Iwata HP CS

There are a lot of good airbrushes out there, this is one. For sure it's #1 in the t shirt art and lettering industry for it's clean lines. Models ? Some folks here have them love them. Some have them collecting dust and found they prefer simple single action on models. So it's all about what's right for you but the Iwata remains a solid choice for quality, if it fits your needs and style of use then its a good choice.

oldermodelguy

There are a lot of good airbrushes out there, this is one. For sure it's #1 in the t shirt art and lettering industry for it's clean lines. Models ? Some folks here have them love them. Some have them collecting dust and found they prefer simple single action on models. So it's all about what's right for you but the Iwata remains a solid choice for quality, if it fits your needs and style of use then its a good choice.

 

Heh...I'm one of the guys who has an HP-CS collecting dust.  My Paasche H does everything I need it to do for models, and is much easier to care for.  I found that I really don't like the whole concept of flushing with an internal-mix airbrush...don't like wasting solvents and putting them into the air.  With external mix, I can just drop all of the paint-contact parts into a closed jar of solvent and give them a thorough cleaning in my ultrasonic cleaner after each color.

I like mine,it does what I need it to do,learning curve was easy,and it disassembles and cleans easily.

I've had my Iwata HP CS for two years, it's my 'go to' airbrush.  I use the .35 mm needle.  My Number 2 airbrush is an Iwata HP BCS with a .5 mm needle.  I use it when I need a bit more coverage. Both are excellent, trouble-free airbrushes.  

Will this be you first airbrush? What scale and type of subjects do you normally build? What paint brands do you typically use? These are important things to include when asking for advice on an airbrush. Example , if this will be your only airbrush and you do mostly aircraft with NMF, this will not be the tool for you. If you like building 1/48 109s and 190s, this can be a great choice... 1/48 B-17, not so much...

Strongeagle

I've had my Iwata HP CS for two years, it's my 'go to' airbrush.  I use the .35 mm needle.  My Number 2 airbrush is an Iwata HP BCS with a .5 mm needle.  I use it when I need a bit more coverage. Both are excellent, trouble-free airbrushes.  

 

You can't go wrong with the HP-CS, great all around brush.

BK

   I like mine, I also lije the single action Paache, both are easy to use but require practice and some experimentation of what ratio/ pressure works best for your needs. I just primed my 16th scale Stug with my Iwata no problems, also have done soft edge camo on my 35th stuff without issue.

   Pay attention to the above replies as there is fantastic info in them that should help your choice.

I have 3 of them.  One set up with a .5mm for primers and the other two with .35.  Fantastic airbrushes.  

Had mine since 2013, I like it and it's been a reliable and often-used airbrush.

I prefer my Harder & Steenbeck slightly becuase I like it's feel better and it comes apart a bit easier (sometimes I need a wrench to coax the nozzle cap from the Iwata). But it's a lot more expensive.

Would I be happy with the Iwata alone? Absolutely, so long as I had both nozzle/needle sizes (.5 and .35)...which I do.

Have fun with your decision/purchase!

Thanks everyone.

I build 1/48 scale aircraft and 1/32 scale armour. I'm a little tempted to spend the extra money on a Harder and Steenbeck but not sure it's necessary. 

as I've written here previously, I've had nothing but frustration with both Sparmax brushes I've owned for 3 years now. At first I thought it was me just being a newbie, but that's no longer the case.

Darren

dazzjazz

Thanks everyone.

I build 1/48 scale aircraft and 1/32 scale armour. I'm a little tempted to spend the extra money on a Harder and Steenbeck but not sure it's necessary. 

as I've written here previously, I've had nothing but frustration with both Sparmax brushes I've owned for 3 years now. At first I thought it was me just being a newbie, but that's no longer the case.

 

Darren

 

The thing is it's your wallet. If the Iwata won't get you out of Sparmax woes then the H+S likely won't either. But being frank here, the real question to me, is it really Sparmax woes or newby woes ? I mean the Sparmax generally isn't a bad airbrush and every newby has to learn the ropes. I know I certainly did and I already was painting 1/1 . Course there is absolutely nothing wrong with wanting a new airbrush and upgrading in the process !!

The Sparmax is just so unreliable. I can strip down, clean it thoroughly and then it will perform well, or it will be a horrible spitting mess. Their O-rings can't handle any solvents, especially the ones that come with the nozzle. I can hear intermittent airflow problems too. So I take your point about newbie woes but I doubt it's that situation anymore. I've read and watched so much about airbrushing and had quite a bit of practice with all the kits I've built over the last 3 or so years. It's a bummer for sure. 

At around year 40 my Badger 200 started skipping or pulsing might be a better term. It was the teflon washer at the tip mount in that design ( the 100 dual action is the same). Anyway, until the new washer came I used bees wax on the old one and it sealed it up and it sprayed fine.. But it sounds like the Sparmax needs better washer/O ring material. The Chinese knock offs are that way too. Same thing applies there, bees wax, chapstick to seal things up. Such a simple thing for manufacturers to miss the mark on, neoprene instead of rubber O rings. Silly.

Well this doesn't get you closer to HP-CS or H+S choices so I'll bow out for now lol. Only you can decide that.

 Bought the Iwata and love it! It's fabulous, can do fine lines easily and so easy to clean. 

dazzjazz

 Bought the Iwata and love it! It's fabulous, can do fine lines easily and so easy to clean. 

 

Cool,glad you liked it.

Tojo72

 

 

dazzjazz

 Bought the Iwata and love it! It's fabulous, can do fine lines easily and so easy to clean. 

 

 

 

 

Cool,glad you liked it.

 

I second Tojo.

And thanks for letting us know what you did. It's really nice when folks follow up on question-related threads like this.

Greg

And thanks for letting us know what you did. It's really nice when folks follow up on question-related threads like this.

Glad you're happy with your new airbrush, dazzjazz.

   Patience and practice...you will not be sorry. Great tool to have in the workshop. Congrats

dazzjazz

 Bought the Iwata and love it! It's fabulous, can do fine lines easily and so easy to clean. 

 

Thats great and it will last a lifetime. The main thing is you like it !