Badger 155 - Iwata CR - Passche VL

If you goal is to own an Iwata go for it now unless you don't mind paying twice.

Haven't used either of those two A/B so I can't mak a comment on them.

I would take the Badger 155 in a second over the Paasche VL.
The 155 has a smoother trigger, is more comfortable, and disassembles faster. There are others who would choose the VL as it is an old standard for airbrushes. The choice is yours.

Mike

Good Point (Model Museum)
However there some what of a price gap between say a VL and an Iwata HP-CS

Well perhaps a better way of deciding to spend the extra money is to ask ...
Are Gravity Brushed Better of Modeling in general ?

See that is another barier is I have not really been able to get some good real use info about Gravity vs. bottom feed

It is really personal preference, for my modelling needs gravity feed cups are large enough as I don't need a lot of paint.

I would just go with a gravity-feed airbrush now.
Any reason why you want the Iwata?
You can buy a Badger 100LG or Omni 4000 for quite a bit less than the HP-CS and have an airbrush that is just as good.

Mike

Another Reason I would not mind getting a Badger or a Passche is the old
Micheals 40% Coupon I found after reading about it in this Forum. What about the Badger 360? Or Passche VSR 90 / VJR ? has you used any of those?

The 360 is an excellent airbrush but the cup is small in gravity-feed mode.
Internally it is identical to the Anthem 155.

Mike

I have the VJR you asked about (2 messages previously). I like it a whole lot for touch up jobs. It has a tiny cup where there's almost nothing to clean up. Its cup is too small to be your one & only airbrush though. I use the VJR alongside an Omni 5000. The 5000's cup is smaller than the 4000, but it's big enough.

155 all the way.

though i also suggest 100lg with medium n/n

i got my 155 60% off for a tjanksgiving sale! that's right 60% off! It actually beat the dixieart price bya few dollars! anyway i'd go for (and have done so) the 155 like a shot. (After purchasing this AB going to an Iwata is quite unnecesary in my opinion. It would not be an upgrade anyway!)

I think it's time for the Badger Mafia to orginize a hit on the iwata gang.

QUOTE: Originally posted by 1337 I think it's time for the Badger Mafia to orginize a hit on the iwata gang.

Be careful we got the backing of the Tamiya, Olympus, etc gangs too.
Go ahead and take on the BB Rich clan.

consider it done

QUOTE: Originally posted by 1337 I think it's time for the Badger Mafia to orginize a hit on the iwata gang.

hehe. we'll spray 'em with our fine pencil lines!!

hey Chef, I just looked on dixieart.com and the badger 155 and the VL sets are the same price! 59.95... I've ordered from them before and they are a real square deal! the stuff I ordered got here in like 3 or 4 days... AND with purchases over 45.00 there is free shipping!!! what a bargain!

Out of the two I would recommend the Badger 155... with it you will get very lines closer to what a gravity feed will do with the good medium coverage capabilities of that 2 oz bottle....

However I must agree with MM... if you want an Iwata, get an Iwata... don't get this one and then pay twice by getting the Iwata later... (been there, done that) the Iwata HP-CR is... you guessed it, 59.95 at dixie art... the hose is extra in this case but only 11.00 or so... price isn't an issue as we see... it's more about what ya want...

hair thin lines with an Iwata, ease of gravity feed cleanup...

with the 155 almost as fine detail, fastest break apart of any airbrush this side of Tupelo, Mississippi... (the 360 is identical to the 155 except it also has a cup so it can do gravity feed airbrushing... only draw back is the cup is small so only good for detail work)

the VL is a good brush, haven't used it but heard it is comparable to the Badger 175 which is goo, but not as good at detail as the 155...

they're all the same price so this either makes it easier or harder on ya haha

The 155 is a nice all around airbrush. The Badger 100LG with med head assembly or a Omni 5000, Iwata-HP-CS are other good choices for modeling. I even like using the Badger 150. The Peak x-5 from bear air is a good choice too.
John

Wow thanks for all the feedback

Another question - any used the Revolution series Iwata?

I haven't several here have, in fact the legendary Saltydog himself either has it or is planning on getting one... it's comparable to the Omni 4000. I might be getting one this week... the missus is out of town so need to get the purchase approved through her first...

Tho, the revoution doesn't compare to the omni 4k. It's not quite as good, but still a good airbrush.

Ps to Badger Mafia: All "inbetweeners" (Tho9900) will also be hit.

