Help me pick my next airbrush

Go here and make the decisions for yourself. So many airbrush models to choose from for every budget.

https://sites.google.com/site/donsairbrushtips/home

BlackSheepTwoOneFour

Go here and make the decisions for yourself. So many airbrush models to choose from for every budget.

 https://sites.google.com/site/donsairbrushtips/home

I stated in my first post, I've already checked out Don's site. I am just looking for some other opinions. Thanks anyway.

FJ_

Iwata Custom Micron CM-B. And order direct from Japan for a significant discount off of the domestic price.

I'm sure that's a very nice AB but way out of my price range, even if ordering from directly from Japan is over 50% off is US prices.

airgunner

 

Hey guys,

 

 

I currently own a Badger 200 (old model) as well as a Badger 350. I've had both for years but haven't used them much because I haven't done a lot of modeling over the years. I'm getting into it full force now and have been using them more regularly with satisfactory results but I do have one small issue/annoyance.

 

 

I find that during the course of a build, I have a number of small parts where only 2 or 3 of which need one specific color and then 2 or 3 other parts need a different specific color, etc.. It can get tedious because as I'm sure you guys already know, changing colors with a siphon feed AB isn't the quickest/easiest thing to do.

 

 

I plan to keep the 200 and continue to use it for larger items like the body, interior, etc. but I would like to get a gravity feed AB with a small cup for doing small jobs.

 

I've looked around some and considered a number of models. I really looked hard at the Iwata line as I've read many good things about them but decided they are more money than I can justify for my needs and current skill level. I figured that I already have other Badger AB's, hoses, adaptors, etc. and have been happy with them so it probably makes sense to just stick with Badger?

 

 

The first on that came to mind is the 200G as it's the brother to the model I already have experience with and know how to use but then I started thinking it may be time to step up to a dual action model?

I'm only doing cars right now so I don't really need a dual action but most experienced AB'er seem to prefer the dual-action type and at some point I plan to start doing military models and the DA style would be better suited for Camo work.

 

So the one I'm seriously looking at now is the Badger model 100G. Seems like a good, time tested model. I've read Don's review of it and Chicago Air has them on sale for $65 shipped. So before I pull the trigger (literally) is there any other models (or brands) I should seriously consider? Should I get the medium or fine head? I'm thinking for my current needs a skill level the medium is the one to get and I can always order the fine needle/head later if I feel the need?

 

Thanks

 

 

Both I recommend highly, based on personal experience.

airgunner

 

....

 

So the one I'm seriously looking at now is the Badger model 100G. Seems like a good, time tested model. I've read Don's review of it and Chicago Air has them on sale for $65 shipped. So before I pull the trigger (literally) is there any other models (or brands) I should seriously consider? Should I get the medium or fine head? I'm thinking for my current needs a skill level the medium is the one to get and I can always order the fine needle/head later if I feel the need?

 

Mate,

Go for the 100LG. The larger colour cup gives more flexibility for solid base colouring than the small cup of the 100G, but is just as easy to mix up 2 drops of paint as well.

I've had my 100LG for almost 7 years now and love it. I was using a siphon single action prior to this and i'll never go back to siphon - gravity fed is so much easier to clean and change colour. My enjoyment of airbrushing drastically increased with a gravity fed brush.

Also, stick with a Fine Head for anything around 1/35 Armour, 1/48 & 1/72 aircraft.  I assume 1/35 armour is similar to a 1/24 motor vehicle.

I have all sizes of heads/needles and you'll find it much more difficult to do nice detail camo with a medium head than with a fine.

To be honest, i just use the fine for everything i do now, even gloss coating etc.

Hope this helps, any other questions about it, just let me know.

Regards,

Airgunner

Firstly your right to stay with one manufacturer as I think that can make life easier with parts and connectors etc.

You have some great airbrushed and your suggestions will all work great. I'd like to suggest you go big and have a look at the Badger Velocity. I know they are not cheap but for a detail they are great and mine has become my main airbrush for just about everything.

Phil

cml

Go for the 100LG. The larger colour cup gives more flexibility for solid base colouring than the small cup of the 100G, but is just as easy to mix up 2 drops of paint as well.

