Need some help picking out an airbrush kit for an beginner

With the proper adapter and a pressure regulator all ABs can be hooked up to your compressor. I use a "garage" compressor myself.

I like Badgers as they are fairly simple in design, easy to get parts for and are made in the US of A. I own a 150 with medium head (I used to own two, but I just gave my old one away to a young friend of the family along with my old 1/16 hp compressor).

You'll need to decide if you want a single action or dual action. MusicCity has a nice article on the various differences on his website along with a bunch of good info on how to use them and which paints to use.

Sooner or later people will pop in with their advice (all of which has merit), all I'm going to say at this point is once you've become "somewhat proficient" with an airbrush you'll wonder how you managed for so long without one!

I will just "pop" this in here When you decide on what you want, stop and try and figure out what you will be doing the most with it. Will you be painting cars where a single action works well, or will you be doing lots of camo on armor or aircraft where a double action comes in handy? My theory is try and figure out which one will work best for you, and try to buy that one, it will save you time and money. Learning a double action isn't hard, its just one more motion to make with your finger! Good luck!

Actually I don't have much to add except that if you are looking for a "kit" you might give this a look http://www.bearair.com/prodinfo.asp?number=100028 It is a Badger 150 and comes with a couple of different size jars, a color cup, both medium and heavy tips and needles, and a hose. I have it and I love it. I just recently discovered that I like gravity feed brushes more but that is more a personnal preference than anything else. You can get it without the fancy schmancy box for a few bucks less however I like the box.

I have organizational issues.

You've come to the right place for airbrush advice. These guys know whereof they speak!

I agree with the recommendations above, but I'll throw in my just to make your choice more difficult.  (Sorry about that, but there are a lot of good choices.) I "learned"* on a Paasche H—Simple, easy to clean, and sturdy. Double actions have this long, very sharp, incredibly delicate needle that has to be threaded through the whole length of the airbrush without damage—it is the only thing I really don't like about double actions. The Paashe H single action has a comparatively sturdy and solid needle and paint cone. If you do buy one, plan on replacing the stupid, tiny set screw that holds the needle-cone assembly in the frame with a short, wide headed screw.

Now that I've bought a double action (Thayer & Chandler Omni 4000), I think that the admonition to start with a single action airbrush because it is simpler and therefore easier to learn is overcautious. Anyone capable of assembling a detailed 1/72 scale kit has the physical dexterity to handle a double action.

Just my .

*You never stop learning to use an air brush! Don't let this intimidate you!

LateBloomer wrote:

Actually I don't have much to add except that if you are looking for a "kit" you might give this a look http://www.bearair.com/prodinfo.asp?number=100028 It is a Badger 150 and comes with a couple of different size jars, a color cup, both medium and heavy tips and needles, and a hose. I have it and I love it. I just recently discovered that I like gravity feed brushes more but that is more a personnal preference than anything else. You can get it without the fancy schmancy box for a few bucks less however I like the box. I have organizational issues.

Latebloomer,

If you prefer gravity fed brushes, look at the Badger 100 series. It is the basis for that 150 you already have and parts (except for the main body) are interchangeable. I love my 150 as well, but my plan is to get the 100G for detail work and use the 150 for the "big" jobs.

Bgrigg wrote:

LateBloomer wrote: Actually I don't have much to add except that if you are looking for a "kit" you might give this a look http://www.bearair.com/prodinfo.asp?number=100028 It is a Badger 150 and comes with a couple of different size jars, a color cup, both medium and heavy tips and needles, and a hose. I have it and I love it. I just recently discovered that I like gravity feed brushes more but that is more a personnal preference than anything else. You can get it without the fancy schmancy box for a few bucks less however I like the box. I have organizational issues. Latebloomer, If you prefer gravity fed brushes, look at the Badger 100 series. It is the basis for that 150 you already have and parts (except for the main body) are interchangeable. I love my 150 as well, but my plan is to get the 100G for detail work and use the 150 for the "big" jobs.

