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Please help me make up my mind: HP-CP or Infinity CR Plus?

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  • Member since
    May 2017
Please help me make up my mind: HP-CP or Infinity CR Plus?
Posted by Mihai Ilie on Monday, July 24, 2017 2:19 PM

Hello everyone!

 

As I am done with my exams is finally the time to start building some kits. I have everything ready except for one thing: an airbrush.

 

 

After lots of searching a while ago it came down to two models: 

1) Iwata HP-CP

2)H&S Infinity CR Plus

 

I can buy either of them...both with 0.2mm needle/nozzle. 

I am torn between them and I do not know what to choose.

 

On one hand I like the Iwata because is a very good brand and from what I've heard everyone is very pleased with their Iwata airbrushes. I am pretty sure the 0.2mm needle/nozzle with be good for details which is what I want....and overall I trust that this airbrush would make me pretty happy.

 

On the other hand I like the Infinity CR Plus a lot as well. I like the fact that the preset handle has the option to always choose from a few configurationss (1 2 3 etc). I also like the fact that it can be cleaned easely. 

 

 

I've read lots of reviews online...and overall people seem to go for the Iwatas. I do not know if that's for us population mostly or for the europeans aswell. I am an european and I can get replacement parts for both...so please take this into consideration.

 

Some people say that the H&S airbrushes are not as durable as Iwatas but the reason I am still considering this is beacuse the youtuber that I look up to ( Plasmo) is using an Infinity for his work.

 

I am leaning a bit more towards the HP-CP...but then I am thinking abut Plasmo and what he's capable to achieve with his Infinity and start considering it again. He should be able to get a similar result with the HP-CP too, right? Or is there a difference between them and what you can do with them?

 

 

Today I went to a few local shops. One guy from one shop recommended both buy since he was selling H&S airbrushes he told me I should get that one...and another guy from another shop said that he used both Iwatas and H&S...and that H&S airbrushes are built the same and they mostly work the same...and that he would recommend the Iwata...HP-CP being way batter than the Infinity. (His shop was selling both)

 

 

What should I go for? I am really confused and I need guidance. Which one would you pick and why? Please give me reasons.

 

 

Best regards, 

Mihai Ilie

 

  • Member since
    May 2013
Posted by Snibs on Tuesday, July 25, 2017 12:19 AM

Hi Mihai.

Both great brushes, I did a review on the H&S and the Plus that might help, you can click below to have a look. 

Cheers from Mick.

Some stuff that might be interesting.

https://sites.google.com/view/airbrush-and-modeling/home

On The Bench.

Tiger 1 and Tooheys.

 

  • Member since
    December 2006
  • From: Phoenix, AZ
Posted by Fly-n-hi on Tuesday, July 25, 2017 12:48 AM

I just got my H&S CR Infinity Plus 2 in 1 and I can't wait to try it out.  It feels so solid in my hands.  I'm upgrading from a Badger 150...which I don't have any complaints about.  Just wanted something better

  • Member since
    January 2017
Posted by damouav on Tuesday, July 25, 2017 12:56 AM

This is my summary of Iwata in general.

Iwata Eclipse CS .35mm - Excellent all round AB which I use for small delicate work thru to medium projects. I find it easy to clean/maintain running lacquer thinner thru after each painting session with no issues. I would highly recommend, depending on use, to strip down and clean every week or so using the super lube where nessesary.

Iwata Revolution CR .5mm - Very good for medium to larger paint projects, personally I purchased this as an interim to a minature spary gun to paint primer, top coat and varnish over larger areas. Again, an easy to clean and maintain AB, and I run lacquer thinner through after every paint session with no issues. As with the Eclipse CS a strip down once in a while and lubrication will ensure a very long service life.

Note: I use lacquer thinners as I have an extraction system that vents externally. if you dont use an extraction system, extreme caution must be taken and the use of a respirator with proper filters is a must.

I have run the Eclipse since Dec 16 and used it at least 6-12 times a week, with absoluley no issues and performs the same as when new. The Revolution I only purchased about 2 months ago, but as with the Eclipse, is performing with no issues whats so ever. Both can spary hairline up to about a 30-40mm round spary pattern. The Eclipes can be altered to a .5mm which I couldnt see the point, as I was always going to purchase another AB.

I looked at Paasche, Badger, Aztek and other brands before I got the Eclipse, but felt the quality with the Iwata was superior.

I hope this provides you with an overview of the Quality of the Iwata AB.

In Progress
1/48 Tamiya P47-D Bubbletop
1/48 Hobby Boss TBF-1C Avenger (on hold)
Pending
1/48 Roden S.E.5a
1/48 Airfix Walrus
  • Member since
    May 2017
Posted by Mihai Ilie on Tuesday, July 25, 2017 4:01 PM

I am curious about how they hold up over time. One guy at the shop praised the iwatas but said that the h&s airbrushes are nothing special as they are all the same and they do not last too long. He said that he knows someone who's airbrush stopped working overnight. He said that one day his friend worked with it and the following day he found the nozzle destroyed. Idk if this thing is possible or he was just trying really hard to sell me on Iwatas. (Idk why would he do that tho..because he had no hp-c+ in stock...but he made it very clear that he prefers iwatas). The guy at the first shop seemed a little bit more relaxed...not trying to sell me on anything and actually trying to help me. He didn't praise any one of them. He told me that both are good. That in the many years he sold h&s airbrushes noone complained . (He was selling only h&s and didn't stock iwatas). He also pointed out that both are good but the infinity has interchangable cups and an easier to clean system...and with the 2 in one setup i have pretty much all i need. 