OK it will be either a
Badger 155 (155-7 kit most likely)
or
Iwata CR

However since I will be mostly doing 1/48 Aircraft , with some 1/72 (For large a/c) & some 1/35 vehicles Here are my concerns (vs each other)
155 - Clean up, use for small detailing
CR - when painting large part of a 1/48 having to refill many times, paint staying in the cup

I say 155. it's cheaper (49 vs 59) the stuff that goes with it is cheaper, does a really fine line, easy cleaning/dissassembly, and the greatest customer service ever.

I just picked up the Revolution CR a couple of weeks ago. I have yet to fire it up but it sure looks and feels nice! The paint cup is definitely of sufficient size for almost anything. Even with my old badger 350, I was always adding paint to the cup during a job but it was no big deal - I would just squirt some in on the fly from a film cannister (that's where I mix my paint). I never had any problems with paint drying and clogging while pausing to refill as I keep my paint fairly thin.

Anyway, maybe I'll find time this weekend to play with the Revolution. I'll let you know how it goes.

SaltyDog definitely is the one to ask about the Iwatas but he's gone offline for a couple of months I believe.

Jim

I have 2 Iwatas, and have never regreted buying them. I have had several AB in the past 20 or so years and these are the best I have ever had. They are easy to clean, and I also do 1/48 scale a/c like yourself and I dont run out of paint in my gravity fed AB.(IMHO) It is all a personal preference, do what best suits you.

Thad

copter, it seems that Saltydog has gone "missing" eh?

QUOTE: Originally posted by 1337 copter, it seems that Saltydog has gone "missing" eh?

if you look on the odds and ends forum, he posted saying he'd be gone for a while because of a new job.

I think saltydog is a lot on the road now, like for 2-week stretches.

thanks for removing my fun

Over the years, I've had the opportunity to try just about all of the major airbrushes in my pursuit to find the right one(s) for my modeling needs. In the last 5 years or so, I have settled on the Iwata Eclipse series. They are high quality, durable, user-friendly, reliable and dependable tools. My new HP-BS I can free-hand exquisitely soft 1/32 inch fine lines, special effects and subtle weathering. Armed with my Revolution HP-CR, It handles 99% of my general spraying needs; from base coats to moderate detail and spraying of small subassemblies with ease. Both are gravity feed, they clean up fast and easy facilitating faster and more acurate builds. Whats that you say?, "big deal, the Badger and Omni models can do that too" This is true, however, I have noticed that the Iwatas continuosly win over in a key area: paint atomization, higher tolerances with thicker hobby paints and high-quality, flat-out! I literally unpacked my HP-BS, thinned some paint and test sprayed some of the softest, finely atomized fine lines I have ever be able to accomplish with any other airbrush in the 25 years of modeling. It wasn't untill the purchase of my Iwatas did I start aquiring first-place awards for their finish and accuracy. So with this said, and I am obviously bias, I would recommend in a heart beat the following:

1. Iwata Revolution HP-CR (.5mm needle/nozzle)
1/3rd oz. Gravity-feed color cup
(*general spraying and moderate detail, 1/16 to 1-1/2 inch)
$59.00 at :www.dixieart.com

2.Iwata Eclipse HP-BS or CS (.35mm needle/nozzle)
1/16oz. Gravity feed color cup
(*excellent fine lines, general spraying, special effects, weathering-the works, Hairline to 1-1/2 inch)
$105.00 at: www.dixieart.com

Need more paint for that 1/72nd scale B-52H or 1/48th scale B-1B? Try the Iwata Eclipse HP-BCS, bottle feed. It has the same excellent paint atomization, quality and characterists as the Eclipse CS and BS, only it sports a larger .5mm needle/ nozzle and the ability to do both fine lines, large area coverage, and attach a 1/4 color cup or any size airbrush bottle. Badger/Thayer Chandler, Omni, Paasche etc are very good airbrushes and I have have very good results with them, but for my 1/72nd scale jets, the Eclipses are top-of-the line......IMHO.

plasticmod992 - Thanks for that very detailed appraisal of the Iwata line.
Again to all who have replied; I appreciate all the time and help, this is truely the top Modling Forum I have found.

The more and more I read I think Gravity feed (w/ a large 1/3 cup) is the way to go
So therefore I think for Gravity Feed Price vs. Performance (for a newbie) the Iwata CR takes it.

I think my only issue would be the occational very large 1/48 like the Revell B1-B I want to do, however for that I think I may just have to mix up a ton of extra paint or Rattle Can the Base coat.
Time for me to get Cookin'