Gravity Feed vs. Bottom Feed

No airbrush is "easy" to control! Hand to eye co-ordination, air pressure, viscosity of paint and unsteady hands all conspire against the poor user! Practice, practice, practice is ultimately more important than what style of brush you purchase. While a better tool often results in a better job, the hands holding the tool dictate how good a job it really is. The results of investing money in a high-end AB pays off over the long time, not the short time. In other words, a $50 hammer can bend a nail just as fast as a $5 hammer! The arguments of single-action vs. double action, siphon vs. gravity is many and varied and akin to Ford vs. Chevy! My preference is double action as I feel that the potential (as of yet not fully realized by yours truly!) is greater than single action. Those who really know how to use a single action airbrush can put the lie to that, very quickly.

Typically gravity fed brushes allow for thinner lines simply because you can use less air pressure, so the argument would be that gravity fed allows for more control. However, some people don't like the cup on top of the brush, as it interferes with their sight line, potentially reducing control. You can buy a AB like the Badger 100SG which has a teeny cup built into the body, but it holds such a small amount of paint as to be useless for HO scale. The Badger 100G has a small cup on top of the handle, but only holds 1/16 oz, again, probably not suitable for HO scale! Another alternative would be the Badger 100 SF, which holds slightly more paint in a cup that is held off to one side (LH or RH models available) giving you the sight line of a siphon fed, with the control of a gravity fed. It also has the benefit of a rotating color cup which allows you to spray vertically or horizontally.

Confused yet? I know I am!

I highly recommend that (if possible) visit a store that sells airbrushes and hold each in your hand and imagine using them. If there isn't a store near you, perhaps an detail auto body shop, or sign shop might be a source of hands on experience. Then go to http://www.dixieart.com/ and http://www.bearair.com/ two highly regarded and inexpensive online stores to buy the model you want.

For the record I have used Badger models as examples as that is the brand I am most familiar with. AFIK they are the only manufacturer that offers a side feed airbrush. Paasche and Iwata are also highly regarded by many of the forum members. Myself? I own a Badger 150 siphon fed, and have a 100LG on hold with a fellow member who is selling off his excess ABs. That way I end up with both kinds, the siphon fed that I can attach a HUGE bottle to for those long sessions, a gravity fed that will allow me to do detail work, and the parts are interchangeable between them!

Bgrigg wrote:

No airbrush is "easy" to control! Hand to eye co-ordination, air pressure, viscosity of paint and unsteady hands all conspire against the poor user! Practice, practice, practice is ultimately more important than what style of brush you purchase. While a better tool often results in a better job, the hands holding the tool dictate how good a job it really is. The results of investing money in a high-end AB pays off over the long time, not the short time. In other words, a $50 hammer can bend a nail just as fast as a $5 hammer! The arguments of single-action vs. double action, siphon vs. gravity is many and varied and akin to Ford vs. Chevy! My preference is double action as I feel that the potential (as of yet not fully realized by yours truly!) is greater than single action. Those who really know how to use a single action airbrush can put the lie to that, very quickly. Typically gravity fed brushes allow for thinner lines simply because you can use less air pressure, so the argument would be that gravity fed allows for more control. However, some people don't like the cup on top of the brush, as it interferes with their sight line, potentially reducing control. You can buy a AB like the Badger 100SG which has a teeny cup built into the body, but it holds such a small amount of paint as to be useless for HO scale. The Badger 100G has a small cup on top of the handle, but only holds 1/16 oz, again, probably not suitable for HO scale! Another alternative would be the Badger 100 SF, which holds slightly more paint in a cup that is held off to one side (LH or RH models available) giving you the sight line of a siphon fed, with the control of a gravity fed. It also has the benefit of a rotating color cup which allows you to spray vertically or horizontally. Confused yet? I know I am! I highly recommend that (if possible) visit a store that sells airbrushes and hold each in your hand and imagine using them. If there isn't a store near you, perhaps an detail auto body shop, or sign shop might be a source of hands on experience. Then go to http://www.dixieart.com/ and http://www.bearair.com/ two highly regarded and inexpensive online stores to buy the model you want. For the record I have used Badger models as examples as that is the brand I am most familiar with. AFIK they are the only manufacturer that offers a side feed airbrush. Paasche and Iwata are also highly regarded by many of the forum members. Myself? I own a Badger 150 siphon fed, and have a 100LG on hold with a fellow member who is selling off his excess ABs. That way I end up with both kinds, the siphon fed that I can attach a HUGE bottle to for those long sessions, a gravity fed that will allow me to do detail work, and the parts are interchangeable between them!

I'm confused too but what he said is right. My personal preference is a Omni 4000 and I plan on getting a Badger 100LG.
                   

