advice on airbrush purchases

Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

advice on airbrush purchases

Posted by Anonymous on Monday, September 12, 2005 6:08 PM

Thanks ahead of time for the advice. Well I am getting back into modeling after a 20 yr. hiatus and need some advice on an airbrush to purchase. I will be modeling primarily 1/48 scale airplanes and have looked at Iwata alot. What are others thoughts???Looked at some of the replies and have come to the conclusion that Badger may be the way to go.. Looking at the 150 155 and the 175 i like the idea of the gravity feed seems to be an esier cleanup.. Whats everyone think????

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RichardI

Member since
February 2004
From: Canada

Posted by RichardI on Monday, September 12, 2005 6:26 PM

Welcome back bwana Laugh [(-D]

.
Sorry, couldn't resist that.
You will get plenty of good advice here on buying airbrushes. You should definitely take a look at Badger and Omni. They are great for modelers and reasonably priced. I own 2 Badgers, and an Omni and I really like them all. I recently ordered an Iwata so I can't comment on those yet, they are more expensive. I'm relatively new at this too so the only advice I would give is that you should have a gravity feed brush. That allows you more flexibilty, I believe. And a good source of air (or propellant) is just as important as the brush. You must be able to vary the pressure at will.
Go and get "The ABC's of Airbrushing" at the top of the forum and read that as a start.
Good luck!

Rich Cool [8D]

On the bench: 1/48 Revell PBY Catalina 0A-10A. Next up: Moebius 1/24 Chariot from Lost in Space.

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cbreeze

Member since
December 2003

Posted by cbreeze on Monday, September 12, 2005 7:50 PM

Welcome back!!!!

Before you decide check out the Peak C-5 at Airbear. It is the same as the Iwata HP-C with a different name on the side and cheaper. The Peak is made in the same factory as the Iwata and the Peak is made exclusively for Airbear. Parts are cheaper also and it comes with a preset handle which is useful for anyone getting back into the hobby or someone not use to a double action brush.

If you want to spend a little more money, definitely check out the Harder & Steenbeck Evolution 2 in 1. You can get it at Obeeliks. Two different needles and color cups. I live in Illinois and got my Evolution delivered in three days. Obeeliks also has fantastic customer support. I have two Iwatas and the Peak but the Evolution is my favorite.

Hope this helps ya and doesn't confuse you.

Chuck B.

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MusicCity

Member since
January 2004
From: USA

Posted by MusicCity on Monday, September 12, 2005 9:14 PM

Actually, I think it's Bear Air instead of "airbear" Smile [:)]

Scott Craig -- Nashville, TN -- My Website -- My Models Page

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cbreeze

Member since
December 2003

Posted by cbreeze on Monday, September 12, 2005 9:42 PM

MusicCity,

Your right, it is BearAir. I was having a senior moment.

Chuck B.

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, September 13, 2005 10:03 AM

Personally, I love my Aztek A470 (I know many readers are rolling their eyes right now). I've had two badgers which are excellent airbrushes, but I've found that my aztek has the greatest range of versality. The only trick to using an aztek is to keep it clean. I was very careful to keep my badgers clean and I do the same with my aztek. So far, I have had no problems. I make all types of models (ships, helo's, planes, armour) and I have found the aztek is the most versatile and easy to use airbrush I have ever tried.

Jesse

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Abdiel

Member since
September 2004
From: Florida...flat, beach-ridden Florida

Posted by Abdiel on Tuesday, September 13, 2005 12:26 PM

Hi bwana

First of all, this is the airbrush model I own: http://www.arttalk.com/iwata/hp-c.htm

I love it and would highly recomend it to any hobbyist.

Second of all: go double action all the way.

And lastly: you will get what you pay for...this is especially true of airbrushes.

Good luck!
Eric

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MikeV

Member since
April 2003
From: Hayward, CA

Posted by MikeV on Tuesday, September 13, 2005 6:55 PM

QUOTE: Originally posted by Abdiel

And lastly: you will get what you pay for...this is especially true of airbrushes.

I disagree. Wink [;)]

Mike

“Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. To know is not to be wise. Many men know a great deal, and are all the greater fools for it. There is no fool so great a fool as a knowing fool. But to know how to use knowledge is to have wisdom. " Charles Spurgeon

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Abdiel

Member since
September 2004
From: Florida...flat, beach-ridden Florida

Posted by Abdiel on Wednesday, September 14, 2005 1:19 PM

Hey, two outta three ain't bad Wink [;)]

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archangel571

Member since
June 2005
From: NJ 07073

Posted by archangel571 on Wednesday, September 14, 2005 1:52 PM

ahaha, getting 2 past mike V was already miraculous.

I found myself using the badger 155 anthem a lot more than the Tamiya HG super-fine and a recently acquired iwata HP-BH. The other two I only used them for pre and post shading on armor kits. For less than half the price my 50 dollar anthem is doing no less than great for the task and abuse i put it through.

-=Ryan=- Too many kits... so little free time. MadDocWorks

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kestrel0222

Member since
April 2014

Posted by kestrel0222 on Saturday, September 17, 2005 2:26 PM

Hi,

I have been modeling for 40+ years and have seen and done alot of experimenting over the years. If you are to spray fine "como" lines, then a double action airbrush is a must. If you are to be spaying more modest areas, than a single action might be the way to go. Keep in mind that if you purchase a double action, you can have the best of both worlds, but if you purchase a single action, well , you will not be able to spray the finer detail. I for one only use a double action. I own Badger products only (150, 155, 100LG.) I believe that they are the best around. As far as where to purchase them, again, I only purchase from dixieart.com - they have the best prices by far and any order over $45 - they ship FREE.

