Buying an Airbrush

if it is your first airbrush I think either could fit your bill just fine. (the CS or the CR) while you can get finer lines etc... etc.. with the CS the CR will be able to do everything you want it to do... and a little cheaper as well.. One of our resident Iwata men (Saltydog) uses the CS but was talking about a CR for Acrylics. The main difference is out of the box the CS (Eclipse) comes with a .35 nozzle/needle combo while the CR (Revolution) comes with a .5mm n/n combo. The .5 is a little more flexible with model paints as particle size of the pigment isn't an issue. Of course if you decide the CS is what you want, you can purchase the .5 n/n combo as well... (extra cost)

My best recommendation is to go to an art supply place or hobby shop and see if you can hold a few of the aforementioned airbrushes... see how it fits in your hand etc... both the Badgers mentioned and the Iwatas will do what you want, it's just a matter of personal preference as to which one works better..

Personally I own both a Badger 175 and 155 and LOVE the 155... it is a great airbrush.. but wanting to get either the CR or the CS Iwata for a gravity feed just to try out the other side... probably the CR since it seems more flexible for what I want it for.

Good luck to you! And I am sure whichever you decide to get, you will be very happy!

Iwata HP-C has been recommended to me quite a lot but I haven't actually bothered to get an airbrush just yet so my advice probably isn't worth the pixels it's printed on...

Seb

QUOTE: Revolution is the budget series.

I see, I guess that means Eclipse are better. But what are the actual differences when using either one? Will an average modeler notice much difference?

Revolution is the budget series.

Mike is right, go for a double action without a second thought.

My Iwata Eclipse has never failed me,

funny how Iwata kind of sounds like "I wanna". I Wata airbwush that wasts me for a wong time.

What is the difference between Iwata's Eclipse and Revolution series?

thanks for info on dixie air brush co i just sent off via e-mail for there catalog

QUOTE: Originally posted by plasticmod992 The max pressure for the HP-CR is approx. 60 psi, believe it or not!

Greg,

Is that an Iwata recommendation?
I have yet to hear of a maximum pressure recommendation for any airbrush.
I wonder why they say that? Maybe to protect people from dangerous pressures should the airhose break or something?

Mike

Yeah, I did say that didn't I, well, the truth be told...I sold the Omni a while ago on Ebay. I had mastered My Iwatas and I just felt that the Omni purchase was an impulsive act of curiosity; however it did perform well hen I used it. I guess its true what Rick said...the force is strong with the Iwatas..LOL!

Vietnam (Mike),
The airhose threads for the Iwatas are slightly wider in diameter (approx 8mm), so you will need to purchase one separately. I use Iwatas 10 ft. cobra coil airhose, retails for $18.75 on www.dixieart.com. As far as air pressures..you have a pretty wide lattitude. The max pressure for the HP-CR is approx. 60 psi, believe it or not! Any standard 1/4 horse power compressor will work for the airbrush, however most airbrush manufactuerers offer a selection of "hobby use" compressors. Iwata recommends for thoroughly cleaning the nozzle passages- a "pressure cleaning" with the air set at 40 psi. I've tried it and it works great...the HP-CR is one tough airbrush! For general spraying I use an air pressure of approx 15 psi ( paint thinned at 2:1) and between 9-to-10 psi for fine lines (paint thinned at 1:1). My detail airbrushes include my new Iwata Eclipse HP-BS and HP-C. The later two are also gravity-feed airbrushes.

Check out Iwata's web site, as they offer the HP-CR in a set.
http://www.iwata-medea.com/products/airbrush/kits.html

I guess my name is fairly missleading. I'm from and live in Michigain. I think I will get the Iwata Revolution HP-CR, as Greg suggested. Will any airhose, moisture trap and compressor work with it, or do I need to get a specific airhose, etc.? What would be a nice, max PSI on a compressor?
Thanks,
Mike

He may have an easier time finding Iwata's and they are a lot cheaper in Asia I believe, correct me if I'm wrong.
Since shipping would be high overseas I think you should look for an airbrush that is sold locally and is of good quality.
Badger, Iwata, Paasche, Harder-Steenbeck, Richpen, Holbein and others are all good.

Mike

Iwata HP-C is my choice. I feel great with it. But you live in the South East Asia. Moisture trap is the necessary equipment you need also.
Enjoy

The FORCE is strong in the Iwata HP-CR .

Regards, Rick

i remember that too

QUOTE: Originally posted by plasticmod992 I'd like to echo MikeV's reply post; go for a double action. I can't believe I'm going to type this, but "Badger" (arrrgh!) offers very high quality gravity feed models like the 100LG, Omni 4000 and 155 and 360 for great prices at web sites such as; my favorite, www.dixieart.com.

Greg,

I remember you saying several months back that you liked that Omni 6000 so much that you were going to sell your Iwatas. What happened?

Mike

I'd like to echo MikeV's reply post; go for a double action. I can't believe I'm going to type this, but "Badger" (arrrgh!) offers very high quality gravity feed models like the 100LG, Omni 4000 and 155 and 360 for great prices at web sites such as; my favorite, www.dixieart.com. However, I would strongly recommend the Iwata Revolution HP-CR. It is a gravity-feed airbrush of excellent high quality that can takcle moderate detail as well as braod area coverage. It goes for under $60.00 at the afore mentioned web site. As a side note: "Gravity-feed" refers to how the paint is fed to the airbrush nozzle and needle. Generaly these gravity feed airbrushes have a permanently attached color cup on the top portion of the airbrush. This type of airbrush boasts their ease in cleaning, improved paint flow, less paint waseted for small parts, and their ability to use lower air pressures for opperation unlike some bottle, or (siphon-feed) types. The later translates to less overspray. Do your homework, look around and visit your hobby retailer and ask to hold several to get a better idea of what suites you. Good luck!

PS: Modelers on this forum have a wealth of info on airbrushes, their experiences with them as well as spraying charachterists with various hobby paints. So keep the questions coming!

Reconditioned airstar V: $99 @ badgerairbrush.com under garage sale
Badger 155 anthem: $70 for the -7 set almost anywhere
badger 100 LG: $60 @ dixieart

Many airbrush brands are good and a search on this forum will show you plenty of discussions on the subject. I recommend a double-action, internal mix airbrush as it will do anything you want it to and you won't have to buy another one later like many do when they buy a single-action airbrush.
All you need is an airbrush, an airhose, and a regulator on the compressor to adjust air pressure. I would also get a moisture trap if the regulator does not have one built in.

Mike