1st airbrush

This link has a lot of info without actually recommending anything. It Music City's own web page and needs to be bookmarked by any modeler who is new at this craft/hobby/obsession.

I have a Badger 150 dual action. I've tried a friend's Paasche, and while it is a nice AB, I prefer the control the dual action gives me. Mind you I've only been playing with it for a week now. Recommended.

I had the Paasche H as my 1st airbrush and now have a Badger 100. The Paasche H is good if you're not doing camo or if you're willing to cut paper masks. It does take a bit to learn paint mixing ratio and pressure level. Part of this has to do with the nature of external mix airbrushes. At a minimum, I would recommend an internal mix airbrush.

I have a Paasche H, and I find it to be an excellent airbrush, reliable and easy to use. I found it no more difficult to use in terms of paint ratio and air-pressure than any other air-brush. You can paint fairly narrow lines with it, so unless your deal is 1/72 Luftwaffe A/C with moonlight camo, it would do a good job for you.

The Badger 350. strikes me as a poor man's Paasche H, so I would not bother with it.

I also have a Badger 200NH. Like the Paashe H, it is an excellent airbrush. It has a longitudnal needle like a double action, so theoretically should paint a pit better than the Paasche H. In my comparisons between the two, they actually paint fairly similarly. I probably would not recommend the Badger 200, not for any performance related item but simply because it is more expensive than the Paasche H without much added benefit.

If you wanted to go higher end, i.e. double action in which the the trigger controls both the air-flow and the paint-flow, the Badger 100 usually gets a lot of favorable press and they are not a lot more expensive. Being double action, so once mastered, there will some occaisional effects that could be accomplished with it that a single action unit like the P-H or B-200 cannot do as easily or without masking. For my modeling experience, I haven't really needed double action, so I currently use single-action AB's. It boils down to more money, more skill needed to operate effectively, more ultimate capability.

I also have an Aztek A430 double action, which I no longer use. I recommend against the Aztek, because of reliability issues. Although plenty of people use them without issue, a lot like myself have had them break for no reason in spite of having followed all usage, cleaning, and care instructions. They have a lifetime warranty, but if you have to use it, you-re without an AB while it is being replaced.

Regardless of what type of AB you settle upon, DixieArt.com is a nice place to purchase from. Their prices are quite low, and shipping on orders over $50.00 is free. While you're there, check out compressors. Propel cans are fine for an occaisional use, but for regular airbrushing, a compressor with a moisture trap and pressure regulator is a must.

Scotts page linked by Bgrigg above is excellent. I have (sorry did have) a Badger 200 and was delighted with it - manual suggests spray pattern with medium tip of 1/16th to 1&1/2 inches which is all I have currently needed. I am now using a 150 with medium tip and same quoted spray pattern so the only difference is that this is double action (the 150 is siphon feed like the 200). This is a different technique to learn and the different button position is something I will have to get used to but once mastered I'm sure I will appreciate the versatility of the double action 150. If you get a Badger you will be getting a quality brush that should give you plenty of modelling enjoyment!!