Iwata HP-C Plus, Peak C5 or Badger 100LG?

Tom,

You know my answer already!

cbreeze wrote:

A good modeler/aritst can creat a master piece with a cheap airbrush

Very well said Chuck.

 can't compare those model, but I have the Iwata HP-C Plus, and I can tell it's an awesome airbrush.

It's my 3rd airbrush, and probably my last one.

Vric i agree with you on the HP-C Plus best airbrush ever got & will not buy any other than a iwata airbrush.

Vric wrote:

It's my 3rd airbrush, and probably my last one.

Come on, chap, when you say this, it makes me think that next thing you are going to do is lay down on the ground and wait to die. Enjoy your tools, since you chose them, and if you think you were wrong with one, you have all the days of your life to (sell/give/throw-to) it to someone who will love it ( people love each other, but they sometimes divorce, and no airbrush is worth a living soul, so...)
An Iwata HP CR is the 17 th airbrush I still own, and I hope it will not be my last one (though now I admit I don't look at other airbrushes with same "concupiscence" than before).

I can't compare those model, but I have the Iwata HP-C Plus, and I can tell it's an awesome airbrush.

It's my 3rd airbrush, and probably my last one.

Yes Sir, and delighted with the Evolution. It is a pity that H & S is not distributed in America so a number of chaps would enjoy it there. I had a long time with Azteks, beginning with the former models which were were very well made ( I am not sure of the quality now ) and decided to go to more "metal"; the guy who talked to me of them was building 1/72 Regia planes and wanted it for spaghetti camo. I decided to try and was happy from the beginning. I own some others but I have a soft spot for Evolution. We have a kind of informal club here and some days ago we met together. A chap asked me, among others, which airbrush I would advice to him as he wanted to go double action and my immediate reply was Evolution as it seemed obvious. Then I thought of it to explain what was only a reflex and my second answer was Evolution too.

Torio,

Glad to see that there is another Evolution lover out there.  I routinely spray acrylics, enamels, Mr. Surfacer 1000 and finger nail polish with mine.  Never a problem when they are properly thinned.  BTW the finger nail polish, with the proper colors, make pretty realistic looking optics for armor.  Also sprayed a couple of model car bodies and it makes for a very hard, durable surface with some interesting colors.

Chuck B.

 

Badger and Iwata make great airbrushes but I also would say Evolution ( I own 100 LG, HP CH, Evolution, ...) By the way, there is a new Silverline model with a fine pressure control which was just released and seems a top machine (why don't I buy one ? because I own three of the former models )

Go see the Obeeliks site  http://www.obeeliks.com and you"ll have pictures and descriptions

As for spare parts, you can add two extra needles and one extra nozzle with your purchase ( of each needle dimension ) You can also have caps for both cups ( 2 ml and 5 ml )
And they are very fast on sending orders; don't be bothered by the minimum order; when it occurs to me ( very often, in fact ) I send them a email asking for a couple of parts and it works; they are very very nice people.

A little precision : Obeeliks is in Belgium, not in Denmark.

P.S. I sprayed Alclad II with the 0.15 set and it worked perfectly. I don't know for enamels as I don't use them but Mr Lermytte ( at Obeeliks ) told me there would not be a problem as long as they are correctly thinned ( maybe black could be a little more difficult; I think he meant that black viscosity was  higher ?)

The shipping from Obeelik's was via courier.  Didn't quite know what that meant until the package arrived marked DHL.  I too was surprised at the speedy delivery.  My second order arrived just as fast.  You have to make the decision but the fact that the needle can be removed from the front, quick and easy disassembly, two needles and color cups should give the Evolution the edge.  Also remember, if you don't have the skill/experience no airbrush will make you a pro.

Cool - thanks Karl and Elliot... yeah I tend to be leaning in that direction, but for some reason the way my Iwata HP-CR feels is nice and the C-Plus looks like a nice brush too... I do this everytime I buy an airbrush.. I have to go through and pick apart the details and pros and cons... it always comes down to me sitting down after a few beers on a Saturday night and letting impulse decide! 

