.20 mm respectively.

Ooops, sorry.

I've been very happy with my Paasche VL for over 40 years.  The #1 tip/needle set will handle artist watercolors, guache, inks and detail paints very well.

Just a shade over $100 for the starter set, mine has lasted me half a lifetime, and is still going strong.  One other advantage, is it's versitillity.  With the #3 & #5 tip sets, you can handle a variety of different media.

Reid

If your only purpose is fine line detailing, I would agree that the Badger may not be the best airbrush, since it is more of an 'all-around' airbrush. Having said that, I've been able to use mine for panel highlighting and shading with no issues at all. It will do fine lines with no problem at all, provided your paint is thinned properly, you are using very low air pressure, and a light touch on the trigger.

zokissima

If your only purpose is fine line detailing, I would agree that the Badger may not be the best airbrush, since it is more of an 'all-around' airbrush. Having said that, I've been able to use mine for panel highlighting and shading with no issues at all. It will do fine lines with no problem at all, provided your paint is thinned properly, you are using very low air pressure, and a light touch on the trigger.

By comparison, the Badger Krome is a delight to use. You still need to thin properly, but you have much more control at the trigger and much less overspray. Yes, they are not at the same price point. But the Krome or the Iwata HP-CS are not expensive compared to today's model kit prices.

I am of the personal opinion that spend the little extra on a good tool that one can enjoy for a life time. It just delays the next kit to your stash for a very short period of time. There are many good choices in the $100-150 crop and  most of the under $100 are a compromise in one way or the other. The best example is the recently released Badger Krome designed with modeler in mind. When done, it is a $125 airbrush, and worth every penny.

Don't get me wrong, many of the under $100 are fine for modeling and can do wonderful work in the skilled person's hand. For a weekend modeler like me, the extra $50 or so makes it easier for me to learn and more fun in the process. It is a very personal choice at the end.

Any of the Badger 100 variations are less than $100.00 and you can get very fine lines with it. I have the SG and use it for really small details only, I think it was about $70.00

I agree with Ripcord. Grab yourself a 50% off coupon to Michael`s or A.C. Moore`s and maybe, a Badger 150...That`s what I use. With the fine needle and tip and proper air pressure, you can get very precise with your detailing. It comes with 3 needles/tips...fine, medium and large. I rarely use the med and large unless I`m painting something very big. I have several airbrushes in my collection but always go back to my 150 for detail work. Good luck and Happy Holidays!

Len

I think modelers as a whole have been mislead into this whole, "what's the finest line airbrush made" mentality. 95% of model airbrushing can easily be done with anything from a Paasche VL to the Badger 105 Patriot with only a slight difference in overall line width. I have seriously only had a couple of instances where I would even consider pulling out the Sotar, Krome or 100LG with a fine needle.

Try this Ebay-link:

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/RDGTOOLS-ON-LINE/AIRBRUSHES-COMPRESSORS-TOOLS-/_i.html?rt=nc&_fsub=293104015&_sid=81740245&_trksid=p4634.c0.m14.l1513&_pgn=1

He sells double action air-brush for far less than 100.-!

Nozzle size: 0.3mm = 0.012" approx...

i honestly don't think you'll need a fine detail AB. i bought an iwata HP-CS for fine detail but have only whipped it out like once. my HP-CR does everything i need. i don't need extreme fine detail for modeling. 

it's all about trigger control. 

Well yeh, between Testors and Tamiya we can get just about any color we need in a can. Who needs an airbrush anyway?

Tony

I know I personally couldn't do this mottling on my 1/72 D9 without a good, detail orientated airbrush but I guess that's just me.

geeze, how can you build 72nd scale? way to small for me. well, at least WWII fighters. i can deal with 72nd modern.