Poll: Ultimate Airbrush

QUOTE: Originally posted by stinger If cost were not an issue - what airbrush (or combination of several) would you buy today? I want to cover every possibilty (don't we all?), from the absolute finest hairline stroke, through overall base coats and final finishes. I would like to own airbrushes of the same manufacturer, but would buy different brands if each suits a particular purpose. Any help and advice would be greatly appreciated.

You only need one airbrush for modeling despite what people may tell you. You do not need an Iwata Micron or Sotar 20/20 for modeling unless you just want to spend money needlessly.
A Thayer & Chandler Omni, Badger Anthem, or Iwata Eclipse will do everything you just mentioned above as good as any other airbrush. All of these airbrushes use a single needle for all viscosities of paints and will handle any paint you want to shoot through them.

Mike

Thanks Mike - I trust your opinion, as I've seen your postings on other topics and I believe you know what you're talking about. I was hoping that there might be an all purpose brush out there, but didn't really think it was true. I also realize that most of the problems are with user ability. I will check out those that you have suggested. Thanks again, Stinger

I bought the revolution, which is almost exactly like the eclipse from what I've read, except that it only cost me 59 dollars. I think the tip is slightly different, and the eclipse will spray a slightly finer line than the revolution.

I'd really love to get a micro or a sotar, and start doing some more airbrush painting with watercolors and such. I'm mostly a pencil guy, but I think I'd like to start doing more airbrush artwork. For modeling, my revolution is perfect.

madda

QUOTE: Originally posted by stinger Thanks Mike - I trust your opinion, as I've seen your postings on other topics and I believe you know what you're talking about. I was hoping that there might be an all purpose brush out there, but didn't really think it was true. I also realize that most of the problems are with user ability. I will check out those that you have suggested. Thanks again, Stinger

Stinger,

Glad I could be of help. I personally like the Omni airbrushes but the Iwata Eclipse is a little smoother but costs a bit more.

These airbrushes are not that hard to learn how to use, you just have to get the paint to the right consistancy and practice.
Just remember that with a double action airbrush you always, always, always, hold the trigger all the way down for air.
Some people try and push it part-way down to get a little less air but it doesn't work. Just push the trigger all the way down for air and pull it back slowly to get the hang of how thick of a line you need. The airbrushes I mentioned will spray a line from about 1/32" to 2" wide.

Mike

Thanks, Mike - I'm taking a good hard look at the Iwata's. Also, your advise about always keeping the air on isright on. As a furniture builder for twenty years now, I use a full size double action gun to spray lacquers on my finished projects, so that practice is second nature to me. Will let you know what I settle on and how it works out.

Sounds great Stinger. Let us know what you buy.

Mike

Hi guys, I'm thinking about getting an Iwata airbrush. But I don't know which one is best suited for modeling use. The Eclipse, HP-B, HP-C, and revolution? What are the differences? Do they all use the same needle? What do you guys think of them? Thanks.

QUOTE: Originally posted by hou_ge2000 Hi guys, I'm thinking about getting an Iwata airbrush. But I don't know which one is best suited for modeling use. The Eclipse, HP-B, HP-C, and revolution? What are the differences? Do they all use the same needle? What do you guys think of them? Thanks.

I would go with either the Eclipse or the Revolution.
The HP-B and HP-C are illustration airbrushes and with their small diameter needles are not suited for model paints. They are designed for spraying watercolors, gouache, thin acrylics and ink/dye's. For a comparison the HP-BCS Eclipse and the Revolution use a tip and nozzle in the .41-.50mm size range, the HP-C uses a tip and nozzle in the .21-.25mm range and the HP-B is really small at .16-.20mm size, which makes it not even feasable for model paints.

Mike

I think I'll buy the Iwata Eclipse, either the SBS or BCS. But are the needle and nozzle specialized or standard? What if Iwata decides to discontinue one of it and being a Japanese company, it'll be impossible to find parts in the US. I think Iwata just discontinued a "SA" brush...

There is no way Iwata will discontinue the Eclipse as it is their biggest seller. Just buy a couple of extra tips and needles (They aren't cheap) and you will be set.

