A tale of two airbrushes

Leaadas wrote:

I would think for that kind of use you would want a double action airbrush. But of the 2 you listed I would go with the Badger 360 because I like their brand

Tom, those two airbrushes are both double-action. I made sure of that! What tiype of AB do you use?

Bill, what do you like about the 100LG? It looks VERY comparable to the Iwata CR.

Thanks again guys! 

Hey Radmax8,

I've got a Badger 360 and absolutely love it.  If you hunt around, you can find a fine tip needle for it, and then, with a bit of practice, you can spray lines the size of a pencil lead.  Its also very user friendly, since it can act as gravity or siphon feed.

RadMax8 wrote:

Bill, what do you like about the 100LG? It looks VERY comparable to the Iwata CR.

The CR and 100LG are certainly similar, here's my reasoning for the 100LG: 

When I first got back into modeling a good friend gave me a Badger 150 that was well over 20 yrs old. As a siphon fed brush, it was limited in it's ability to do fine detail by two things: higher air pressure required to pick up the paint through the siphon tube, and my skill. Had my skills been better, I probably could have surpassed the too high of air pressure issue.

In order to increase my detail skills I bought a 100LG which eliminated the high pressure problem, but sadly not my skill level! I wanted the 100LG as I have spare parts for the 150, and except for the body, they are identical airbrushes, and share all the other parts.

I also have a Badger 200-20 single action detail brush, which is great for dialing in a specific line size. It also shares head and tip parts with the 100 series, but uses a different needle and tip regulator (though it could easily use the same regulator). You might want to consider this brush as well, as it would be an excellent tool for smoke ring camo and the Luftwaffe mottle camo. You can set the thickness and forget about variance. Dial, point and shoot! Still doesn't come with that spare bottle of skill I need, but it gets me closer to the mark.

The other reason I like Badger so much is Made in the USA, even though I'm Canadian, I would rather buy US than Asia.

RadMax8 wrote:

Bill, what do you like about the 100LG? It looks VERY comparable to the Iwata CR.

I would argue that the 100LG is better than that Iwata although the Iwata HP-C or possibly the HP-CS would be on equal ground with the Badger 100LG. 

The 360 is a great airbrush but the color cup is very small for using it in gravity-feed mode.

I mainly use my 360 for small parts and quick touch-ups as it's so easy to clean.

Another one you may want to consider is the Omni 4000 which about equal to a Badger 100LG with a medium tip and needle. The Omni is easier to clean and disassemble and it does not have a tiny micro tip like the 100LG and other illustration airbrushes do.

If you are not sure what a micro tip is in comparison to a cone tip, here is some comparisons I did of my airbrushes a while back.

You can see the small tip on the Badger airbrushes on the right as they fit into the head assembly and are not a seperate cone tip as the others to the left are.

The exception being the far left which is an HP-CS and is also a micro tip. 

Here's a top view

Listen to Mike, he's the #1 AB guy.

And though I believe what he says and know he's more knowledgeble than me on the subject, I still use an Iwata. I have a CR and a BR though I use the CR for 99% of everything. If I had of learned more about air brushes before I bought the Iwata I may have gone with the Badger/Thayer-Chandler line instead.

I'm happy with my Iwatas though. Here is a pic of fine line stuff I've done with it.

These camo lines were done freehand with the CR.

This one is 1/72.

Gotta tell you though, getting parts for the Iwata is a PITA. And pricey. I was looking at a new nozzle for a C+ last week at a local art supply store. $35. And it's about the size of a sharpened pencil lead.

hkshooter wrote:

Listen to Mike, he's the #1 AB guy. And though I believe what he says and know he's more knowledgeble than me on the subject, I still use an Iwata. I have a CR and a BR though I use the CR for 99% of everything. If I had of learned more about air brushes before I bought the Iwata I may have gone with the Badger/Thayer-Chandler line instead. I'm happy with my Iwatas though. Here is a pic of fine line stuff I've done with it. These camo lines were done freehand with the CR. This one is 1/72. Gotta tell you though, getting parts for the Iwata is a PITA. And pricey. I was looking at a new nozzle for a C+ last week at a local art supply store. $35. And it's about the size of a sharpened pencil lead.

There is nothing wrong with an Iwata my friend, they are excellent airbrushes as are many others.  

Dang it, guys! I was hoping to make my number of options LESS, not MORE!!!!

But seriously, thank you for the information. I really want something that I can spray nice tight patterns with, (relatively) inexpensive replacement parts, and gravity feed. Ease of cleaning is a big plus as well. I have a Badger 200, but it isn't in great shape... I think I need to send it to the company to have them check it out. One thing I don't like about it is that micro-tip. It's kinda tough to clean. I like Iwata Revolution CR and the Omni 4000 because there's a screw lid on the color cup, and let's face it that seems pretty important because I flail around a lot LOL!!!! The only thing I dont like is that the color cup is HUGE! I can fit a whole bottle of Tamiya mini acrylic in there! I guess that would facilitate easy cleaning though, huh? Dixieart.com says the Omni 4000 is temp. unavailable from Badger... That's not a good sign. Mike, what about the Omni 5000??