Well I’m still fairly new to all this but I use Badger’s color cup with my current AB and never seem to need to fill it up. The only times I need that much material is when spraying the body which I still plan on using my 200 for that type of work. I only plan to use this new AB for small parts and details and that’s why I think the smaller cup seems more appropriate?

That is one feature that seemed appealing on the Iwata Neo. The fact that you can switch between small and large cups

cml

Also, stick with a Fine Head for anything around 1/35 Armour, 1/48 & 1/72 aircraft.  I assume 1/35 armour is similar to a 1/24 motor vehicle.

I think you may be right about that one but I already ordered it with the medium needle. The good news is it doesn’t cost much to order the fine needle for it too.

CA shipped fast. It only took 2 days from the time I ordered it until it was in my mail box so I’ll be testing it out this weekend. Thanks for the input everybody!

How's the 100G coming along Airgunner? Any chance to test? What are your thoughts.

It's not too expensive to buy a Fine Head and Needle (if you live in the US) - probably worth the investment in the long run.

My next brush will be the Badger Patriot. I will retire my VL and use my Paaschee Talon, Badger 150 and the Patriot. I really like the life time warranty and the customer service at badger, it's top notch and quick, plus it is very close to where I live, so it's a win-win for me.

You'll have to decide on what will make you happy. There are so many good brushes that it really just comes down to learning how to use them over what brand you should buy, and good customer service should be a priority.

Iwata, Richpen, Devilbiss, Peak, Badger, Paasche, and others. They should all take you where you need to go.

I own Paaschee, Badger and Perscion Aire Treo FX, and I dont worry about parts, I find most parts are not expensive. Badger just retooled my 150 and it cost me 10.00 (no labor fee) I stock a supply of needles and tips, which also are not expensive.

P mitch

Airgunner

Firstly your right to stay with one manufacturer as I think that can make life easier with parts and connectors etc.

You have some great airbrushed and your suggestions will all work great. I'd like to suggest you go big and have a look at the Badger Velocity. I know they are not cheap but for a detail they are great and mine has become my main airbrush for just about everything.

Phil

 

There are cheap adapters for hoses, so that really is a non issue.

cml

How's the 100G coming along Airgunner? Any chance to test? What are your thoughts.

airgunner

 

 

cml

How's the 100G coming along Airgunner? Any chance to test? What are your thoughts.

 

 

 

No I haven't unfortunately. I do not have a spray booth so my painting is regulated to the garage and it has been way too cold this last week for that.

 

 

I think I'm going to stop and get some food coloring and test it out with that in the meantime or this might be a good time to start experimenting with acrylics?

 

 

 

cml

It's not too expensive to buy a Fine Head and Needle (if you live in the US) - probably worth the investment in the long run.

 

 

 

I'm still pretty much a neophyte when it comes to airbrushing. The 2 AB's I already have both have "medium" heads\needles (0.7mm for the B-350 & 0.5mm for the B-200).

 

 

I guess like a lot of newbies, I assumed a finer needle would allow for finer lines but based on my limited experience and more research, that isn't necessarily the case? Media type, how much you reduce that media and at what pressure you spray all play into it?

So what in your opinion is the reason or advantge of going to a finer needle?

 

 

 

 

Bager sells water based colors that are perfect for shooting indoors. The opaque line of paints, I think thats the name. They are very cheap also. They would be great to test out your new gun.

http://www.arttalk.com/archives/vol-12/artv1205-6.htm

spiralcity

 Bager sells water based colors that are perfect for shooting indoors. The opaque line of paints, I think thats the name. They are very cheap also. They would be great to test out your new gun.

http://www.arttalk.com/archives/vol-12/artv1205-6.htm

Good suggestion. Didn't think of that. Thanks!

For x-tra fine work I recommed the Badger Renegade Velocity. I have the black one but the chrome one is easier to clean and looks much nicer. It has a .21 tip and is gravity fed. I love using mine, specially for super tight and small mottling. The first one I used for about 5 years and it apparently it developed an interior crack that Badger could not repair so they sent me a new one as a replacement. I read somewhere that this AB performs as good as the very expensive .21 Iwatas.

