Oooh, three airbrushes or one?

This is strictly my 2 cents, but my "perfect world" scenario for AB's would be to have three: 1 cheaper AB for general purpose acrylic spraying in large areas, 1 top of the line AB for fine detail work like mottling, etc. and 1 middle of the road AB for Alclad/non-acrylic stuff.

As a separate thought, you might want to have at least one backup should you have major troubles with what you normally use...

I'm a firm believer in never getting rid of equipment. That old 200 and the 100G are fine brushes, and I'm not convinced the 360 will be better. Also the 100 and 200 series share head assembly and needles and only the actions are different, so one could be a parts hound for the other.

The 100G has a pretty small paint cup, though. It's only real drawback.

I agree with Charles regarding having 3 airbrushes. My collection is a Badger 150, a 100LG and a el cheapo clone of the venerable 350 which was so cheap I consider it nearly disposable.

A side comment here: I am always into gadgets and have my eyes on the Harder and Steenbeck Infinity model....but I don't really need it. Every time I convince my self  to spend the money for it, I look at some incredibly painted models, which blows away anything i could ever do...all painted with a cheapo $25 single action AB by some friends on line. The bottom line is that a skilled air brusher can work magic with a cheap AB, but a low skilled air brusher (me) can't create masterpieces just because he has an expensive piece of equipment.

Another, completely contradicting opinion is that if you can afford it and you are at the level where you can make full use of a finely tuned AB, go for it. You're putting money back into the hobby and spending it on good, clean fun. You shouldn't feel bad about buying what you can comfortably afford.

Thanks guys. I think I'l keep them now. I thought that maybe the 360 would be able to perform like all of the other brushes in one, but you're right, why should I when it would just be trying to put too much in one. Besides, I really like how the 100 performs.

Thanks again. 

MontanaCowboy wrote:

Thanks guys. I think I'l keep them now. I thought that maybe the 360 would be able to perform like all of the other brushes in one, but you're right, why should I when it would just be trying to put too much in one. Besides, I really like how the 100 performs.   Thanks again.

Keep them. The 360 is the same as the 155 Anthem except for for the rotating head. 

The 100G is a finer spraying airbrush than the 155 or the 360.  

MikeV wrote:

I have 12 but don't tell anyone.

Daywalker wrote:

MikeV wrote: I have 12 but don't tell anyone.

Bgrigg wrote:

Look like 11 to me! Or is the 12th top secret?

I would tell you but then I would have to kill you.

Actually I "acquired" an Anthem 3155 Hybrid that is not in that picture.

MikeV wrote:

Daywalker wrote:  MikeV wrote: I have 12 but don't tell anyone.

Hey... what's the secret to getting ultra fine lines with your Sotar 20/20 (top left)?...I have one and have gotten farily thin lines, but supposedly this baby can spray paper thin. 

mucker wrote:

MikeV wrote:  Daywalker wrote:  MikeV wrote: I have 12 but don't tell anyone. Hey... what's the secret to getting ultra fine lines with your Sotar 20/20 (top left)?...I have one and have gotten farily thin lines, but supposedly this baby can spray paper thin.

It is all about the medium you are painting with.

Most airbrush paints for modeling do not have small enough pigments to spray as fine as possible with these airbrushes. The Sotar was not designed to spray the finest lines possible with modeling paints, it was designed to compete with all the other high-end airbrushes when spraying inks, dyes and other thin pigmented paints like urethanes.

If the paint pigments are too large the Sotar will not spray any finer lines than the Omni 4000 or Badger 100LG. That is just how it is.

gulfstreamV wrote:

Yes the more A/B's the better. My first was a Badger, can fed. Then a Passache H, a real workhorse. The one in the center is a Ferrari.

Ferrari? They make Japanese airbrushes huh?

MikeV wrote:

gulfstreamV wrote: Yes the more A/B's the better. My first was a Badger, can fed. Then a Passache H, a real workhorse. The one in the center is a Ferrari. Ferrari? They make Japanese airbrushes huh?

LOL.  gotta admit that was a pretty good one.