Good Airbrush for about $150-$200??

For $150-$200 you have a lot of choices. I prefer Badgers, but that price range opens up a lot of choices. Check:
Dixie Art at http://www.dixieart.com/Dixie_Art_Supplies_Airbrush_Main_Page.html
Bear Air at http://www.bearair.com/
and take a look at their prices and offerings.

What airbrush do you have now? What kind of paint are you using, how do you thin it, what pressure do you spray at? You may have paint drying at the nozzle that is causing your splattering or you may have a split nozzle.

Check out the Iwata line of airbrushes. At the price range you suggest, the HP and the Eclipse line are in the range. I just love my Iwata's.

Hmm, I'll have to check it out..

QUOTE: I just love my Iwata's

i have an omni 5000, iwata hp-cs, and an iwata hp-c.
if i had the to make a decision on which airbrush to choose based on my current knowlege straight out of the box from the dealership, i would choose the hp-cs or whatever version of eclipse that you prefer. i just love gravity feeds.
now, if you dont want to spend over $100 on just the airbrush itself, i would go with the omni line of ab. i can achieve the same line with the omni that i can with the iwata brushes, but at a bargain barn price of $67 from dixieart. plus, the parts for the omni are much cheaper than iwata parts. the omni 5000 is easier to clean as well. those very, very small nozzles that iwata uses are a little of a pain to clean. but with any airbrush purchase, i also recommend buying the airbrush cleaning brush set which you can reach every nook and cranny of an airbrush with with no lint or fuzz coming off inside your ab. plus, they are solvent proof (even laquer thinner wont ruin them). with all of the above said, i just choose iwata because they are just...............well............dripping with quality. i like the wieght of the airbrush and the way it feels in my hand. the eclipse has the smoother trigger of the 3 above mentioned. it all depends on you budget as to what you need to buy along with your airbrush. if you decide to mail order the brush, dont forget to look for adapters for the specific brush you buy to your current brand of hose (if you have a hose ofcourse). hope this helps my friend. happy shopping. man, i love the excitement and anticipation of shopping for a new airbrush.

with all that said, you may need to tell what airbrush you have now and maybe some of these guru's on this forum can walk you through some troubleshooting and try to get your current airbrush up and running. then, you could take that cash and buy some more armor!! later.

QUOTE: Originally posted by Abastyr What is a good airbrush for around 150-200 USD? Any recomendations? I do Armor modelling, and mainly want it to paint small narrow camoflage patterns..

Why so much money? The only airbrushes that overpriced are the Iwatas.
I say buy an Omni 4000 and with the left over money you can buy a couple of armor models.

Mike

HAHA!!! I have a 141 rating on Ebay...every point from Buying models (I guess you could have worse addictions)...I have a billion kits in the basement (more like 200), if I bought any more my wife will kill me...but a new airbrush won't :)

abastyr

For $150 I could get 2 super airbrushes. My hobby dealer arranged a Badger Anthem (complete set with lots of accessories) for me for less thant $80 + tax.

how this for 150: 3 badger anthems. 49 each at coast.

or i would just spend the money on an iwata and a new compressor, spirnt/smart/power jet

People laugh at the extra quality, better fit of parts and the longevity of the Iwata airbrush that cost a little more when you first buy it. I have an Iwata that I bought in 1983 and I've never had to replace a part on it. So defer the price of the AB over the years I've used it and you'll see the Iwata is quite a bargain. Let's see, $80 for the original price of the Iwata HP-C divided by 20 years makes it a cost of $4 a year and getting cheaper the more years I use it. So the Iwata ends up being a quality, well-balanced, tight fitting and beautiful AB for a bargain. And I've enjoyed the quality of the AB all those years.

Other people might laugh at the extra cost of an Iwata but you don't even have to pay extra money for the Iwata quality if you consider buying an Iwata HP-CR Revolution. It is in the same price class as the lesser ABs but has the better Iwata quality fit and balance.

Well said roosterfish. We have the same point of View. I prefer to spend extra money to buy high quality airbrush since the reasoning for my part is we dont buy airbrush every year but use one for a long time. What I cant understand is some of my friends keep on telling me that the price I pay for my HP-C is that I can buy more tools and models but my point of view is if we spend a lot of buying new kits, why cant we buy a high quality airbrush and compressor for one time only.

they just jealous sigman!!

i say get a hp-c. its iwata;s most popular line

QUOTE: Originally posted by 1337 i say get a hp-c. its iwata;s most popular line

And don't forget, the most versatile too.

Hey Saltydog, why did u buy and eclipse HP-CS if you already have and HP-C? What gives?

QUOTE: Originally posted by 1337 how this for 150: 3 badger anthems. 49 each at coast. or i would just spend the money on an iwata and a new compressor, spirnt/smart/power jet

or half a Custom Micron, but you must chose what half before they cut it at the factory.

QUOTE: Originally posted by saltydog they just jealous sigman!!

Jealous? There is nothing to be jealous of.

