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Opinions on Air Brushes, Please

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  • Member since
    November 2004
Opinions on Air Brushes, Please
Posted by PETrimble on Sunday, November 20, 2005 2:49 PM

Hi Everyone,

I am about to purchase a new (additional) airbrush, and would greatly appreciate your opinions.

I would like to get a double-action airbrush to facilitate SIMPLE camo patterns on 1/72 scale armor and aircraft. Towards this end, I have been strongly considering the Paasche VL. I realize there are better detail brushes available, but as I said, I do not tend, or desire, to do the really complex patterns. This said, I do want a good brush. The reasons I favor the Paasche are:

1. I have been so happy with my H for so many years, and find it very dependable.

2. I like the idea that some components, such as paint jars and cups, are interchangable.

3. It seems easy to get parts.

4. I have been told it is easy to clean (I am a real stickler for cleanliness).

5. I understand it is fairly robust for a double-action.

I will be using this with the following.

1. 95% acrylic paints

2. Usually a 5hp/25gal shop compressor running a line to the paint area through a manifold. I have pressure controls at the compressor and a moisture trap/pressure regulator at the paint station.

3. On rare occasions, I might use the brush with a W.R. Brown Model PC201, also with a moisture trap/pressure regulator. Last time I used it, this little compressor would still deliver around 35-40 PSI consistently, but I wouldn't swear to it now; it like me, is getting a little old.

Any advise you can give will be much appreciated. I really do not have a budget in mind, though it is only a hobby, so I shouldn't spend a fortune. Also, I want to consider all my options, so please feel free to express your opinions. My wife does, and after 29 years I've heard 'em all!

Thanks in advance,

Paul

  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, November 20, 2005 3:31 PM
 PETrimble wrote:

I would like to get a double-action airbrush to facilitate SIMPLE camo patterns on 1/72 scale armor and aircraft. Towards this end, I have been strongly considering the Paasche VL.

Hey Paul, Welcome to the forum from another Paul.  If you can, check out the Oct 05 issue of FSM.  Matt Usher demonstrates camo with freehand masks using a badger 350 (same design as the Paasche H).  There are also lots of techniques to do camo that dont involve a new airbrush.  These include freehand masks, raised masks, blending, string/tape masks, etc.. 

With that said however.  It's always fun to buy a new airbrush.  I should know, I'm guilty of it myself. Cool [8D]
  • Member since
    November 2005
  • From: NYC
Posted by kp80 on Thursday, November 24, 2005 11:02 AM

I just picked up an IWATA Eclipse HP-BCS, and truly love it.  It atomizes so well, I've been spraying MM acryl right out of the bottle.  I bought the IWATA on the advice of a airbrush artist who was working the airbrush counter at a Pearl Paint store in NYC.  He swore by it and was actually using one when I approached the counter.  It was great to see a demo from him...that sold me right there!  He even took it apart for me.  He said he had used others over the years..Badger, Paasche, and favored the IWATA brand for quality, feel, and ease of use, including cleaning.  I've had mine only a month and have been doing a chair decorating project for my wife.  I have not sprayed any of my models yet, but based on what I've seen so far, I think it will give me great results.  I experimented somewhat with pressures, mixes, etc. and see that it also does a pretty good line.  One of the other selling points was price, Pearl was running it on sale with the hose and a siphon bottle for $98.  Pearl also seels parts, but also saw that Bear Air was a good source (www.bearair.com).

Good luck and happy spraying!

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: SETX. USA
Posted by tho9900 on Thursday, November 24, 2005 7:39 PM
Paul - if you aren't doing complex camo schemes like German late war "squiggle" camo the VL should be fine.. I know there a lot of brushes out there to pick from but if you are a Paasche fan then go for it!  There's a few users here that have VL's and love it.
---Tom--- O' brave new world, That has such people in it!
  • Member since
    November 2004
Posted by PETrimble on Wednesday, November 30, 2005 6:36 PM

Dear Forum,

Thanks to all for their replies. I'm fairly certain it will be a Paasche VLS; I've had too much success with the brand to be too adventurous. Thanks again.

Cordially,

Paul

  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, December 1, 2005 8:26 PM
I am REALLY new to airbrushing and I have a VLSTPRO and am loving it.  I like the heavy dutiness of it and once I get some technique down I get excited when I think of how good of a job it does.
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