Tom

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, September 17, 2005 2:39 PM

I've used Thayer, Paasche, Iwata, Badger and DeVilbiss in my 27 year career as an illustrator and Badger is tops-Iwata second.

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, September 17, 2005 4:18 PM

Trowfazz, you are probably only the second person on this board( after MikeV ) to say that Badger is better than Iwata. I've never used an Iwata, so I too am biased towards Badger. However, we've had several Iwata converts on this board lately.Why do you think Iwata is better. As you all know, Xmas is coming with an Eclipse in the stocking.

E

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MikeV

Member since
April 2003
From: Hayward, CA

Posted by MikeV on Saturday, September 17, 2005 6:04 PM

QUOTE: Originally posted by H3nav

Trowfazz, you are probably only the second person on this board( after MikeV ) to say that Badger is better than Iwata. I've never used an Iwata, so I too am biased towards Badger. However, we've had several Iwata converts on this board lately.Why do you think Iwata is better. As you all know, Xmas is coming with an Eclipse in the stocking.

E

I have never said that Badger is better than Iwata, only that I prefer Badger.
I am friends with the owner of the company and he, along with the employees of Badger are top notch in my book. There is no way that any other airbrush company takes care of their workers and consumers the way that Badger does.
That is why they are the biggest airbrush seller in the world.
Airbrushes are like any other tool out there and there are proponents of each.
Is Snap-On better than Mac or Proto? It is all personal choice like Ford and Chevy....Although I prefer Ford. Wink [;)]

Mike

“Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. To know is not to be wise. Many men know a great deal, and are all the greater fools for it. There is no fool so great a fool as a knowing fool. But to know how to use knowledge is to have wisdom. " Charles Spurgeon

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, September 17, 2005 6:23 PM

Hey E-I like Iwata's all-metal construction (like Badger's), the gravity feed cup (I work on small models), but Badger wins by price and reliability.

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, September 18, 2005 8:43 AM

I got both a Badger 175 and an Aztek A470. I got the Aztek about a year after I got my Badger. (I got a really good deal for the Aztek; $30.00). I've been using my Aztek now for everything. I am waiting to see if it craps out on me though. If it does, I'll get a Badger gravity feed airbrush to replace it. But, so far, so good with the Aztek.

Jesse

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Tankmaster7

Member since
August 2004
From: Nowhere. (Long Island)

Posted by Tankmaster7 on Sunday, September 18, 2005 5:42 PM

Holy crap!!! 200 dollars for the evolution by harder and steenbeck or whatever, they better be good for that price.

Badgers are good brushes, plus they are cheaper than Iwatas so you may want to look at them.

-Tanky

Welcome to the United States of America, a subsidiary of Exxon Mobil Corporation, in partnership with Halliburton. Security for your constitutional rights provided by Blackwater International.

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eizzle

Member since
August 2005
From: Greencastle, IN

Posted by eizzle on Monday, September 19, 2005 9:38 AM

any of you guys used the tamiya brush with the handle? It looks like a nice airbrush and it is reasonably priced.

Colin

Homer Simpson for president!!!

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archangel571

Member since
June 2005
From: NJ 07073

Posted by archangel571 on Monday, September 19, 2005 2:29 PM

I have the Tamiya SuperFine and with my current level of skills (which is NOT that good yet) I find it to be on par with the iwata HP-BH [which will soon be given away =( ]. Then again they are both from the same manufacturor and have a 0.2mm nozzle, and I have no idea how to better use the micro air valve on the BH (which is one of the reasons why I am giving it away!). for the 85 bucks I paid for it, that baby is a steal with the preset handle.

-=Ryan=- Too many kits... so little free time. MadDocWorks

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f-4phantom

Member since
October 2003
From: Mpls., Mn.

Posted by f-4phantom on Monday, September 19, 2005 5:13 PM

I have used Iwata and Badger. I really like the Badger Anthem because cleaning it is the fastest and easiest air brush I've seen. The price is right also.

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Monday, September 19, 2005 8:05 PM

Does the somewhat large color cup on the 100LG get in the way of seeing what you are spraying? I've liked what I hear about the LG but that cup looks huge (I'm used to my bottom cup on my old Badger 200.

And how would the side mounted cup Paasche VSR90 stack up to the LG as far as fine lines go, and ease of use when sighting what you are spraying?

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MusicCity

Member since
January 2004
From: USA

Posted by MusicCity on Monday, September 19, 2005 9:19 PM

QUOTE: Does the somewhat large color cup on the 100LG get in the way of seeing what you are spraying?

At first but you get used to them. After a while you never even notice them any longer.

Scott Craig -- Nashville, TN -- My Website -- My Models Page

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, September 21, 2005 3:21 PM

Thanks to everyone on their advice. I have got it down to Badger products.I do not know if the price diff. is worth the Iwata. So lets narrow the field within badger to the 150. the 155 or the 175 I would like the gravity feed models i think because of the ease of cleanup...So that may narrow it even more
. Whats everyone think????

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MikeV

Member since
April 2003
From: Hayward, CA

Posted by MikeV on Wednesday, September 21, 2005 8:01 PM

QUOTE: Originally posted by bwana

Thanks to everyone on their advice. I have got it down to Badger products.I do not know if the price diff. is worth the Iwata. So lets narrow the field within badger to the 150. the 155 or the 175 I would like the gravity feed models i think because of the ease of cleanup...So that may narrow it even more
. Whats everyone think????

Those airbrushes you mentioned are all three siphon-feed models not gravity-feed.
Gravity-feed models would be the 100 series, Omni 4000 and 5000 and a few others.

Mike

“Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. To know is not to be wise. Many men know a great deal, and are all the greater fools for it. There is no fool so great a fool as a knowing fool. But to know how to use knowledge is to have wisdom. " Charles Spurgeon

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