I prefer the gravity fed. My Paasche is a bottom feed, and my Aztek is a side feed, so I can switch to different cups that that do gravity or siphon (bottom) feed. Like Bgrigg said, the gravity feed lets you shoot at a lower air pressure.

I saw someone who posted something about buying a Revell (IIRC) A/B, and it had a feature to let you swivel the feed aperature from top to bottom. Might be neat to investigate.

I think the Revell is a private label Badger (private badged?) 360. I have to admit I'm intrigued, but think the cup in gravity fed mode is small. I think Swanny uses one (Badger 360 that is).

Looking for ease of control? Then you are concidering the wrong features, you should be thinking about single or dual action. Gee, hope I didn't make matter worse and confuse you more. Let me explain... with a single action you pre-set your spray pattern so to speak (how much paint is released) when you push the trigger. So now all you have to do is move along at the correct distance and speed to cover your subject. With a dual action, you have to push the trigger down for air and gradually pull back the trigger for paint. The more you pull back, the more paint and wider you can make your lines/spray pattern.

Should you get a gravity feed or a bottom feed?
Ask yourself this question - Will I be spraying more fine details or more large coverage areas such as diorama scenery?
Gravity feed is best for fine detail.
Bottom feed is best for large coverage areas.
That's just a general idea as you can do large areas with a gravity feed which has a large cup and fine detail with a bottom feed with practice. But you get the basic idea, each airbrush design was meant for certain task.

Just my and what do I know... I'm an Iwata fan in a Badger Club. 

Good luck and hope you can actually get to test hold a few. 

P.S. I like my Vega 600 too and that ain't Iwata!

jhande wrote:

Looking for ease of control? Then you are concidering the wrong features, you should be thinking about single or dual action. Should you get a gravity feed or a bottom feed? Ask yourself this question - Will I be spraying more fine details or more large coverage areas such as diorama scenery?

 

When I was speaking about control I was thinking more of balance of the airbrush in the hand.  The weight of the cup and the paint inside it vs. the weight of the braided hose pulling at the bottom of the airbrush.  Whether either one was more restrictive on the artist's control of movement while using the airbrush.

I will be using the airbrush for painting HO (1:87) scale railroad models.

I seem to have my pick down to the Badger 100GL and the Omni 4000 along with an ABD TC-20 ompressor.

 

 

Sorry my bad...

I got used to my bottom feed rather quickly, whether I have a small or large jar hanging from it. I even stick a paint cup in it at times when I only need a little blast of paint.

The Omni 4000 and ABD TC-20 compressor sounds like a good setup.

Why also the 100LG? I'd just get the Omni and trade up the compressor for the ABD TC-20T. 

jhande wrote:

The Omni 4000 and ABD TC-20 compressor sounds like a good setup. Why also the 100LG? I'd just get the Omni and trade up the compressor for the ABD TC-20T.

 

Sorry, I need to slow down when posting. . . I am leaning towards either the Omni 4000 or the 100LG. . .  and I did mean the ABD TC-20T.

If you're really concerned about balance get the 150 along with the 100LG and order up the counter balance handle (P/N 50-03332) which is a brass handle that helps offset the weight of the bottle and paint. The handle would be interchangeable between the brushes, as well as all the other parts!

Bgrigg wrote:

If you're really concerned about balance get the 150 along with the 100LG and order up the counter balance handle (P/N 50-03332) which is a brass handle that helps offset the weight of the bottle and paint. The handle would be interchangeable between the brushes, as well as all the other parts!

I guess at this point I am not so sure I am really that concerned. . .I was just wondering if the different type feeds should enter into the equation.

I f you Plan on spraying railroad scenery then I would use the siphon feed because it holds more paint and scenery is not usually fineline delicate.  If you want to paint and weather rail cars then I would get a gravity feed because it can do more intricate work. Suggestions would be an Iwata Eclypse or a Badger 100LG for detailing rail cars. For a siphon feed think about a Badger 200.   Greg

I can only offer you what I know from my short term airbrushing experience and what AB's I've played around with and now own.

I own the Iwata Eclipse HP-BCS siphon feed. You can interchange different size paint bottles from many different manufactures. It feels good in my hand and can spray fine line details, not "hair line" but pretty darn close. It can handle acylics as well as solvent based paints. A good all around general purpose AB. I'm glad I purshased it as my first AB. I actually bought it in a kit with the compressor you are considering -

If you want something that will handle slightly finer detail lines but hold enough paint so you can cover more area when needed, look into the Iwata HP-CS.

This thread might help some - Dilemma - Iwata Eclipse BS, CS or SBS...?

My kit - Iwata Automotive Airbrush Kit BCS $299.
Another possiblity - Iwata Automotive Airbrush Kit CS $349.
ABD TC-20T $169.98
But don't forget to check prices at DixieArt for the AB's.
HP-BCS $79.97
HP-CS $109.97
no hose included.