Another airbrush question.

Mark Joyce

Member since
March 2004
From: Placerville, CA USA

Another airbrush question.

Posted by Mark Joyce on Friday, May 7, 2004 11:36 PM

Hi folks,

I know this subject has been beat to death lately, so I apologize in advance for asking it. However, all the recent posts have left me confused Confused [%-)]

.

I currently use a Badger 200 single-action airbrush, and want to replace or supplement it with a double-action, but am indecisive on which one. I thought if I describe my needs and type of subjects I model, some of you can chime in with recommendations.

First, I use enamels because I personally get better results with them, and usually use Model Master due to availability.

Second, I mainly model aircraft, with the occasional armor model thrown in. My favorites are WWII subjects, but I've got some Korean and Vietnam War era in my stash too. Typically I do 1/48 for fighters and 1/72 for the larger aircraft, such as bombers.

Third, I probably won't be doing anything more intricate than US camo schemes. I don't have any German airplanes with those fancy mottling schemes. I do P-40s Smile [:)]

. Lots of P-40s Big Smile [:D]

.

I've been looking into a bottom-feed, like my Badger is. I'm hesitant to go to both a double-action AND a gravity-feed at the same time. I'm one of those that can't walk and chew gum at the same time, so I can see me spilling the paint out of the cup when I turn the airbrush at odd angles. Am I just being overly concerned with this?

Thanks in advance for suggestions, and again sorry for another post on this, but my head is beginning to hurt Banged Head [banghead]

!

Mark

Ignorance is bliss

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, May 8, 2004 12:03 AM

Mark , for the bottom feed airbrush, my opinion will be Badger 155 for tight budget or Iwata HP-BCS if you have money to spare. But I would like to recommend a gravity feed coz you can spray with a little pressure in which you can have more control for delicate painting. BTW, what color did you use for you P40 camouflage?

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MusicCity

Member since
January 2004
From: USA

Posted by MusicCity on Saturday, May 8, 2004 6:00 AM

Omni 3000 fits your requirements just fine. It's a Badger (actually Thayer and Chandler) so the hoses and bottles you already have will fit. One nozzle, one needle so no changing nozzles. Double-action, bottom feed. It's what I use and I love it.

I also have a Badger 200 that I've had for years so my learning curve was about like yours will be. Don't worry about it, it's an easy learning curve. You just sudden;y have more immediate control than you had with the 200.

Scott Craig -- Nashville, TN -- My Website -- My Models Page

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saltydog

Member since
July 2003
From: Lower Alabama

Posted by saltydog on Saturday, May 8, 2004 9:06 AM

i will echo sig and scott's above comments mark. if i were you, i would definetly buy a gravity feed brush. i love mine. i have an omni 5000, iwata hp-c, and an iwata hp-cs. out of the three, i would recommend the iwata hp-cs. but, if money is tight, the omni 4000 is a nice brush as well. the 4000 has a cap for the color cup so you dont have to worry about spilling paint. i'm the worlds biggest dufuss when it comes to paint spilling so trust me, ive never had a problem spilling paint out of the airbrush during painting sessions. one thing i disagree with sigman on though is this, i wouldn't spend the extra money on the hp-bcs because you could get the iwata hp-bcr or hp-cr for about $20 less with the same .5mm needle / nozzle combonation. the .5mm n/n combo is just a hair to large for the real, real thin line you may need to do some cammo schemes, so thats why i recommend the hp-cs with the .35mm n/n combo that can handle all your modelling needs from fine line to broad coverage. but, if mask off your cammo patterns and not free hand them, then any of the above airbrushes will work, including your badger 200. Big Smile [:D]

later.

Chris

The Origins of Murphy's Law: "In the begginning there was nothing, and it exploded."!!! _________ chris

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, May 8, 2004 1:09 PM

yeah, get a paint lid.

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roosterfish

Member since
November 2003
From: Stockton CA USA

Posted by roosterfish on Saturday, May 8, 2004 1:49 PM

Mark, don't get over conservative. Go for an airbrush with a gravity feed and double action. I've airbrushed for many, many years and I've only spilt paint once with a gravity feed. Boy was it a spill...on the table, walls, floor and of course the model. But it spilled because I got the air hose caught on a drawer handle and the airbrush was flung out of my hand and it hit the wall. Both the model and the Iwata airbrush survived. I was lucky because I had a couple of coats of Future Floor Wax on the model and I was spraying with enamel paints on top of the Future. A little paint thinner wiped off the excess enamel paint. And the airbrush survived because it is a tough and well built airbrush.

