Newbie ( sorta) What Airbrush to buy? Never used one, have read

Which A/B you get really depends on YOU and YOUR needs.

There is no single A/B that does it all or works equally well for everybody, many on here will recommend a badger to you.

For me the main criteria are:
Double actions unless I want an A/B that I use only for priming or laying down large areas of a single colour.
For detail work I prefer a gravity feed with a smallish cup.
Availability and cost of spares parts and accessories, hate to have an A/B down. maybe that is the reason why I own 3 and 2 Compressors.

I like my japanese made A/B for the above reasons, also because they have lids for the gravity cups thus avoiding unwanted spills, etc.
Another thing to go for early on is an A/B holder, for me that item made one of the biggest differences. Mine can holds upto 4 A/B and moisture trap/filter.

HTH.

Well, it looks like the list is narrowed to badger or paasche based on supply convenience...
i want to build 1/48 for the time being and only i am only interested in wwii aircraft. I was hoping there was a base model that would through changing tips or needles could put down base coats ...then with a tip change do camo schemes...

I dont want to spend hundreds of dollars on several different brushes but would like a good learner...

thanks a lot for your reply above.

my first airbrush was a Paasche single action (VL model I believe). that model appears to be very popular since I've seen it in several model shops/art stores, so parts and accessories shouldn't be hard to find for it. I think it works fine for a single action A/B, although it is a little too bulky for my hand.

If you would like to do more detail work, a double action AB is the way to go.

I also have a Paasche Millenium double action, which is much slimmer and more comfortable to use. with this model I can change needles for detail work or broader spraying, although I still use my single action as well.

Trip I run a Thayer & Chandler Omni 4000 double action AB.

Thayer & Chandler are a division of Badger, so spares are not an issue.

The Omni will spray a line from abour 2mm across to around 2.5cm across using the same tip, meaning that you can switch from detail to coverage work without changing tips.

Finally they are fairly inexpensive, expecially when compared with Iwatas, but as Model Museum stated, it's all a matter of choice.

Best of luck.

Karl

I think to start with a single action airbrush is ideal. I've been using my Badger 200 for about a week now and can't imagine ever going back to using just aerosol's. I'd recommend the Badger personally but haven't used any other make as yet. Best of luck.

deja vous

I feel like I have been in this thread before.....

Me too. Although sometime it's easier to just ask a question than sift through all the threads (that's my excuse anyway) :o)

Trip,

Since you are new to airbrushes, I too would recommend the Badger 200. Easy to use and very capable.

Technically, it is a single-action unit, but in terms of performance, it acts a lot more like a double action unit, in fact using the the same needle/tip arrangement used in other double action air-brushes. However, because the needle adjustment is separate from the trigger, it is easy to use like a single-action AB.

I wouldn't be concerned about quickly out growing its capabilities. It easily can paint fine enough lines for 1/48 aircraft camo. I've been using mine for a while now, and my own skillset is still the limiting factor on my painting.

Andy

QUOTE: Originally posted by trip ...I dont want to buy junk...on the otherhand i dont need a ferrari to start learning...

Since you don't need the Ferrari...Buy at Badger. The Ford of airbrushes...Badger.

A double-action Omni 4000 sounds like what you need.

Now if you were looking for a Ferrari, ahem, more like a Acura NSX of airbrushes then... (I think I will drift away now.)

The Ford of airbrushes?
But have you driven a Ford lately?

Recommending an airbrush is about like recommending a car for you to buy.
There are many great models out there and most of them will spray excellent.
I personally would stay away from Aztek's but that is only my personal opinion as some people have great success with them.
I would buy a double-action airbrush as they are really no harder to use than a single-action and are much more precise.
I like gravity-feed airbrushes for modeling so if I were you and it was Badger or Paasche I would go with the Badger 100LG or Omni 4000 as I am not familiar with the Paasche gravity-feeds. If you want to spend more money on a Japanese airbrush then the Iwatas are nice as are the Peak airbrushes which are made in the same factory but are cheaper. Sometimes the name brand costs more.

Mike

looks like everythings been covered....................AGAIN!!!LOL. i've used paasche, badger & omni, and just prefer the Iwata Eclipse HP-CS. the eclipse is capable, like most airbrushes in the hands of a well practiced user, to do fine lines for detail work, and can also do a nice job of broad coverage work. however, if you still want Iwata quality at a great price, try the Iwata Revolution HP-CR. its price compares to most other brands. good luck with your choice friend, and happy airbrushing. later.

