airbrush opinion poll

I had an Aztek first - that unit almost ruined me on airbrushing. Later I picked up a Badger 150 (12 years ago) and still use it occasionally. About 4 years ago I was given a Wren but ended up giving that to a modeler with no airbrush. It was okay but not on par with the Badger. Two years ago I bought a Badger 360 and really love that airbrush. It is my primary paint tool. I compared it to an Iwata at the store and although they appear similar in technology the Badger is easier to break down and clean and to change colors on.

I used to have an old Humbrol spraygun, and have used this on quite a number of models, not much control, just on or off.
I also have a Badger 250 that I have not used
My primary airbrush (and pride and joy) is my Badger 155 Anthem. Looks good, feels good and sprays superbly.
I use a Ripmax compressor with moisture trap and regulator on all of them.

I've used a Paasche H for a number of years. It is all I've needed in an airbrush so far. Produces a tight enough camo pattern for the stuff I build.
Easy to use, easy to clean, reliable ... 'nuff said.

What he (Robert) said.
Gip Winecoff

My first airbrush was a Badger 350, then Paasche H (which I still keep around), a single action Aztek p.o.s. (model # I don't even remember), an Aztek A470 (with which I had mixed results) and my current Iwata Eclipse HP-BS.
I'll just ditto plum1030's last 3 sentences.

I bought my Paasche H based on Shermanfreaks comments and have not been sorry, I use it instead of my Badger 150 now.

I have a Badger 150 with medium & fine tips & needles. It does everything I want.

I am no expert in airbrush as I am new in the hobby. A friend of mine gave me the basic Spray Work set from Tamiya last Christmas. It included the very basic (maybe crude for you guys) gun-looking airbrush. As extra my friend added a Tamiya HG Airbrush. The first one is good for painting large areas while the HG is good for details. I have no experience in the other brands frequently mentioned here in the forum, yet. That Christmas gift could have easily cost my friend 250 dollars. Quite a sum here. Quite a gift.

Later in my life, I want to try the other brushes you guys are using now but I must save for it.

I have the Paasche H also...I just need to PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE

I started with a Paasche VL many years ago and used it for a few years. When I got into T-shirt airbrushing I bought a Thayer & Chandler Vega 2000 and loved it so I had my wife buy me a Vega 1000 gravity feed for Christmas one year. I then sold the Paasche VL after using the Vega as there was no comparison.
I then bought an Omni 3000 which I like even more than the Vega, but only slightly. If I ever get into doing textile airbrushing as a money-making endeavor then I will buy another 8 or 10 Omni 3000's.

Mike

I have a Paasche VL and I am very happy with it , though I have no basis for comparison since this is the only airbrush I have owned. I find it very easy to pull apart and clean and have not had any problems with it spraying.

Paasche H has a lot of fans here. I have to say I couldn't get anything done with either Paasche I owned. I felt like a genius when I got the Iwata.

I never hear anyone mention Tamiya airbrushes here. Are they not popular outside of Japan?
I've been using their superb HG Trigger airbrush for the last five years or so, and it was a gem from the get go. I had used a really cheap Testers piece of junk prior to that (only good for laying down base coats or primer, and not that much better than spray cans!), so perhaps I cannot offer a qualified opinion as the how the Tamiya holds up to other ABs, but I do know that this AB does everything I need it to do, with absolute consistency, and with no problems whatsoever. As my techinique improved (and improves!) I discovered just how versatile this AB is.
It's very comfortable to use (I like the trigger design so much more than the push-rock buttons on other dual-action ABs. Maybe because my hands are the size of a bunch of bananas!), easy to clean, and very easy to adjust.
Until I run into something it can't do, I don't foresee ever buying another airbrush.

QUOTE: I never hear anyone mention Tamiya airbrushes here. Are they not popular outside of Japan?

J-hulk, I am using a Tamiya HG as I have mentioned in my post above. I find it very good. Of course, I cannot compare it with others since this is my first one.

My first airbrush was a cheap external mix one can't remember the brand, this was followed by a Pasche VL which I used for many years until it when missing during a move from one house to another. Found it to be a good air brush.

Now awaiting to be shot down in flames or as an armor modeller might say "watch out for those Panzerfaust". To replace the missing brush I brought a new type of airbush called the Model Master (now known as the AZTECk). I know have two, an A320 and A470.

I must admit it took me time to adapt to using this type of brush but now I am happy with the results. One thing I did learn early on with this brush is than cleanliness is really very important.

QUOTE: From Dwight: J-hulk, I am using a Tamiya HG as I have mentioned in my post above. I find it very good. Of course, I cannot compare it with others since this is my first one.

You sure did mention that, didn't ya! Gotta get my eyes checked...

Does your HG have a 0.3mm nozzle? I wonder if it's essentially the same brush as my HG Trigger, other than the differences between the trigger and the button actuation...a buddy of mine here uses the Tamiya Super Fine, which he raves about. The only problem he mentions is that the paint cup (inseperable from the main body) doesn't hold much paint at all, so he's always having to reload along the way.