What do you think?

Are h&s brushes known to break faster than the iwatas? Or was the guy just trying to sell me an iwata a bit too hard.

How solid are those two compared? I am mainly asking the guys that have both.

When you say paint automatisation what do you mean? 

Which one feels snappier and gives me better control so that when i pull back the trigger i will know exactly what to expect.


The guy at the first shop told me that he will get the infinity 2 in 1 setup soon.. and that he can hold it for me so I can try it out and see if I like it. What should I look for when I try it for the first time in my hand? What are the details that I have to pay attention to?

Please give me more info and pieces of advice.


Beat regards!

  • Member since
    January 2017
Posted by damouav on Tuesday, July 25, 2017 4:37 PM

I can only speak of the Iwata brand, but I dont think a salesperson at a shop is the best person to give advise from my pov as he/she just want to make a sale, unless they are modelers how own an AB.

Almost any quality AB, if looked after, will provide years of maintenace free service. Just a proper clean and oil on a regular basis and your right to go.

I have read far more stories of people buying other brands, as a new item, only to find something was wrong with it and had to send it back to the manufacture for repair/replacement.

Hold the AB you have short listed, get an idea how it feels in your hand, and think about what type of work you will use it for, then make a decision.

I would personaly buy an Iwata over other brands beacuse of their reputation, build quality, reliability and users highly regard them, end of story.

 

In Progress
1/48 Tamiya P47-D Bubbletop
1/48 Hobby Boss TBF-1C Avenger (on hold)
Pending
1/48 Roden S.E.5a
1/48 Airfix Walrus
  • Member since
    May 2017
  • From: Denver, Colorado
Posted by MrStecks on Tuesday, July 25, 2017 6:33 PM

I have an Iwata Medea and the H&S Infinity.  Unfortunately, I bent the needle on the Infinity about 2 days after I got it.  The open design of the needle cap leaves the needle exposed, and when I tried to put it back in one of my AB holders I missed the hole and jammed the needle right into the edge of the holder, bending it badly.  Crying

The needle cap on the Iwata doesn't have that cut-away design, and I don't worry about it as much.  So even though I bought a replacement needle for the Infinity, I don't use it as much as the Iwata because I worry about bending it again.  I don't really like the exposed nature of the needle cap on the Infinity.

Cheers, Mark


On the bench:  Revel 1/48 B-25J Mitchell

In the queue: Tamiya 1/48 F4U-1A Corsair

  • Member since
    January 2013
Posted by BlackSheepTwoOneFour on Tuesday, July 25, 2017 8:03 PM

It all depends on how much you want to invest in an airbrush. If I were you, read Don Wheeler's website and reviews and make up your own mind.

Here's the link to his website:

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

  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Virginia
Posted by Wingman_kz on Wednesday, July 26, 2017 6:32 AM

I'd flip a coin. Maybe best 2 out of 3. And whichever I went with, I'd order a spare needle and tip. Just in case... :-)

Tony

            

  • Member since
    February 2009
Posted by maxdtex on Wednesday, July 26, 2017 5:47 PM

The Infinity is more versatile because you can use a .4, .2 and .15 needle/nozze with it. You will probably use the .4 more than the smaller needes for most jobs.

  • Member since
    February 2017
Posted by ugamodels on Wednesday, July 26, 2017 9:24 PM

Thanks for doing the reviews, but PLEASE don't do blue script on a green background! In fact, don't do script. I can't read it, trying to focus. I feel motion sickness. 

I type on a tablet. Please excuse the terseness and the autocorrect. Not to mention the erors. 

  • Member since
    July 2013
  • From: Chicago area
Posted by modelmaker66 on Thursday, July 27, 2017 12:02 AM

I would not listen to a salesperson. They will usually tell you that what they sell is the best.

I had a Harder and Steenbeck Evolution and never got on with it ell. It was alwas spitty and tempermental for me. I had an Iwata HP-CS on the other hand and it was great! Never clogging and really good atomization of paint. I like Iwata even though I use Badger now. I would certainly take Iwata over H&S. The parts are also more readily available for Iwata in general.

  • Member since
    May 2017
Posted by Mihai Ilie on Thursday, July 27, 2017 2:47 AM

At the moment the most important thing for me is which one is going to give me better control as a beginner . From what I've read you can pull the same detail with both of them with the 0.2mm needle..I got this...but which one has a better trigger. What do people mean when they say that for the H&S Infinity the trigger is a bit spongy?

Best regards!

  • Member since
    July 2013
  • From: Chicago area
Posted by modelmaker66 on Friday, July 28, 2017 1:15 AM

It is a "feel" thing. Like a racing suspesion over a 4x4 suspension. The H&S is "loose" or not as responsive to minuite trigger movements. The Iwata is more tight and responsive, allowing for a better feel on the trigger pull and theoretically more precise work an control tight in or wide area. It is a personal thing. You have to use what you are confortable with. You need to just buy the one that seems best in your estimation and use it. All the responses may only confuse you. I rarely hear people dissapointed with Iwata. Maybe you should wait until you can try either or both in person to feel it and see it work. If that is not possible than make a choice and build kits.

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