single action airbrush

I still have a Paasche H—an old one. I like them because they are a little sturdier than most.

Why a single action? 

Have you considered the Aztek A320?  With the different nozzle selections, you paint anything from fine lines to a 3 inch spray.  Also does acrylics with special nozzles.  I know alot of people have problems with A470, but A320 is really easily to clean, sturdy and great single action airbrush. 

I own one and think it's great.  If you have any questions about it, let me know.

-Jesse

  Just thought the single action would be easier to use and clean when priming or painting an overall color. I just got a Harder and Steenbeck Evolution ( still in the box ) for finer work. I plan on practicing a bit before I start an actual kit, so I may find the double action easy enough for everything. Just curious. Besides, the one who dies with the most tools, wins, so I'm not averse to having more than one brush!. Haven't heard many positive things about Aztec, but it might be a good idea to handle one before writing them off. I saw Brett Green use one on a Testors video; they look uncomfortable to hold.  I'll check it out though. Do you happen to know the difference in the finish between an external or internal mix brush?

ronj wrote:

Do you happen to know the difference in the finish between an external or internal mix brush?

The quality of the brush and the skill of the user. Seriously. But I think it's easier to produce a good finish with an internal mix brush, and much easier to do fine work.

As far as cleaning is concerned, I find it far easier to clean my Thayer & Chandler Omni 4000 than it is to clean my Paasche H. The Paasche is less delicate (doesn't have that long, thin, and very sharp (therefore very delicate) needle. The Paasche is now used only for Alclad lacquers. 

I actually have both, usually using the Paasche for acrylics and the Badger for enamels.  Although the two airbrushes are completely different, both are quite good and actually reasonably similar in actual performance.

1. The Paasche is a little easier to use.  The paint flow adjustment on the Badger is a knob on the back of the body, whereas the paint flow adjustment on the Paasche is in front under the nozzle.  I find it easier to get to on the Paasche and is actually quite easy to adjust with your other hand while painting.
2. I know the Badger theoretically should produce slightly better atomization and a finer line, but in practice, I don't see any real difference between the painted results of either.  The odd thing about the Badger being marketed as an internal mix, is that the paint does in fact hit the airstream just outside the surface of the crown.
3. I think you get a bit more flexibility with the Paasche's three tips which are included when you buy a Paasche H Set than you do with the Badger's single needle/tip.  For most things, I will just use the Paasche's no.1 tip, but if I want to pump out a a lot of heavy viscosity stuff, like when I am varnishing a display stand, I can use the no.5 which I think flows more paint than the Badger does wide open.  The flip side to this argument though, is that depending on the desired pattern size, you might have to bounce between the Paasche's No.1 and No.3 tips whereas you can simply open and close the Badger's needle for the same effect. 
4. The cleanup is probably a wash, no pun intended.  The Badger is actually a bit easier to unscrew the crown and cap thus allowing you to brush out the paint chamber and clean the needle.  On the other hand, for a full disassembly, the Paasche is just a lot less delicate so I find it quicker. 

Regardless of which airbrush you choose, either will give an excellent finish.  Sufficiently excellent that any deficiencies in the quality of the finish cannot be blamed on the airbrush.  Almost anything you are likely to build would easily fall into the capabilities of these two airbrushes.  Either is quite easy to use.  The first time I used my Badger, the more difficult of the two, was to do a free hand camo on a 1/72 Tiger tank which came out quite nice.

My overall recommedation would be for the Paasche H, just for value and ease of use.  You can pick up the H Set from DixieArt.Com for $50 which includes all three tips, color cup, small and larg siphon bottles and a six foot braided hose.  I think that's a better value than what you get with the Badger.  I'm guessing that you're new to airbrushing, and as such I thing the Paasche's anvil-like ruggedness and ease of use would be appreciated.  If in the future, having master airbrushing with the Paasche, you and are finding yourself limited by it (I suppose a 1/72 Luftwaffe "worm" camo would be tricky if not impossible with either of these airbrushes), well presumably your H & S Evolution might be the ticket.