Badger 200 AB. Opinions pls.

Well, I own both!  There are advantageous to both.

I actually own two 100LG, one with the medium needle and the other with the fine needle. 

I also have the 200-20 "Detail" model, which has a graduated scale to dial in the needle position ensuring consistant line thickness. 

The 100LG has the benefit of gravity feed, which allows a lower air pressure, which affords more control. However the dual action can sometimes be a bit tricky to keep a consistant line thickness. The dial on the 200-20 locks in the thickness and takes away the guesswork, but the siphon feed requires a higher air pressure which can cause its own problems.

So which brush do I use most of the time? The 100LG! The gravity feed design means less parts to clean up, and the dual action allows me to change from narrow line to wide pattern on the fly. The only time I pull the 200-20 out is to do very fine detail. There is a learning curve to a dual action AB, but it isn't very steep. Heck, there is a learning curve to every AB!

If I had to only have one AB it would be the 100LG.

edit/

Let me also add that some very excellent work can be done with a single action AB. The talent is in the hands and not the tool. As I said I own both kinds, and while I prefer keeping the 100LG hooked up to the hose, I wouldn't get rid of my 200-20 either. It's just that the 100LG is a more versatile airbrush solely due to the dual action. /edit 

The 200 is a siphon feed. If they make a gravity feed (with color cup on top) I haven't heard of it before. A 100 LG is a better airbrush than a 200. Although the shop owner may use a 200 really well, I bet in no time you'll be matching him with a 100 and could be better later.

I'm going to quote the owner of Badger here: "Get the airbrush you need and learn to use it. There's no sense buying airbrushes that don't meet you needs for you to upgrade them later".

Yes, the 200 is a single action and is faster to learn, but it is limited by being a siphon feed. It requires more air pressure to work and more paint in the jar for small jobs. I litterally put 3 drops of paint into my 100 LG to do small jobs and it's easier to clean.

I hate seeing guys throw money away on airbrushes. The old school of start with a basic one and move up as your skills progress is fooey! Get the airbrush that will do the work you need it to do and if you can afford it, one that will do things that you don't need just yet. Your doing planes and tanks, you will need a airbrush for shading and fine detail painting. The 200 will do what you need, but you will have better results with the 100 LG and it will be there as your modelling skills grow also. The cost diffrence is up to you, but IMHO it's definantly worth the money.

Cheers
Drew

The Badger 100 is a side feed illustration airbrush that, with really thin paint, can be used for modeling.  The 100lg is a large cup gravity fed version of the same brush.  The 200g is a gravity fed single action version of the same brush.  What I mean by same brush is that they all share the same heads and needles.  It's only the application of the paint that varies.  If the airbrush that your LHS stocks is the 100 and not the 100lg, then the 200g would be the better choice for varying paint viscosity.  If it is indeed the 100lg, buy it and don't look back.  Front end parts will be the same.  And yes, I own the 100, 100S, 100LG, 200, and 200NH.  I've never been fond of the 200 gravity fed series, not that there is anything wrong with them.

 

E

Actually, if I recall correctly, the 200 also comes in several gravity feed models.

I can't recall if the gravity feed models come with the "new" head, but if they have the old one, then they use the same head as the 100 series, so the spray pattern should be identical. The only real difference being that the 100 is a double-action brush.

I have an older 200 series siphon-feed brush with the old style head. Very easy to use and gives great results, but I have moved on to a double action brush and haven't used the 200 in recent times.

Really it's down to personal choice, and you can get great results from a single-action brush. As already mentioned, it may be easier learning with a single action brush, but if you plan to upgrade in the future anyway, you'd be better off starting with a double-action rather than spending the money twice.

Just to clarify,  the 200 series consists of four basic models:

• 200-20 siphon, detail airbrush
• 200G gravity, analogous to the 100G, with the small fixed 1/16 oz cup
  
• 200SG gravity, analogous to the 100SG, with the teensy "slotted" cup built into the body
• 200NH siphon, analogous to the 155 Anthem

The first three share the "old" head design which is common to the 100, 150 and 200 series. Only the needle length is different for the 200 series, as it is considerably longer. The 200NH has the "new" head assembly common with the 155 Anthem. They don't make a LG version of the 200.

I have a Badger 200G (gravity fed). I love it. The 200G is a very nice single action airbrush, easy to clean, and a joy to use.