Karl - tell Kremps when she gives me back the Badger 350 I loaned her 2 or three yrs ago she can think she might have some influence on my choices...  She said she was opening a tanning salon and wanted to practice, all I've seen is an increase in graffiti around the area since...

Tom, get the Badger 100LG. The Badger 100/150 series is awesome and extremely versatile. Still my favorite overall!!!

 

E

Tom, quit procrastinating and order that 100, you won't be disapointed!

And as for spares, they're even available and affordable over here in the UK.

Anyway, I've already told Kremps you're buying the 100!

Karl

Thanks for the replies Chuck and Bill... I had looked at the Harder Steinbeck as well... I previously thought it would take a long time to get here so discounted it but 3 to 4 days isn't bad!!  Did  you order it priority?  (I assume you did)

I think this is going to come down to eenie meenie minie moe.. all three seem like great brushes, and knowing that most of it is going to be in my abilities so far They all seem about equal on the field.  I know the 100LG and the Harder Stenbeck have the smallest needles but I am wondering if the .15 size needle on the HS is too small for modeling purposes.

Another concern is spare parts if I bend a needle or such, have you had to buy extra parts for the HS or C5 Chuck?  how long did they take to arrive?  I have an art store nearby that carries the HP-C Plus and 100LG so I could drive to get it if I had to... I hate decisions haha..

Oh and Bill, this is number 4 for me, but I gave one of them away recently.. a man never can have enough airbrushes my grandpa used to say... ok he didn't, but if he had an airbrush I'm sure he would have said that! 

Tom, you have how many airbrushes? Oh, never mind, you mind end up asking my the same some day soon. I can't give you a comparison, but I'll offer my two cents...

I haven't the pleasure of the Iwata or Peak, or even the 100LG, but I do have the siphon fed version of the latter one, the Badger 150. I am planning on getting the 100G myself (soon I hope). I've already decided on the 100 series as it shares parts with my 150.

Badger makes a simple, hard working airbrush, that is easy to clean, simple to service and you don't really need to have the tiny little wrench they ship with.

And they're made in America.

Greetings,

Noticed your post. I have a Peak C-5, Iwata C and CS.  My most recent purchase is a Harder & Steenbeck Evolution 2 in 1.  Here is the way I see it.

Iwata:  Very nice airbrushes with expensive replacement parts.  Had to replace some parts due to an oops and was shocked at the cost.

Peak C-5:  Very nice Iwata clone at a cheaper price.  These are made exclusively for Bearair and manufactured in the same plant that makes the Iwata.  I held it next to my Iwata C-5 and the only difference was the Peak name on the side of the airbrush body ( and needle  size).  Also, the Peak parts fit both my Iwata airbrushes.

Harder & Steenbeck:  IMOP the best of the bunch.  With shipping, about the same price as the Iwata C.  Got mine from Obeelik's in Denmark.  Excellent customer service and very fast shipping.  Was shipped to my address in Illinois in 3/4 days. No problemm with credit card purchase.  With the Evolution, it is a gravity feed and you have your choice of needle sizes.  You get two needles and two different sized color cups.  I like the engineering, fit and feel of the Evolution.  It comes apart and cleans easier than the Iwata.  I also like the fact that you can remove the needle from the front of the airbrush as opposed to dragging a dirty needle back through the airbrush body ( never liked doing this).  The Evolution also comes with solvent resistant seals.  When I bought mine, about 6 months ago, mine did not come with a pre-set handle but I think that is standard now.  I did have a second order from Obeelik's which was the Evolution quick fix which is a pre-set handle that screws on the back of the airbrush.

Unfortunately there are no distributors of Harder Steenbeck in the US.

How do they spray:  I think that airbrush performance is more a function of ability and experience of the user.  A good modeler/aritst can creat a master piece with a cheap airbrush.  I would rate my ability as intermediate.  All three brands are good but the Evolution makes it easier to do really nice work.  If you haven't guessed, I really like my Evolution.

And with the Evolution, you do not need any tools to take the airbursh apart for routine cleaning.  The tool is what got me in trouble with my Iwata.

Hope this helps,

Chuck B.