I also have an Iwata Neo gravity fed which is performs very well for fine to medium work. It came out to around $44 with a 40% discount coupon at HL.

airgunner

Thanks for the replies guys – It’s taking me a while to reply because I’m new here so I have to wait for my posts to get approved by the mods before they post.

I went ahead and ordered the 100G with the medium head. Chicago Air’s price was just too good to pass up.

 

patrick206

I have the 200G and 100G models, if you want dual action the 100G is an exceptionally good AB and very affordable, with good care it will last a lifetime. For the most part my 200G does almost all of the work I do, but ocassionally the dual action of the 100G is helpful.

Both I recommend highly, based on personal experience.

 

That was a hard choice for me. I’ve never used a DA AB before but it seems like most people prefer them? I went with the 100G for now but may end up getting a 200G too depending on how much I end up liking the DA?

 

 

cml

Go for the 100LG. The larger colour cup gives more flexibility for solid base colouring than the small cup of the 100G, but is just as easy to mix up 2 drops of paint as well.

 

 

Well I’m still fairly new to all this but I use Badger’s color cup with my current AB and never seem to need to fill it up. The only times I need that much material is when spraying the body which I still plan on using my 200 for that type of work. I only plan to use this new AB for small parts and details and that’s why I think the smaller cup seems more appropriate?

That is one feature that seemed appealing on the Iwata Neo. The fact that you can switch between small and large cups

 

 

cml

Also, stick with a Fine Head for anything around 1/35 Armour, 1/48 & 1/72 aircraft.  I assume 1/35 armour is similar to a 1/24 motor vehicle.

 

 

I think you may be right about that one but I already ordered it with the medium needle. The good news is it doesn’t cost much to order the fine needle for it too.

CA shipped fast. It only took 2 days from the time I ordered it until it was in my mail box so I’ll be testing it out this weekend. Thanks for the input everybody!

 

Good choice getting the 100G, I think the med. tip will do most of what you want, I don't change to the fine very often myself. Regarding the 200G, which I also have, it will spray the same as your 200 siphon. So once you see how the gravity 100 works for you, you'll know if you want, or need, to spring for the 200G.

Regarding cup size, my Paasche Talon had a very large cup, which I felt was way to large for keeping an eye on my work. Plus it adds considerable weight and made the AB feel top heavy to me.

Like you, I rarely need more paint onboard the AB, properly thinned I only fill the smaller 100G or 200G cup about 1/3 of the capacity, it seems to go a long way. I primarily build 1:72, but if building something quite large and I am doing a primer or solid base coat, then I just use a different AB with a good size siphon jar for broad area coverage.

My only reason for a gravity AB, is the convenience of having the cup on top and ease of cleaning, less to clean. Otherwise, the old plain Jane 200 works very well for me, and I still find use for it.

Regarding dual action, it has it's place, but most often I use the 200G or the old 200. Like Grandpa said, simpler is best. 

I hope to hear how you like the 100G, once you have a chance to use it.

Patrick

So I picked up some Tamiya acrylic paints, made a make shift spray booth out of a cardboard box and then got some trigger time with the 100G inside.

I guess I should have checked this first but as soon as I started, I found the needle wasn't adjusted correctly from the factory. As soon as I depressed the trigger, paint flowed. Thinking about it after the fact, that probably makes sense? I'm assuming the factory ships it with the needle backed off to help protect in during transport? Anyway, no big deal, easy fix and on to painting.

Took me a little bit to figure out the correct air pressure? Not sure if it was the difference in airbrushes or media (or both?) but I needed less pressure than usual? To date I've primary used MM enamels at ~19-20psi. I found this brush with the Tamiya paint flowed better at closer to 15-16psi?

The double action trigger will take me a little time to get use to but I LOVED the gravity feed cup! I used 3 different colors and the cleanup and transition between and after each color was awesome! (That might have had something to do with using Acrylics paint too?).

Compared to my 200, the 100 does have a nicer feel and heft to it and something else that kind of surprised me, I prefer how the 100G's air valve comes straight down from the body as opposed the 200's angled value. That combined with the gravity cup on top allowed the 100 to sit in my hand more comfortably and naturally then the 200 or 350 do.

Over all I am very happy camper! Thanks for the input everybody.