Recommendations for starter airbrush

Jeff,

You will get as many opinions here as you will memebers. When I went looking for an all metal airbrush that was good quality yet not too expensive I went to my local hobby lobby with 40% off cupon in hand and bought an Iwata eclipse. Works great and was reasonable. After a bit I got the itch for another AB so I went with the Badger Renagade Velocity. I would have to say it has become my go to brush for fine work. Just my two cents. I am sure you will get many other inputs.

Hello Jeff

As Hercmech stated,, you are sure to get a number of opinions.

And,, here comes mine - - I started out with a single action Paashae H airbrush. I must also state this has been one of the most reliable units I have ever used. It is still my mainstay for airbrushing. Inexpensive and easy to use.

Good luck with whatever you choose....

There are several AB kits that are great to use and easy to learn.  Stick with Badger, Iwata, Paashe etc. and you should be fine.  They are all great products.  I use an Iwata and a Badger.  Love them both for different reasons.

Dave

Most medium sized tip, gravity fed double action airbrushes will be fine. I usually recommend to get something that will keep, instead of buying something cheap, just to trade up within less than a year. Iwata Eclipse, Grex XG, Padger Patriot, Paasche Talon, H&S Evolution or Richpen 113C. All are good airbrushes.

My first was a Badger 200NH- it was cheap, works great, easy to disassemble for cleaning, and is really reliable. The only drawback is that its a siphon feed brush so you end up using a bit more paint.  The Color Cup makes it much more reasonable though...  I still use it for larger area jobs and applying Future

I too have the Badger 200. It works much like a single-action, but has a knob that can adjust the amount of paint, giving you a poor-man's double-action. i think I paid maybe $50-60 at Michaels with the 40% off coupon.

Paasche H.  A little awkward as it is a big airbrush compared to a Badger, Iwata, etc.  Anyway, single action, easy to disassemble (and consequently clean), relatively cheap and even cheaper if you use a 40% off coupon at Hobby Lobby.

Iwata Revolution CR. Double action gravity feed. $72.95 with free shipping from Coast Airbrush or Chicago Airbrush Supply. You can order from either with complete confidence.

Tony

I started modelling in November last year so these are the ramblings of a know nothing starter. But relevant I think as freshness is always lost to experience.

I started with a Badger single action bottom feed. I struggled but to be fair this was my first go at airbrushing. I decided on a single action as all that I read offered by those in experience said start on a single action. IE you just press the button basically & it sprays. There are limited adjustments but these are all made before you start using the brush. Adjustment of air pressure at the compressor & adjustment of paint amount on the brush.

Partly impatience, frustration & also a thirst for seeing what is on the other side I bought an Evolution double action gravity feed, paint on the top in a cup.  From that day my world in air brushing took off. Not that I am an expert as I can see the potentials of airbrushing but have to attain the subtle techniques.

I was concerned that I had bitten off more than I could chew when thinking of the expert advice I had read on start with single action. I found the double action not a problem. Push the control button down & you have air all you have to think about then is pulling the lever back to project the volume of paint you wish to release.

You still have the ability, before starting to spray, to adjust air pressure at the compressor & volume of paint released on the air brush adjustment. The brush I bought also has 3 needle sizes, two come with the brush. So you have the ability with one brush to perform, when experienced, all kinds of techniques.

Also buy a good compressor. Do not go to the compressed can syndrome.

To sum up. Why go for single action & then double action as you are shelling out twice. Why go through the learning curve once then re learn for the double action. Double action is no big deal in execution. I am a relatively slow learner but mastered the double action within 10 minutes. As your models will take hours to complete, that really surprised me, why spoil them go for the best brush you can afford. Seems to me they will last forever as all manufacturers provide spares.

I practiced on empty plastic bottles or good periods of time. But a long way to go yet. Google air brushing techniques & masses of little clips will come up showing how to do it.

Laurie

I would echo what has been said about single Vs double action, there is no more complication or difficulty to overcome in using double over single, most of your initial difficulties will come from getting used to airbrushing in general & getting your paint consistency correct. Some tears, a bit of practice & you will wonder what all the fuss was about.

The H&S Evolution & Iwata Eclipse are both good brushes which could last a lifetime, but keep in mind the outlay for a decent compressor may well be as much as a decent airbrush! 

All,

Thanks to you all for your time and advice on this subject!  I hope to get a chance to shop for and buy one this weekend. I'll let you all know what I get. I'm getting excited and geared up for my first attempt at a model in many years. I'm sure I will make a mess of it! LOL

Regards,

Jeff C.

I have been slowwwwly moving up the food chain of airbrushes. When I first got back in 12+ years ago, I picked up one of those Testors plastic body jobs with 0 adjustment. (Although I found you could make slight changes depending on how tight or loose to screwed the paint jar in !) I still bring this out sometimes if I'm airbrushing a clear coat or Future, etc.