The Paasche VJR sure bails me out of some tight jams. That's my recommendation for lowest-price fine line gravity airbrush. It's the airbrush I use to cover up the Omni 5000's overspray.

I would like to thank everyone that took time to respond to this post...I have been reading and reading the forums and many of the experienced modelers have brand prefences, etc. I have read and read and read and didnt want this to be a lazy post on my part, but, i couldnt find a clear beginner prefence and I apologize to those of you that think I could have figured it out on my own...

Thanks greatly. Parenthetically, i am somewhat of a computer expert and would be glad to lend my knowlege in this area as reciprocity. I look forward to beginning air brushing and developing skills to approach some of the fine works i have seen in this forum...

Once again, I really appreciate everyones time and if interested, I will let you know how it goes.

Its funny, building wwii aircraft and marveling at their engineering, considering the resources and innovations that were pragmaticaly available to their generation and understanding the threat that fueled them , still sparks the imagination and emotions that i had as a child. I am hooked again.


P.S. for Salty Dog........WAR EAGLE from the lovliest village.

Is it the Ford Fiesta of airbrushes?

I was a newbie also to air brushing and purchased an Iwata Revolution gravity feed. Have been extremely pleased with it and I thought that the cost was quite reasonable.

Good luck

The fact that you didn't find what you were looking for doesn't surprise me because, as you've seen by the answers here, there is no cut-and-dried answer to your question. There is no "Best" airbrush for anyone. There is no "Beginner" airbrush because what one person considers to be a beginner's brush is what another would consider to be an advanced brush. It's a question that you have to answer yourself.

An airbrush is a tool, nothing more, nothing less. How well it works is based more on the abilities of the user than the brush itself. I've seen fabulous paint jobs done using what I consider to be inferior airbrushes. I've also seen lots of posts made by people using top of the line airbrushes who aren't getting the results they expected because they didn't take the time to learn how to use them properly. Listen to the advice posted here, but then YOU decide what YOU want and learn to use it properly. Don't let someone else tell you what you want.

Personally I have three airbrushes, a Badger 200 (single action, siphon feed), an Omni 3000 (double action, siphon feed), and an Omni 4000 (double action, gravity feed). Sometimes I prefer siphon feed over gravity feed, but I have never found a time that I prefer single action to double action. In my opinion double action is the only way to go, but that is just my opinion.

well said Scott!!!! AGREED!!

QUOTE: P.S. for Salty Dog........WAR EAGLE from the lovliest village.

LOL, what a cheap shot!! if i knew i was given free advice to a ALLBARN fan, i'd have kept my comments to myself!!! on a more serious note, i think Auburn got screwed by the BCS!! it seems that after Bob and Oklahoma has choked so many times when getting to "the game", they'd have let someone else play for it for a change. they have only proved to be the whipping post of the national championship game!! well, i guess i'll dismount from the ol' . ROOOOOOOOOOOLLL TIDE!!! later.

QUOTE: Originally posted by Hatewall Is it the Ford Fiesta of airbrushes?

Now them's fightin' words there buddy!

Mike

QUOTE: Originally posted by saltydog ...on a more serious note, i think Auburn got screwed by the BCS!!.

They probably did, but as an Auburn fan (dad's alma-mater), I really can't get too ticked. When the regular season finishes with more than two undefeated teams, controversy is unavoidable. The question of who's the best college team is a lot like the question of what's the best airbrush.

I have heard very good things about the Badger line of brushes. The single action variants are as reliable as they get, and will give you plenty of flexibility.
I myself use an Aztec A470, and it's served me well, has been easy to learn and use, and I still love it.

I ditto what Scott said... Double action is the way to go... much more control over the paint once you get used to it. Once you get more advanced with your airbrushing it would be better to already have a brush that can grow more with you than have to buy another one to achieve the results you want...

Don't buy what you think you need now... buy something you can use now and will fit you in the future...

What about the Badger 155 Anthem? I hear that one is a pretty good 'all around' airbrush...

The Anthem is a great all-around siphon-feed airbrush and I highly recommend it.

Mike

It's fairly inexpensive too. about 140 USD and typically you can get about 40% off at any Michael's store.

It's even cheaper from other online sellers.

Mike

www.dixieart.com has the kit (hose, paint bottles and all) for about $59.95... no shipping on oders above $45 so thats it!!! and it is a good brush, I have one and love it!