SEARCH FINESCALE.COM

Enter keywords or a search phrase below:

Badger 155 vs 100 vs Aztek 470

2095 views
10 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    October 2003
  • From: Cape Town, South Africa
Badger 155 vs 100 vs Aztek 470
Posted by osjohnm on Wednesday, May 11, 2005 2:11 PM
I've been trying to make a decision on what to buy and I've narrowed it down to the 3 brushes above.

I build 1/48 helicopters and planes. I use enamel paints, humbrol and tamiya.
Besides general painting and cammo I want to pre-shade panel lines with it.

Can the 155 do all of the above or would the 100 be a better choice?

As bad as the 470 appears to be, how does it deal with enamel paint?

Thx
John
  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: SETX. USA
Posted by tho9900 on Wednesday, May 11, 2005 5:16 PM
ok if I were buying a brush I would get one of the Badgers... before I invite a rash of outcry against me, I know many people here that have Aztecs and do wonderful painting with them. I had problems keeping it clean and with nozzles having to be replaxed. Some of this (most of it) might have been lack of diligence on my part in cleaning it but since I got my Badger 155 I haven't had a single problem with clogging etc.

Now out of the two I think in retrospect I would have gotten the 100LG knowing what I do now. The ability to get closer in for fine detail would be nice. however I have not noticed my 155 lacking in any respect and in fact it is a cinch to clean!!! Have you looked at the Badger 360? it is a 155 that can easily convert to gravity fed, which allows lower pressures, which equates to being able to spray closer to the model with less overspray, therefore better detail painting. If you don't do a lot of tiny German squiggle camo that might fit your needs. The best thing would to be able to hold the brushes and see how they feel to you. I know Michaels carries the 155 and will get it out for you if you ask.

Good luck to you, and a short answer after all that jabber would be I think either brush would do you fine out of the two Badgers you mentioned...

---edit---

I noticed you are not in the US so Michaels is out. maybe you could check with your local hobby store and see if they carry any you can see how they feel in your hand!
---Tom--- O' brave new world, That has such people in it!
  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Melbourne, Australia
Posted by darson on Wednesday, May 11, 2005 7:58 PM
I used to use enamels a lot with my old Aztek 470 until it expired and it worked alright, but had a constant problem with spitting which I could never resolve. I am in total agreement with Tom in that I also had problems keeping it clean due to paint seeping behind the trigger with no way open the ab up to clean it. This is eventually what caused it to die. I am not an Aztek hater, it's just that I wouldn't recommend it to anyone over a Badger or Iwata.
Although I don't use a Badger myself I know a lot of people who do and they are all very happy with the brand.

Cheers
Darren
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, May 12, 2005 2:02 AM
hey mate...
im a proud new owner of a badger 155 and have to say i LOVE it!!
i would steer clear of the azteks, only coz lots of bad things about them..
as for u, i would reccomend the 100lg, coz like tom said, it can spray at lower pressures, but dont get me wrong, the anthem is a fantastic airbrush and i have gotten fabulos results in a short period of time!!!!!!!
i think that u will be happy with either the 155 or 100lg
hope this helps!!
  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Southern California, USA
Posted by ABARNE on Thursday, May 12, 2005 2:37 PM
My Aztek experience with an A430, almost the same thing as the A470, is nearly identical that of Darren. Since I had followed all cleaning and operation instructions, and it died anyway, I really would avoid it on the basis of reliablity alone. Additionally, it seems that Aztek's marketing is based on the premise that it is easier to clean an Aztek than a convetional brush, but that really is not the case. For the simple "spray thinner until clean", the level of effort is identical. If a full break down is needed, it is actually a lot easier to break down a conventional airbrush than it is to disassamble and Aztek tip. As far as painting, it displayed no particular adverse effects with enamels, although I too had a spitting problem, which seemed to be caused by paint collecting on the tip, perhaps due to it's small diameter at the end and the close proximity of the needle guards.

I have a Badger 200, which is basically a single action version of the 155, sharing with it the needle, tip, and air-valve assembly. It is an excellent airbrush, and my biggest complaint with it is tth awkward angle that the siphon feed color cup sits. I haven't tried ultra fine lines, but it is up to the task of free hand camo on 1/72 German armor, so 1/48 aircraft are no problem. Although I personally disagree with the trend toward neatly shaded panel lines, it's fine line capability would be more than adequate for that task. Considering how big some 1/48 planes can get, with the needle opened up, the thing can spray a nice wide pattern for overall coverage.

I have no experience with the Badger100, although I've read many highly favorable comments about it. Given the potential size of your model building subjects, one thing that might be of interest if Tom or another Badger100 owner could speak to, would be how wide of a spray pattern it can deliver.

Andy
  • Member since
    January 2004
  • From: USA
Posted by MusicCity on Thursday, May 12, 2005 3:25 PM
QUOTE:
I have a Badger 200, which is basically a single action version of the 155, sharing with it the needle, tip, and air-valve assembly.

Actually the 200 is the single-action equivalent of the 100. The 100 uses the same head / nozzle assembly and air valves as the 200 but different needles. The 155 uses a single-nozzle head whereas the 100 & 200 have fine, medium, and large heads and needles available.
Scott Craig -- Nashville, TN -- My Website -- My Models Page
  • Member since
    October 2003
  • From: Cape Town, South Africa
Posted by osjohnm on Thursday, May 12, 2005 4:12 PM
Music whats ur opinion on the Harder & Steenbeck Evolution?
John
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, May 12, 2005 7:32 PM
Just a reminder, the old 200 series used the fine, medium, and large head assembly of the 100 and 150 family. The new 200"NH" uses the single cone and needle combo that the Anthem uses. For single action I prefer the old style 200. As attested to by many on this site ( including Mike V ) that use it on the 100's or the 150, the nozzle type tip and spray regulator lays an absolutely beautiful layer of paint. Not to knock the cone tips, I own an Anthem and a Crescendo, but my first love will always be the old 200.

Big E
  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: SETX. USA
Posted by tho9900 on Thursday, May 12, 2005 7:38 PM
Andy - I am a 155 owner... thinking about another brush for finer work. The 155 will spray from about 1/8" all the way to 2" with a veritable waterfall of paint gushing out the end when wide open. The only thing I had better luck with my 175 on versus the 155 was using Vallejo paints for wide coverage, but I think I have that licked now. So now I do everything on the 155.
---Tom--- O' brave new world, That has such people in it!
  • Member since
    January 2004
  • From: USA
Posted by MusicCity on Thursday, May 12, 2005 10:02 PM
QUOTE: Just a reminder, the old 200 series used the fine, medium, and large head assembly of the 100 and 150 family. The new 200"NH" uses the single cone and needle combo that the Anthem uses.

I didn't realize that the 200 NH was different. Thanks for pointing that out. Andy, you were right and I was wrong. Sorry about that.

QUOTE: Music whats ur opinion on the Harder & Steenbeck Evolution?

I've never used one. I've heard they are good brushes, but I'm not at all familiar with them.
Scott Craig -- Nashville, TN -- My Website -- My Models Page
  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Southern California, USA
Posted by ABARNE on Friday, May 13, 2005 7:25 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by MusicCity
[brI didn't realize that the 200 NH was different. Thanks for pointing that out. Andy, you were right and I was wrong. Sorry about that.


No offense taken. It's interesting (eupemistically polite for confusing) about the 200NH, which is what I have, being a different beast as far as painting than the earlier 200's.
JOIN OUR COMMUNITY!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

SEARCH FORUMS
FREE NEWSLETTER
By signing up you may also receive reader surveys and occasional special offers. We do not sell, rent or trade our email lists. View our Privacy Policy.