I learned my lesson. Leave the cap on the airbrush.

Winners never quit; quitters never win.

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Mark Joyce

Member since
March 2004
From: Placerville, CA USA

Posted by Mark Joyce on Saturday, May 8, 2004 2:23 PM

Thanks for all the replies so far, everyone! I really appreciate it Big Smile [:D]

. After reading all the posts on airbrushes, I was starting to lean towards a gravity-feed, and I think my mind is made up now to GO FOR IT Thumbs Up [tup]

!

Sigman, the P-40s I've done so far have either been OD/NG, or the camo scheme of dark earth and dark green/OD. I've used Model Master enamels so far, and for the camo schemes I made my own masks out of Tamiya tape for a hard edge. I was pleased with the results but, boy, masking is a lot of work! My next batch of P-40s, which are primed and about ready for airbrushing, are MTO birds. I plan on using Xtracolor enamels (dark earth,RAF middlestone, and RAF azure). I've heard good things about Xtracolor,although I've also heard comments that they take a long time to dry. But at the rate I model, that shouldn't be a problem!

Mark

Ignorance is bliss

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, May 8, 2004 2:42 PM

might i suggest the hp-cs. like everyone else.

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Mark Joyce

Member since
March 2004
From: Placerville, CA USA

Posted by Mark Joyce on Saturday, May 8, 2004 4:08 PM

I have a Paasche compressor, and already have a combo regulator/moisture trap. If I bought an Iwata HP-CS, what other attachments, like hoses, would be recommended or needed? That's one downfall of an Iwata, is that apparently I can't use the same hose as for my Badger.

Thanks again everyone,

Mark

Ignorance is bliss

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MikeV

Member since
April 2003
From: Hayward, CA

Posted by MikeV on Saturday, May 8, 2004 4:29 PM

Mark,

Why not just buy an Omni 4000 as it will do everything the HP-CS will do and it costs 40% less? It will also fit your Badger air hose so you won't have to spend another $20 on one of those too.
If you like the Iwata better that is fine too though. Smile [:)]

Mike

“Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. To know is not to be wise. Many men know a great deal, and are all the greater fools for it. There is no fool so great a fool as a knowing fool. But to know how to use knowledge is to have wisdom. " Charles Spurgeon

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, May 8, 2004 5:21 PM

or get a quick connect

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MikeV

Member since
April 2003
From: Hayward, CA

Posted by MikeV on Saturday, May 8, 2004 5:25 PM

A quick connect is a nice way to go but they too are not cheap since you will need to buy the female one for the air hose and a male one for each airbrush.

Mike

“Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. To know is not to be wise. Many men know a great deal, and are all the greater fools for it. There is no fool so great a fool as a knowing fool. But to know how to use knowledge is to have wisdom. " Charles Spurgeon

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, May 8, 2004 6:19 PM

yeah, so buy a badger (jumping over the fence AGIAN)

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, May 9, 2004 1:02 AM

i just retired my paasche vl and bought an Iwata Revolution BCR and the Iwata HP-CS and let me tell you it is like going from a huyndai to a caddy. The VL was great to learn on as im sure so was your badger but from everything i have read in these forums and now from personal experience I recommend the iwata's. both are double action. One is grav feed and the other vacum feed. How does the old saying go...you get what you pay for.

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, May 9, 2004 3:18 PM

not quite... the paasche vl is more expensive than the revlultions... and the revolutions can outperform some more expensive airbrushes.

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saltydog

Member since
July 2003
From: Lower Alabama

Posted by saltydog on Sunday, May 9, 2004 3:58 PM

QUOTE: quick connect is a nice way to go but they too are not cheap since you will need to buy the female one for the air hose and a male one for each airbrush

when i first purchased an iwata, i also purchased the little adapter so i could still use my badger hose with both the omni 5000 and the hp-c. the hose adapter wasnt a quick connect but it was only five bucks and some change at dixieart. later.

Chris

The Origins of Murphy's Law: "In the begginning there was nothing, and it exploded."!!! _________ chris

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