J-hulk,

Actually not the same. You have a SPRAY WORK HG TRIGGER TYPE (Item 74510) while I have the SPRAYWORK HG AIRBRUSH Item (74503) the nozzle if I am correct is of the same size. I believe yours is a more convenient one because of the pistol-like grip and trigger. While mine has a sort of a trigger slightly behind the cup.

My SPRAY WORK BASIC COMPRESSOR SET comes with a trigger type airbrush with a plastic body and pistol-like grip. I like to use it for spraying large areas as it has a wide coverage and very convenient to handle. I use my HG for details.

The SPRAYWORK HG AIRBRUSH SF (super fine) they said is much better in detailing but it has the same body design as my HG. The cup is fixed (I don't know why) and just about half the size of the cup on ours. If I have the money, I'll get the trigger type just like yours.

The HG Trigger really is comfortable to use, and I feel that the grip/trigger arrangement gives me a great deal of control when I'm painting.
I love it!

QUOTE: Originally posted by J-Hulk (I like the trigger design so much more than the push-rock buttons on other dual-action ABs. Maybe because my hands are the size of a bunch of bananas!)

I have a friend like this, it always looks like he's got a fistfull of bratwursts, but as it turns out, it's just his fingers. He has great big nostrils for some reason too. Odd.

madda

I mainly stick to my Paasches as they have never let me down. My H has been with me for over 20 years and works as good as ever.

The Badger 360 I got is pretty good so far.

When I began modeling I started with the Badger 200 and later collected several airbrushes in search of the perfect airbrush. These include (in order): Paasche-H, Badger 150, Badger 155 Anthem, Aztek 1000S, 3000S, A470, Paasche VL, Badger 100LG. In 2000 I discovered the Iwata Eclipse HP-BCS. I was soo impressed with it I sold and donated all but the Paasche-H. It's reliability, durability, consistancey and ease of use would have constituted a sin if I got rid of it. I currently use the Iwata Revolution HP-CR for general work and the Eclipse HP-CS for fine-line and small detail. I prefer gravity-feed airbrushes because less paint is needed and /or/ wasted, use less air pressure for use and the permanently attached color cup is rediculously easy to clean. The atomization, paint flow and control I have of thinned enamel paint is superb. Could it get any better than this? Well maybe; if Testors ever figures out how to make a comparable acrylic paint line of the same calibre of Gunze or Tamiya...then I'd finally be able to break out in song singing "The Sound Of Music" in a dress and high heel shoes dancing around in my local hobby shop! HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!

I have a Paasche VL....only airbrush I have ever had..I have all the various needles and nozzles but have only used it.....TWICE EVER and its let me see....almost 8 yrs old. Decent airbrush or not?
Chris

I started with a Badger spray gun made out of the light blue plastic until I had enough money to get a Badger 200. I used it like a spray gun which was fine, but I always hated cleaning it. Upon coming back to the hobby I asked about what airbrush would be easier to clean. The Aztek 470 was recommended to me, which I used without problems until last year. The internal seal broke, but Testors was very good sending a replacement. I started to do free hand camoflague with the airbrush instead of depending on masking during this time. Also, I started using Lifecolour acrylics and the inside of the needle assembly of my tips started to get gummed up. I could not even unclog some of the nozzles after soaking for weeks in lacquer thinner. I accidentally pulled the needle out of the tip of a nozzle and it was full of residue around the spring. But these nozzles are not designed to be disassembled and doing so will destroy them. I don't have problems with the feel of the Aztek and one thing I like about it is the side feed which lets use it as either a siphon or gravity feed brush. In a bit of irony, I got the Aztek because of its ease of cleaning and now am going to replace it because the nozzles are getting gummed up. The other reason that I'm moving away is that it's difficult to spray fine lines using acrylic paint with the Aztek nozzles without it getting clogged.

During this time I started using my Badger 200 again. I bought a second one used, so I don't have to keep changing tips from medium to fine. I'm looking for a replacement for a number of reasons. I prefer a double action brush. The Badger 200 is difficult to clean requiring disassembly where you can lose that teflon washer so easily. Changing heads from normal work to fine line work is not convinient. There's also a tendency to spill paint from the color cup with the bottom feed Badger 200 when doing fine line spraying.

I'm looking to getting either an Iwata Eclipse side feed or Badger Anthem or 360. What attracts me to these brushes are the heads which don't need to be changed for fine to heavy spraying.

QUOTE: Originally posted by plasticmod992 if Testors ever figures out how to make a comparable acrylic paint line of the same calibre of Gunze or Tamiya...then I'd finally be able to break out in song singing "The Sound Of Music" in a dress and high heel shoes dancing around in my local hobby shop! HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!

Alright Greg, you are starting to scare me now.
Stop breathing those Isocyanates when you airbrush, they are affecting your ability to use good judgement.

Mike

I've used Thayer-Chandler, Paasche, Iwata, Badger and Devilbis. all good but I still like the Plain old badger-I've got 2 now-top feed for fine stuff and a side feed with detachable cup for big jobs. Don't forget a good pressure regulator and moisture trap.