RadMax8 wrote:

Dang it, guys! I was hoping to make my number of options LESS, not MORE!!!! But seriously, thank you for the information. I really want something that I can spray nice tight patterns with, (relatively) inexpensive replacement parts, and gravity feed. Ease of cleaning is a big plus as well. I have a Badger 200, but it isn't in great shape... I think I need to send it to the company to have them check it out. One thing I don't like about it is that micro-tip. It's kinda tough to clean. I like Iwata Revolution CR and the Omni 4000 because there's a screw lid on the color cup, and let's face it that seems pretty important because I flail around a lot LOL!!!! The only thing I dont like is that the color cup is HUGE! I can fit a whole bottle of Tamiya mini acrylic in there! I guess that would facilitate easy cleaning though, huh? Dixieart.com says the Omni 4000 is temp. unavailable from Badger... That's not a good sign. Mike, what about the Omni 5000??

The color cup is only 1/3 oz so it's not that huge.

The cap is not screw on with the Omni 4000, it's pressed on and I never ever use it.

I haven't heard about the Omni 4000 being unavailable, I will have to ask Ken about that.

I have never used the Omni 5000 but is pretty much the same as my Vega 1000 which is also a nice airbrush. The color cup is a lot smaller than the 4000 but that is fine if that size cup works for you.

The micro-tip shouldn't be that hard to clean you can just soak the entire assembly in thinner if you want. Spray enough through it at the end of a painting session and it should be fine.

Don't forget to backflush also.

I have a used Iwata HP-CS that I am selling so that is another option.

RadMax,

BearAir has the Omni 4000 on their site:

http://www.bearair.com/prodinfo.asp?number=100251 

MikeV wrote:

RadMax, BearAir has the Omni 4000 on their site: http://www.bearair.com/prodinfo.asp?number=100251

Bear Air has it listed as Out Of Stock.

I thought the color cup on the 100LG was going to get in the way, but it doesn't. I find the gravity fed ABs easier to clean than the siphon style.

I never use the lid on my color cup either. I used to, but have since learned to keep the brush level.  I still have the paint stain in my spray booth from my first spill as a reminder!

Mike, is the lid more hassel than it's worth, or are you just a calm guy? LOL!

DMH, thanks for your input! 

Tom, another vote for the 100LG? It must be a really nice brush... 

OK, so it looks like I'm gonna choose between two brushes now. The Badger 100LG and the Omni 4000. Mike, what do you usually spray through your Badger? I use Tamiya Acrylics, Model Master Acrylics, and Model Master Enamels. Which brush might be better for what I use?

Thanks again guys, I REALLY appreciate all this!!! 

RadMax8 wrote:

Mike, is the lid more hassel than it's worth, or are you just a calm guy? LOL!

I just never spill. Just kidding. I see no need for it personally as I never fill the cup more than half full. When you spray downward on a model that cup will let paint go over the side if it's too full.

Mike, what do you usually spray through your Badger? I use Tamiya Acrylics, Model Master Acrylics, and Model Master Enamels. Which brush might be better for what I use?

Either one would be excellent for those paints my friend.

If the Omni 4000 is hard to find then go for the Badger 100LG it's excellent and I think it's trigger is smoother than the Iwata personally.

Bgrigg wrote:

MikeV wrote: RadMax, BearAir has the Omni 4000 on their site: http://www.bearair.com/prodinfo.asp?number=100251  Bear Air has it listed as Out Of Stock.

It wasn't out last night when I posted that I don't think, oh well.

I know of one place that may have it and he knows his airbrushes well...Coast Airbrush in Anaheim, CA. He pushes Iwatas bad though.

http://www.coastairbrush.com/products.asp?cat=30 

Here is what's up with the Omni 4000:

"We are really busy with heavy orders and all is behind right now.  These companies refuse to order earlier and increase their inventories - so they wait until they are too low or runout and then say there is a delay on our end.  Our lead times are slightlty longer than the norm, but not so bad they should be discouraging orders."

RadMax8 wrote:

Mike, is the lid more hassel than it's worth, or are you just a calm guy? LOL! DMH, thanks for your input!  Tom, another vote for the 100LG? It must be a really nice brush...  OK, so it looks like I'm gonna choose between two brushes now. The Badger 100LG and the Omni 4000. Mike, what do you usually spray through your Badger? I use Tamiya Acrylics, Model Master Acrylics, and Model Master Enamels. Which brush might be better for what I use? Thanks again guys, I REALLY appreciate all this!!!

I have sprayed Tamiya paints, MM enamels and MM acrylics through my LG100 and the only results I wasnt happy with was the Tamiya. But that was all me and not the AB. I thinned it a bit too much. The MM enamals and Acrylics both sprayed really easily and produced a good finish. The only thing I will caution about the MM acrylics is that in my fine nozzle I had some dry in the nozzle while spraying. Which I have heard other people have an issue with them.