I've since bought a Badger 150, single action, using one of those wonderful 50% coupons at Michael's. Still not at the high end, but it does what I need it to, is easy to maintain, and parts can be found easily, if ever needed.

Hey Gang.

A lot of the guys here have said it correctly.  It's just practice, practice, practice. 

Now, as for a starter airbrush.  I came across one due to an article in an airbrushing magazine by an airbrush artist in my town.  It is a double action airbrush that can do pencil thin lines to a variety of wide spray.  Not large areas but perfect for the modeler.   It can be found at your local or online Harbor Freight Store.  It is the Central Pnumatic Deluxe Airbrush kit.  It has both syphin and gravity feed.  In the magazine article, it was said to be designed off of the Iwata.   It cost only $15 USD.  I got one of these airbrushes and love it with the detail work I can do with it.  From models to doing motorcycle parts.  I know, I know, some will say it is too good to be true.  What I can do is reference the magazine article and page if you don't beleive me.  The artist that wrote the article (Chris MacMahn of Aero Grafix) also uses it for his line of work.  He uses all kinds of airbrushes from Pasche, Iwata, etc.   I know we are all feeling the economic pinch.  I promise, that this will not only fit your buget, but you will be more than happy with the results.

If you have any questions, feel free to drop me an email.  johneagle777@yahoo.com

Cheers

John (Ohio, USA)

Aeromedical:

Do you mean this Harbor Freight airbrush?  If so, it doesn't have gravity feed ability.  It will do fine lines, but it has fairly narrow coverage.  But, it's wide enough for most modeling purposes.

Don

Hi Don,

My bad.  Wrong use of term.  Not gravity feed.  I was meaning the cup.  Duh!  Correct, it does not have a wide coverage but enough for modeling.  I'm happy with mine!

Cheers

Hi,

I too have only being modelling for about a year and a bit and totally love this hobby, I started and still have quite a cheap AB that I got from a web site called Everything airbrush, along with a good compressor, I only bought it to see how well I would cope with this new found hobby, and , I was quite surprised how well it went, having nearly finished a tamya d'antin pramac moto gp bike with my current AB, ( its a trigger gravity fed type ) Im really happy with the results, but as like you I did't want to bite off more than I could chew, and did not want to spend alot of money finding that it was going to be an impossible task, but now I totally agree, and wish I done at the start, bought a double action and a good quality one that I will know that it will probably last a life time and got to grips with the techniques of a double action.

I think now reading all the other post, that I will probably go for and Eclipse or an Revolution and and I'm sure after time the models will get better and better and airbrushing will be more of a joy rather than a " hope for the best " results

Aeromedical

Hey Gang.

 

A lot of the guys here have said it correctly.  It's just practice, practice, practice. 

Now, as for a starter airbrush.  I came across one due to an article in an airbrushing magazine by an airbrush artist in my town.  It is a double action airbrush that can do pencil thin lines to a variety of wide spray.  Not large areas but perfect for the modeler.   It can be found at your local or online Harbor Freight Store.  It is the Central Pnumatic Deluxe Airbrush kit.  It has both syphin and gravity feed.  In the magazine article, it was said to be designed off of the Iwata.   It cost only $15 USD.  I got one of these airbrushes and love it with the detail work I can do with it.  From models to doing motorcycle parts.  I know, I know, some will say it is too good to be true.  What I can do is reference the magazine article and page if you don't beleive me.  The artist that wrote the article (Chris MacMahn of Aero Grafix) also uses it for his line of work.  He uses all kinds of airbrushes from Pasche, Iwata, etc.   I know we are all feeling the economic pinch.  I promise, that this will not only fit your buget, but you will be more than happy with the results.

If you have any questions, feel free to drop me an email.  johneagle777@yahoo.com

Cheers

John (Ohio, USA)

I have to echo what was said above as I have been using Harbor Freights Delux Air Brush for 3 years with no trouble at all. It does have a fine pattern and will cover larger areas too with the air pressure bumped up a bit. I also use one of their air compressors too, I would recommend one with at least a 3 gallon tank. The whole set up, brush, hose and compressor was just under 100 bucks.

BaBill212

Hello Jeff

As Hercmech stated,, you are sure to get a number of opinions.

And,, here comes mine - - I started out with a single action Paashae H airbrush. I must also state this has been one of the most reliable units I have ever used. It is still my mainstay for airbrushing. Inexpensive and easy to use.

Good luck with whatever you choose....

Dittos

honestly $15 bucks for the harbor freight brush is very good deal. brush isn't that bad imo but i can't say anything about other brands and compare it to others due to the fact i haven't tried them out. 

i bought the iwata neo at hobby lobby thinking it was a good deal for an iwata product and the fact i was a beginner but after reading reviews i returned it the next day. 

harbor freight

-$15 for the dual action brush witch isn't plastic. 

-$7 for a 10 foot long hose

-$50 for a compressor with an air pressure regulator. also comes with a coil hose.

i picked up the other hose because im not a fan of the coil style hoses.