I would also urge you to consider the Thayer & Chandler Omni airbrush which is the airbrush that Iwata copied when they came out with the Eclipse. The Omni is now manufactured by Badger and parts are pretty easy to come by. Badger's customer service is probably the best in the business also.

Mike

Buy a Pache airbrush. I've used many airbrushes, but it's THE best airbrush there is. At least thats what I think.

QUOTE: Originally posted by T-34 Buy a Pache airbrush. I've used many airbrushes, but it's THE best airbrush there is. At least thats what I think.

No offense T-34 but the Paasche is not in the same league with an Iwata in terms of performance, balance and engineering quality.

Mike

Ok, should I buy the BCS or SBS? Which one is more popular?
How long can I use the airbrush before I need to replace the needle or the nozzle? assume I'm an average modeler.

The replacement parts for Iwata are sort of expensive. I'm also considering the Badger Anthem. Is there a notible difference between the 2 in terms of quality and performance? If not then I might just get a Badger.

QUOTE: Originally posted by hou_ge2000 Ok, should I buy the BCS or SBS? Which one is more popular? How long can I use the airbrush before I need to replace the needle or the nozzle? assume I'm an average modeler.

The BCS is a siphon feed model and the SBS is a side-cup gravity fed model. I have never used a side-cup model although it would be a lot like a siphon feed with a metal color cup attached. The choice is personal and you would have to decide what you think you would like better if you cannot try them out in person. I don't know many people who use the SBS for modelling. There is also a 'BS' model which is a gravity feed with a small color cup on top as well as the 'CS' which has an even bigger color cup on top. I personally would choose the 'BS' model myself for modelling unless I did real big models that require a lot of paint in which I would them opt for the 'CS' model or the 'BCS' model. Why not buy an Omni 5000?

In regards to how long the needles and tips last, that depends on how well you take care of them. With care the needle and tip could last you a few years if you are careful not to bend or damage them.

Mike

QUOTE: Originally posted by hou_ge2000 The replacement parts for Iwata are sort of expensive. I'm also considering the Badger Anthem. Is there a notible difference between the 2 in terms of quality and performance? If not then I might just get a Badger.

The difference in the Eclipse and the Badger are more in terms of precision machining I think. There is nothing that the Iwata will do that the Badger can't do just about as well. The Iwata is a bit smoother, and may feel better balanced in your hand (or maybe not), but they both spray pretty close to the same in terms of atomization and thinness of lines. I know a guy who is one of the top T-shirt airbrush artists in the country and he uses Anthems exclusively and loves them.

Mike

To hou_ge2000 and MikeV
Hey Hou - Here is Iwata's website : Iwata-medea.com. they have great charts showing their different models and how well they work for differing applications. To view that page directly click here: http://www.arttalk.com/iwata/index.htm
Scroll down until you get to the two charts.
I also suggest that you print the pages, as there is so much info that you get dizzy jumping from page to page.

MikeV - Hou has asked all the questions I had after viewing Iwata's site, but I have one more.
How often do you use a siphon feed with the bottle attached from the bottom? The old Badger that I used years ago had both the bottles and a cup that had a little hook to the feed tube so that it could be attached from the bottom. After reading a bit about them, I gather that a true gravity feed, such as that obtained with the HB-CS or BS with the cup formed integrally into the brush, will spray better than the others.
After having viewed all the specs from the Iwata site I'm thinking of going with the HP-CS. It has the bigger 1/3 oz. cup, that will probably answer the 'bottle feed/quantity' question, and is still a gravity feed. The only problem I have in deciding is that, where Iwata gives specs regarding the range of spray patterns (e.g. hairline to 1" or 2") on some models, they don't give that spec for the gravity feed CS or BS. I know that I will have to ask Iwata themselves for that info, but when you experts out there suggest an Iwata, which specific model are you using or have in mind?
I can always use mmy old Badger for wider overall basecoats, but I really want the finest hairline spray I can get.
PS - Where is the best plce to buy this stuff?
I want to thank you all again (MikeV, maddafinga, et al) for the time you take answering these questions for us newbies.