airbrush choice

ronj wrote:

I see your point jhande. I'm pretty sure I'm going to start with the HP-C+. My passion when I was younger was 1/32 scale WWII fighter aircraft. I should be able to do everything with that one brush. Then maybe later add the brush with the smaller cup for detail work.

Ron, you will be surprised at how fine of detail the C+ can produce. It's just a matter of practice and learning the techniques. Having the small paint cup won't make a difference.

I still need a compressor and spray booth, so my initial paint setup will pretty much break the bank for a little while.

That was my problem, so I saved up and bought the airbrush/compressor kit from Airbrush Depot. Do a search here on paint/spray booths. I made a nice one out of wood and I'm just waiting to order the exhaust blower now.

Connecticut is still the same ... cost of living too high, taxes are too high ... highways are bumper to bumper; same old stuff

LOL, I miss the shopping with stores everywhere (grewup along the coast East Haven to Milford) but my highways have 4 or 5 cars on them during rush hour. Guess I'll stay in the woods.

I see your point jhande. I'm pretty sure I'm going to start with the HP-C+. My passion when I was younger was 1/32 scale WWII fighter aircraft. I should be able to do everything with that one brush. Then maybe later add the brush with the smaller cup for detail work. I still need a compressor and spray booth, so my initial paint setup will pretty much break the bank for a little while. Connecticut is still the same ... cost of living too high, taxes are too high ... highways are bumper to bumper; same old stuff

ronj wrote:

Good point jhande. Make that 7 AB's!  LOL

Oh no Ron, I wasn't meaning for that to happen.    LOL

I know all to well how difficult it can be to decide on which airbrush to get.
Maybe a quick run through on how I decided might shed some light for you?

I needed something that would handle spraying anything from model cars to real cars, T-shirts, wall murals, anything the family could point and spray at.
So that meant both small and large paint supply. Also fine detail to large coverage area.
No brainer, a siphon-feed. So after testing some I bought the BCS.
Now just to make working on bigger projects easier, and to give me another AB loaded with a second color that can handle the fine detail work, I'm looking at the HP-C (or HP-C Plus).

If I was just getting an AB for my modeling needs, I would consider things a bit differently.
I build 1:24 & 1:25 car kits, mostly stock originals with an occasional customization. I also build a few diorama's to display the builds.
So the HP-BS might not hold enough paint for all my needs, specifically the dio's.
The HP-CS definitely holds enough, maybe too much but would work just fine.
The HP-SBS gives the option similar to a siphon-feed where you can change cup/bottle size according to project needs. More versatility so possibly the best choice.
Both the CS and the SBS can spray a pattern from hairline to two inches. So that covers my basic modeling needs.

Hope maybe that helps?

By the way, hows CT doing?
Been a few years since I've been back for a visit.
I've been up here for 6 years now, but I still get home sick once and awhile. 

ronj wrote:

It sounds like I might eventually have to have about six of them.

Oh no, you are looking at your future standing right here! 

Too many airbrushes do become a nuisance when you try to decide which one to use for today's paintjob...  Best way to minimize that happening is to catergorize what you need to do and get the best brush for it, such as BCS for large area, CS or SBS for general to detail work, and B+ or BH for extreme detail work;  or in Badger's case, 155 for large area, 100LG w/ medium tip for general to detail work, and another version of the 100, probably the 100G w/ fine tip for detail work (mix and match these with omni or vega if you want).  Lots of these share parts so it's a lil more convenient to stay in the same family.  I ended up getting multiple ABs for the same purpose and am as of right now somewat regretting it, but still don't want to sell them since they just look and perform all so well.

Good point jhande. They each have their strong points. Back to the catalog for more study!

Good point jhande. Make that 7 AB's!  LOL

Hey Ron, not to confuse matters... but have you thought about the HP-SBS with a pre-set handle? It sprays just as nice as the other choices but gives the options of different size color cups and paint bottles.

Just a thought... sorry to add to the confusion. 

Actually I feel like I am pretty much set with my HP-CR and HP-CS, the CS handles about anything I can throw at it for detail and the CR is a dream for spraying acrylics for overall coverage on 1/48 aircraft. 

But like you said... too many toys is a condition I've heard rumors of, but never known anyone with said affliction. 

 

Great tips guys. You bring up some good points jhande. The preset handle sounds like it couild help with free hand camo patterns until I get proficient enough. It sounds like I might eventually have to have about six of them. Oh well; more tools; never a bad thing!

Welcome back to the world of modeling Ron. I too have recently rejoined the ranks after a long hiatus. As a note to help with the fustrations, take your time, enjoy, and don't expect a master piece right away. It does take time to build the skills, at least it did for me LOL.

Now about the airbrushes. Yes, you can get a less expensive Badger for modeling.
Ok, now that I said my piece...

Regarding the 0.3-mm and 0.35-mm needle sizes, don't concern yourself with it. Iwata told me that with the media (paints) I'd be spraying going from a 0.3-mm to a 0.5-mm wouldn't be noticable.

HP-CS vs HP-C Plus, Ryan pointed out some outstanding facts between the two. Such as one feature that had me thinking, the pre-set handle. At first I thought having one would be a great idea, that way I would have more control over my thin lines. But then I thought, that's kind of cheating and I'll never learn to have proper control of the airbrush. Ryan is in fact correct, I have a friend that let me test a bunch of different airbrushes at his custom auto painting shop (he has done it before so I could chose my first AB). My modeling consist right now of cars and I will be using my AB's for real cars and my wife will be spraying T-shirts and canvas'. I have already the HP-BCS and wanted something that I can dedicate to really fine line details without breaking the bank. So far the HP-CS is the winner.

Maybe this thread would be of slight help? - Dilemma - Iwata Eclipse BS, CS or SBS...?

Didn't read the question carefuly, sorry.

What the... he asked for iwatas, n you two badger boys jumps out.  Both the HP-CS and the C+ are good for both acrylic and enamel paints.  The major difference is that the CS has a self centering tip and the C+ has a screw in tip.  This makes the CS's tip slightly easier to be taken off and get soaked into lacquer thinner, or whatever you use, for thorough cleaning.  The screw in tip on the C+ increases the presision of the airbrush, but for what we will be using them for, that relative difference doesn't exactly matter as much.  On the other hand the C+ comes with a preset handle, which is a 30 dollar option for the CS, so if you don't have good finger control but still wants consistent thin lines, it'd be a good feature to have (or else you can spend 10 to 20 milk jugs to practice, which is recommended either way).  A crown cap is recommended personally for both airbrushes to get up close to the model.

Of course you can always just forego those two options and get a badger 100LG (or the omni counterparts, same stuff anyways =P) with a medium tip, and plus a fine head/needle add-on for way under those two price tags.  That way you don't at all have to face any dilemmas. =oD  (this just just so i don't get flamed as much... [whispers])

edited:

For a personal recommendation, i'd say the CS (I think I said that to jhande as well, who is another member looking for a fine line airbrush these who had a "pro" buddy of him showing him numerous ABs, so you might want to email him to see what he had figured out).  Reason being I just didn't like to screw and unscrew that tiny tip on my HP-CH in fear of killing it.  Iwata sure has some expensive pricetags for their replacement parts unlike the badger stuff.

1st off back. This is a GREAT place, you will learn a LOT here.  And beleave you me, I use to get frustrated all the time and most of my build would end up in VERY SMALL PEICES

As for an A/B I have a Omni 4000 double action and I LOVE it !

Enjoy and when you can post some pics of your builds

Bud