Mike

hmmm... how about the working half of the custom micron. i mean the whole thing minus the rear handle.. preset handles: $40

So, I just bought an Iwata HP-CH Airbrush. What are your thoughts on that one?

yeah the ch is an excellent airbrush! if i had the money i would buy one. the MAC valve lets you control air valve, the thing looks l33t, and its excellent in all catigorys. good choice

1337

QUOTE: Originally posted by Abastyr So, I just bought an Iwata HP-CH Airbrush. What are your thoughts on that one?

It is an excellent airbrush but I would say it is overkill for modeling.

Mike

QUOTE: It is an excellent airbrush but I would say it is overkill for modeling.

Good, that way if my painting still comes out junky, i'll know it's me, and not my current airbrush.

Also, My fiance can use it too for painting other stuff...that way she won't mind that I paid $165 for it..

abastyr

QUOTE: Hey Saltydog, why did u buy and eclipse HP-CS if you already have and HP-C? What gives?

just cause i could!! im kind of an airbrush junkie, i just like to try out things. im already thinking of purchasing an iwata revolution. the hp-c is my favorite airbrush.

QUOTE: Jealous? There is nothing to be jealous of.

how do you know? you ever tried one? i was just pokin' a little fun is all.

Abastyr, you are going to like your Iwata so much you will caress it after your first paint session. Congratulations on a fine choice for an airbrush. With a .3 tip on the AB make sure you keep the paint thin so it doesn't clog the tip. You'll find the airbrush paints very thin, beautiful and precise lines.

That airbrush will last you a lifetime.

QUOTE: Originally posted by saltydog how do you know? you ever tried one? i was just pokin' a little fun is all.

I know you were just kidding brother.

I may try one some day but I will continue to buy and support American made airbrushes and other products as they are all slowly being manufactured in other parts of the world which is sad.

Mike

i know where ya comin' my friend. nothin' wrong with buying american made. even though toyota is coming out with a full size truck, you'll never get me out of a chevy unless they just stop making them. but when it comes to tools, and this is because i use a vast array of tools in the line of work im in, i'm gonna get the tool that performs the particular task it was designed to perform with the greatest efficiency, quality of performance, ease of operation, comfort and affordability comes in last. i dont care how good a man is at a particular trade, he cant do it without quality tools period. with that said, i dont give a second glance as to where a tool was made if my research of said tool points to it as the top of the line in durability and performance. thats what my research of the iwata airbrush brought forth and that is what i based my decision to purchase on. im not disappointed. thats my 2 cents. later.

you mean you've never tried an iwata

lol good way to blame yourself, but just thin 60:40 thinner: paint and you should be fine, esp @ 15psi

Originally posted by saltydog [i dont give a second glance as to where a tool was made if my research of said tool points to it as the top of the line in durability and performance.]+ Hey saltdog, I think we're on the same waaaavelenght. I dont care where a thing is made coz I care about quality and aftersales service bcoz it is my mpney that is being spent. Also, the HP-C is my favorite airbrush. Reply Edit saltydog Member since July 2003 From: Lower Alabama Posted by saltydog on Saturday, April 17, 2004 11:55 PM QUOTE: Also, the HP-C is my favorite airbrush i have the .4mm needle/nozzle conversion kit for my hp-c and love this set up. i found it difficult to achieve the lines im looking for with the .3mm n/n combo. how does yours perform? i do cammo quite a bit so i'm very picky about the fine line thing. the larger the n/n combo the better it gets in my humble opinion. thats why i'd like to try the revolution as it has the .5mm n/n combo. later. Chris The Origins of Murphy's Law: "In the begginning there was nothing, and it exploded."!!! _________ chris Reply Anonymous Member since November 2005 Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, April 18, 2004 5:36 AM QUOTE: Originally posted by saltydog QUOTE: Also, the HP-C is my favorite airbrush i have the .4mm needle/nozzle conversion kit for my hp-c and love this set up. i found it difficult to achieve the lines im looking for with the .3mm n/n combo. how does yours perform? i do cammo quite a bit so i'm very picky about the fine line thing. the larger the n/n combo the better it gets in my humble opinion. thats why i'd like to try the revolution as it has the .5mm n/n combo. later. Saltydog, dunno yet since I have not tried it on small like camouflage. I have the .3mm and will let you know as soon I try it. Reply Edit 123 JOIN OUR COMMUNITY! Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account. Login Register SEARCH FORUMS FREE NEWSLETTER SIGN UP By signing up you may also receive reader surveys and occasional special offers. We do not sell, rent or trade our email lists. View our Privacy Policy. FORUMS PRODUCT REVIEWS READER GALLERY HOW TO VIDEOS SHOP ABOUT US FREE MONTHLY NEWSLETTER SIGN UP By signing up you may also receive reader surveys and occasional special offers. We do not sell, rent or trade our email lists. View our Privacy Policy. More great sites from Kalmbach Media Terms Of Use | Privacy Policy | Copyright Policy