 

Hehe. Way ahead of you friend. That was my exact plan. I already ordered and received my Badger 100LG. Unfortuately I haven't had a chance to really use it. Was just able to do some test sprays to verify that the brush was in good working order. I ordered mine with the fine tip since my 150 came with both medium and heavy. I got all the bases covered now.

Thanks guys that'll help me out alot,  the model's that im doing at the moment are aircraft and armor.  After reading the april FSM mag, that painting camo with an airbrush would be very helpful.  And is it true the you can have more control of the amount of paint with an airbrush?

LateBloomer wrote:

Bgrigg wrote:  LateBloomer wrote: Actually I don't have much to add except that if you are looking for a "kit" you might give this a look http://www.bearair.com/prodinfo.asp?number=100028 It is a Badger 150 and comes with a couple of different size jars, a color cup, both medium and heavy tips and needles, and a hose. I have it and I love it. I just recently discovered that I like gravity feed brushes more but that is more a personnal preference than anything else. You can get it without the fancy schmancy box for a few bucks less however I like the box. I have organizational issues. Latebloomer, If you prefer gravity fed brushes, look at the Badger 100 series. It is the basis for that 150 you already have and parts (except for the main body) are interchangeable. I love my 150 as well, but my plan is to get the 100G for detail work and use the 150 for the "big" jobs.   Hehe. Way ahead of you friend. That was my exact plan. I already ordered and received my Badger 100LG. Unfortuately I haven't had a chance to really use it. Was just able to do some test sprays to verify that the brush was in good working order. I ordered mine with the fine tip since my 150 came with both medium and heavy. I got all the bases covered now.

Fast learner for a late bloomer!

FeldMarSchall Model wrote:

Thanks guys that'll help me out alot,  the model's that im doing at the moment are aircraft and armor.  After reading the april FSM mag, that painting camo with an airbrush would be very helpful.  And is it true the you can have more control of the amount of paint with an airbrush?

Oh most definitely!!!  Not only the voume but the width of line it is putting down.  If you do things like German aircraft with the mottle camo you'll thank yourself for getting a good gravity fed like the 100LG.  If you were using spray cans before you're not going to believe what the airbrush can do for ya!!  And if you were brush painting the finish is going to out of this world!!  (Unless you are like a few here and are commercial artists and the like, then you'd have got similar results... )

With some practice you'll be doing things you could only wonder "how'd they do that" before when you saw them in a magazine or on here.

tho9900 wrote:

FeldMarSchall Model wrote: Thanks guys that'll help me out alot,  the model's that im doing at the moment are aircraft and armor.  After reading the april FSM mag, that painting camo with an airbrush would be very helpful.  And is it true the you can have more control of the amount of paint with an airbrush? Oh most definitely!!!  Not only the voume but the width of line it is putting down.  If you do things like German aircraft with the mottle camo you'll thank yourself for getting a good gravity fed like the 100LG.  If you were using spray cans before you're not going to believe what the airbrush can do for ya!!  And if you were brush painting the finish is going to out of this world!!  (Unless you are like a few here and are commercial artists and the like, then you'd have got similar results... ) With some practice you'll be doing things you could only wonder "how'd they do that" before when you saw them in a magazine or on here.

 

      Oh now I getting exsighted, after hereing what you said tho9900.  Im lost on a nother thing, what does single action and double action mean?

FeldMarSchall Model wrote:

Oh now I getting exsighted, after hereing what you said tho9900.  Im lost on a nother thing, what does single action and double action mean?

Single action means the paint and air both come out at the same time when you press the trigger.
Double action means that you press down for air and pull back for paint.

MikeV wrote:

FeldMarSchall Model wrote:       Oh now I getting exsighted, after hereing what you said tho9900.  Im lost on a nother thing, what does single action and double action mean? Single action means the paint and air both come out at the same time when you press the trigger. Double action means that you press down for air and pull back for paint.

 

      Thanks Mike V now its more clear on the paint actions