What airbrush should I buy?

Douple action is better, it gives you better control over the amount paint and air, but single action still has its place ( i use a single action for base colors on larger models) You should do a search of the forum and read the multiple post from members to get an idea on what you would prefer.

ferni..........imo
the double action is more versitile.......a tad more costly & a little more complex to clean.......
the single action is somewhat less versitile & less costly, though easier to learn with.......& easier & less delicate to clean.........

the vast majority of modelling artists here use a double action A/B for it's ability to apply finite camo patterns & softer freehand demarcation lines on their spectacular builds......as you'll see or have seen.........

personally i use the Passache H (single action / external mix) and with the 3 different tips and some tweeking, i'm quite content with the results.......

you'll find there are as many differing perspectives on this topic as there are airbrush flavors & types.........
it'd be nice if you could "test drive" a few........but, the next best thing is posting your query here.........
hope this'll help ya...........best 'o luck........

Ferni, here's a couple of threads you can check out... There's a lot of good info here on airbrushes.

http://www.finescale.com/fsm/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=29222

http://www.finescale.com/fsm/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=28713

http://www.finescale.com/fsm/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=26148

I agree with Marburg, double action is better, but if single action is all you can get, it will work, it's just won't be as good at detail work.

There are two types of paint feeds too, siphon feed, where the paint is sucked up into the airbrush from a bottle. And gravity feed, where there is a metal cup on top of the airbrush that lets the paint flow down into the brush. both will do the job, the gravity feed is better at fine detail because it can spray at lower air pressures, but the siphon feed still does a great job all the same.

It all boils down to how much you want to initially invest in an airbursh. Buying a cheap one is not a good idea, there are lots of inexpensive (less than 60 dollars) airbrushes that will do everything you need and are of good quality.

You'll also need an airsource: either pressurized air cans, or a compressor. I vote for the compressor, at $69 dollars or so for the cheapest compressor, more for the quieter modeling types, it's going to save you a lot of money in the mean time. The air cans range from 8 to 10 dollars each... so after your first couple of models the air compressor would begin saving you money!

Read a little in those threads then come back and you can get more in depth details!

Good luck to you!

I am a new airbrush user and I have to agree that a double action airbrush is a good airbrush to learn on. A single action airbrush might be a little simpler to use, but the difference (in my opinion) is negligible. The double action airbrush allows you to paint finer lines and, when you are new to using it, you can practice your fine lines even when painting larger areas. I suppose everyone has their own opinions on which airbrush is the best--personally I have, and usually use, an Iwata Eclipse HP-CS which seems to work very well (I have another Iwata and a cheap Omni-which is not really intended for modeling (it came with my compressor)--which I have not used much).

I use a double action... (dramatic music) Aztek. However, due to various glitches I am unable to reccomend it, but it's not a bad airbrush.

I would also recommend a double action airbrush.

One piece of advice, some companies like BB Rich(Japan) make airbrushes & Compressors that are sold under different names(Iwata, Olympic, Tamiya, Wave, Gunze Sangyo, etc).

I have noticed that some of their airbrushes released for the japanese market tend to be a LOT cheaper than their equivalent Airbrushes sold in the west.

Quality is the same and parts are interchangeable, so do a price comparison even with shipping from japan it might end up cheaper than buying it in the west.
This is especially true for their high-end airbrushes.

Regardless of what you choose, best of luck with your new tool.

ferni5,
I had a single action for years and it was passable. I eventualy bought a Badger 155. If I had it to do all over again I would spend the extra money and buy a double action my first time out-you won't regret it.

I also own a badger 155, went up from an aztek. If I had known how bad the azteks were, I would have jumped at the oppertunity for the 155. the 155 with propper pressure, thinned paints, etc does extremely fine lines. very good for a first airbrush. easy to clean.

i would choose a double action brush if i were you. you'll have all the control you need. gravity feeds are easier to clean than most airbrushes and are a good choice for modelling. good luck on your choice friend. iwata or badger are both great manufacturer's. later.

once you've made your mind up you can shop online for a brush. Or watch the Sunday paper for a Michaels art store 50% off coupon. usually they are 40% off but around holidays they put the 50% discounts on one item coupons out... (could clip two coupons, get your airbrush and bring it to the car, then go back in and get your compressor----- both half off)

online are: dixieart.com airbrushcity.com

I just found out about airbrushcity but their airbrushes appear to be Badger clones for less money.

I would suggest investing in a double action airbrush such as Iwata or Badger , even though they are more expensive than others they are well worth the extra cost !!!

I have a Badger 100 double action and 200 single action both graviy fed. It seems the 200 is collecting dust these days as I use the 100 for just about all my airbrush needs. Good luck

I have a Badger 200 single action, and I am very pleased with it. It has a longitudinal needle and can paint narrow lines like double action units, but the needle adjustment is done at the back with screw rather than by sliding the trigger back and forth.

The advantage/disadvantage of that arrangement, is that it is not really possible to change the needle adjustment, i.e the paint spray width while you are actually airbrushing the model. If you need to adjust it for finer or fuller, you really need to do that off the model, and then return to spaying the model after the needle is set as desired. If you're experienced, with good airbrushing technique, this is more limiting. If you're new to the game and still developing your technique, this arrangement can be a little easier to master.

Many double action airbrushes also got an adjuster screw at the back so that you can set maximum spray width.

the badger garage sale, at the badger site, has a badger 200 for about 30 bucks, and a reconditioned airstar for about a hundred

the 155, 175, Vega 2000 and others are available at dixieart.com about $49 for the brush OR $69 for the kit (hoses, wrenches, fine medium and heavy needles and paint bottles) basically everything you would need starting out in the kit.... and they are all double action.... at the same place.. new in the box...

(P.S. the 155 doesn't come with the other needles because it doesn't need them... it uses one needle for everything and does a durn good job of it!!!)

Hey, I read this forum last year for a week or so and I jumped in and bought an Iwata Eclipse BCS dual action, man am I glad I did. $80bucks but it was worth it.
I think its super easy to clean. I can shoot colors one right after the other.
Its a 2" spray at 6" because I bought the fine tip for detail work.I didn't need a brush that would paint large areas. I build 1/72, 48,32 and ships. Great for those sizes. The color cup 3/4oz is plenty big.

I built a cleaning jig from this site.....
http://www.ipms-seattle.org/tips/abcleaner.htm

I just got back into modeling last year and airbrushes are great.



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