Omni 4000 or 6000

iwata eclipse hp-cs!! the 4000 is a good choice, but the hp-cs is a GREAT choice. later.

MikeV would give you a much better answer, but basically, you can work with less air pressure (psi) with a gravity-fed than a siphon-fed airbrush, since gravity would do the work in "pushing" the paint from the cup to the mixing chamber. The result: you can do more detailed work and have less overspray when doing freehand due to the low pressure used (considering paint is sufficiently thinned).

I'm also looking at the Iwata, but they are a bit pricey compared to the Omni line which I've heard good things about. I already have an Aztek but I now feel the need to ad second airbrush.

~Alecur

Alerur, the Omni 4000 is a great AB.

Alright I'm biased, as I own one, but there are quite a few others on this forum who swear by their 4000s

The colour cup is plenty large enough, even for really large models, but the AB is delicate enough to do fine camo, even on 1/72 aircraft.

Karl

The Omni 6000 isn't a siphon feed brush, it's a SIDE feed brush.according to Badger's web site. The siphon feed Omni is the 3000. I don't really see any advantage to a side feed over a top feed, the top feed might work at slightly lower pressures, but it isn't going to be much different.

I have both a 3000 and a 4000 and the 4000 will feed at slightly lower pressure than the 3000.

As far as I know, the biggest advantage to working with a side feed brush is that the color cup doesn't obstruct your view of what you're doing.

The difference in feed pressure between a gravity feed and side feed will be negligible.

i've been airbrushing with a gravity feed for a long while and have never once had the color cup obstruct my view, and probably never will. you would have to have a double jointed wrist to have the color cup in your view. during normal operation, the airbrush is gonna be at an approx. 45 degree angle from your line of sight. unless you plan to aim the thing like a rifle, you'll never have a problem with the cup obstructing your view. later.

The gravtity feed doesn't obstruct my view as much as it does my light. I'm right handed and I like my light behind and to the right. With a gravity feed brush I get a big shadow from the color cup. I'm getting used to it but it bothered me at first. Try a siphon feed without the color cup up there and you'll see the difference.

Another advantage of gravity feed over syphon is for smaller jobs you dont have to mix as much paint. Say the yellow tips on props or for a cowl stripe or anything else requiring a drop or 2, dont know about side feed as i dont own 1.

I have an Aztek & an Omni 4000. Omni is easier to clean, paint with, all in all an excellent airbrush. I also have a Badger 200NH which is a siphon feed. I find it somewhat easier to clean up with the color cup permanenty attached from the top than taking it off to clean seperatly each time. I was a little skeptical myself about using the built on gravity feed, but I really like it alot. Enough that I'm considering replacing my 200NH with the 200G, the gravity feed version. The BIG color cup on top hold enough paint for the big jobs, as well as as little paint as you'll need for the smaller jobs. Also, the color cup on the side of the 6000 might make you feel like it's not balanced, where as the 4000 mounted in the center & balanced.

I'm sure mikev will chime in. Look for his post.

I converted from an Aztec to an Omni. You won't believe the difference!

I got the Omni 6000 with the Aztec cup adapter. I thought the ability to use my Aztec cups would be a good feature --- and it turns out I use the large Aztec siphon bottles all the time for clean up.

But, I have found that the side mount cup has one distinct disadvantage, at least for me. The cup can limit access in tight areas. I model WWII A/C. It’s difficult to get into areas around the engines on multi-engine A/C and around the wing roots and the fuselage. This has nothing to do with the Omni 6000 specifically. Any side mount AB will have the same limitations.

I’d seriously think about the advantages of using the Aztec cups versus the accessibility advantage of the Omni 4000 if I had the 4000 versus 6000 decision to make all over again.

I have the 4000 and I aint looking back

You guys have been very helpful, thanks so much. with your combined input I've decided to go with the Omni 4000. I figure since I already have the Aztek which is a side feeder and has the ability to use different sized cups that the fixed larger cup size of the Omni 4000 will work out best for me.

Thanks again!

~Alecur

A good choice Alecur.

Mike

I agree with Mike. You made a good choice and will enjoy it. I've found that mine will do anything I want on a model.