Questions about different Tamiya Systems

I looked this one up and it is more suited for large area work such as single color tank and ship schemes.  It would work if that is all you do, but I saw a few more brushes on the Tamiya site that would do more detail in the eveny you did say.. 1/72 or 1/48 aircraft.  The one you listed qoutes at being able to do detail lines at 2mm, the two below are rated at 1mm and < .5mm (for the top link I believe.)

The Tamiya HG here would let you do fine detail such as freehand camo (with practice) and spray large areas as well:    http://www.tamiyausa.com/product/item.php?product-id=74503

here is another:

http://www.tamiyausa.com/product/item.php?product-id=74519

Another brush to think about in your area would be the Iwata, they are made in Japan (those Tamiya brushes look suspiciously like Iwata knockoffs, in fact that wrench you see in one of the links I provided on the Tamiyas, is the same Iwata nozzle wrench I use on my Iwata HP-CR)

Here is the Iwata HP-CR, I was able to do 1/72 Luftwaffe camo freehand with it:

http://www.acehobby.co.nz/OSSB2/Root/ossbec3/ShowItem.asp?PID=49391

here's a more durable and longer life (and quieter) compressor to go with it:

http://www.acehobby.co.nz/OSSB2/Root/ossbec3/ShowItem.asp?PID=52169

If noise is not an issue a regular hardware store compressor works fine too.  My modeling room is at the very back of my house and my wife doesn't even hear it when she is in the front watching TV so it works out fine.  Here they run about $70 US for a smaller one with a tank, compared to the $159.00 US or so for a hobby one without a tank like I listed for you... (the tank helps by dampening any pulsation int he line and making the compressor kick on less often)

Good luck!  I will see if any of my Aussie buddies on here have suggestions since you are relatively close geographically.  Many of them order from www.dixieart.com here in the US and say it ends up being cheaper than buying them in AU due to the low price of the equipment itself.  It might be the same for you.  the compressor I listed from the hobby shop in NZ for $299.95 NZ runs about $149.00 US at Dixie Art, converted the NZ shop compresser would cost $220.00 US.  I am not sure if you have a high customs rate or VAT but it might be worth checking out.

Hi,

Thanks for your excellent answer. I am now considering the Iwata brush and a hardware store compressor, however, the ones I have seen on sale here in NZ have no psi control, or it does not go below 30. I'll have to ask at the store.

About my origional post - I was just wondering what the difference between the two Tamiya models is. Is one newer? Is one better? I've searched for reviews, but have struggled to find the difference. Maybe they just look different!

Thanks again.

oh, sorry!  I got to rambling about other AB's that I forgot to answer that... I didn't quite pick up on the difference, one was able to do 1mm detail or so I believe the top one.  But the bottom one has not been discontinued according to Tamiya's website.

 

You'll need a hobby regulator, I am sure there is somewhere in NZ that sells them, if not then the construction type regulator will let you airbrush long enough for you to order one from nearby... 

 I am sure they are sold at Hobby Shops in NZ, you might have to call them.  It is just like the contruction regulator but graduated in 1psi numbers (or in smaller increments of the system used in NZ, Kpa or atmospheres I think.)  You might be able to use a contruction one in the meantime, I was able to use mine as soon as I got it home but a hobby one makes the airbrush much more versatile for what we do.

I wish you luck!  check around for that regulator on the web and I am sure you will find a NZ dealer for it!  Any hobby regulator will do fine.  You might have to go to the local Do it yourself or hardware store and get the bras male to male connector to attach it but they are usually cheap, like $1 US.

I did find this very quiet compressor with regulator and moisture trap included on a hobby site in AU:

http://www.hobbyco.com.au/product/show_item.php?plu=SPTC501DA

It's about the same price or cheaper than the one I posted previously...  If I spot someone that sells them in NA I will post it for you.

tho9900 wrote:

Another brush to think about in your area would be the Iwata, they are made in Japan (those Tamiya brushes look suspiciously like Iwata knockoffs, in fact that wrench you see in one of the links I provided on the Tamiyas, is the same Iwata nozzle wrench I use on my Iwata HP-CR)

To clear the myth there, the reason the Tamiya brushes are similar to the Iwatas is because they shared the same design principles and were made from the SAME manufacturer.  Owning a bunch of Iwata ABs and a Tamiya Superfine, I can assure you the only things that are similar and swappable by looks between the Tamiya SF and say an Iwata HP-B+ would be the 0.2mm needle/nozzle, the inner works (spring tension adjustment stuff and needle chuck), the trigger (the round one from something like the Eclipse series), and the air valve.  The needles from my HP-BH and SF are within 1mm in length if not 0.5mm and share the same taper design.  I have also been able to use the SF's preset handle on my eclipse ones which would have required 30 bucks more for a preset handle.  The tiny cup from the SF is actually about 1/5 to 1/4 bigger than the HP-B series.  The nozzle cover/cap are entirely different, so the Iwata crowncap doesn't fit on the SF.  The airvalve has a two part body on the HP-BH while the Tamiya one comes in one piece and the package offers another airvalve piece to attach to Tamiya's own series of air compressors.  The SF package also gives you a cap for the cup while Iwata left it off of the HP-BH. 

So there it is, it's just like comparing a Toyota and a Lexus sharing the same chassis and engine 'cept in this case one isn't exactly noticably better looking than another.