Bare necessities

The first 8 things in your list usually come with the airbrush when you buy a set. It looks like you're shopping in parts sections rather than for whole airbrushes. Buy a whole airbrush. Most likely, there will be a set that also has an air hose with it. If they say you can get fine, medium or heavy nozzles, get medium and consider the fine one as a bonus. You might never use the fine head assembly because these mediums can shoot really tiny lines.

If you get a gravity feed, you don't have to worry about those bottles & siphon caps at all. But, even if you do want a siphon feed, all the major ones have full sets that come with the right bottles & caps.

Truthfully, you can cut down on stuff if you get a double action gravity feed. You can avoid buying bottles and siphon caps and all that, and there won't be a learning curve when you do upgrade to double actionn later. You'll find the cup doesn't interfere with your vision or balance or anything like that. Gravity feeds are much easier to clean in my experience as well, especially since you don't have to clean the siphons or lids or jars. The whole color cup can be cleaned in less than a minute.

You'll need some kind of an air source too, but you don't necessarily have to grab a comressor just yet. You can get an air tank and regulator, and just fill that up at the local gas station. A compressor would be your best bet though. I wouldn't mess with compressed air cans.

You might need an adaptor or two to make sure your hose fits the connections. You'll need stuff to clean the brush with for sure, some paper towels, q-tips, pipe cleaners should work for a while, airbrush cleaning brushes are much better, you can get a great set at DixieArt for about 20 bucks. You'll also need some solvent for cleaning the brush, whatever you use to thin your paints will work just fine, but you'll want more of it.

I guess my list would look like this:

One double action gravity feed airbrush.
One hose.
One air source; tank or compressor.
Cleaning supplies.

like maddafinga said, go straight for double action.

You may need a moisture trap for your compressor as well.

The only thing I would add to the list are pipe cleaners - they are invaluable for cleaning tight places without causing damage.

QUOTE: Originally posted by Hatewall You may need a moisture trap for your compressor as well.

I agree but scratch out the word "may" and replace it with "definitely".
When your AB starts spitin water and ruining paint work from the condensation in the hose your going to get upset .

hmm, I run mine without a moisture trap. Should I be very very scared?

QUOTE: Originally posted by Tankmaster7 hmm, I run mine without a moisture trap. Should I be very very scared?

What do you use for an airsource Tankmaster7?

I beam, I use a testors blue ice mini compressor.

Tanky do you primarily use acrylics or enamel / laquer? The problem of moisture in the line is, I think, much less critical with acrylics than with enamel or laquer because most acrylics are either water based or water soluble. The moisture in the line gets atomized right along with the paint, but in the case of most acrylics it just mixes in. The carrier in enamel and laquer is not water soluble, so the moisture cannot mix in. When it hits the surface a small unpainted dot will appear where the moisture was.

A moisture trap is always a good idea but if you use primarily enamel or laquer it is even more so. I usually collect about an ounce of water in my moisture trap after a day of spraying.

hmmm. Scott, I try to use enamels whenever I can, because I like them better, but I have just finished a bout of using acrylics. I USUALLY (KNOCK ON WOOD KNOCK ON WOOD) don't have a problem with enamels either. I live in NY so it's not terribly humid up here.

OK so:
double action grav. feed
all the stuff that comes with the AB
hose
compressor (if I get the blue ice and an testors brush, i wouldn't need an adaptor, right?)
moisture trap (maybe)
cleaning stuff (would normal child's toy pipe cleaners work? also, testors enamel thinner would be fine for cleaning airbrush [if i had just used enamels, of course]?)

EDIT: on second thoughs, the double actions seem to be more on the expensive side.
Unless someone could give me an example of a cheap one:
how does the A320 Internal-Mix Single Action sound?

well, of course double actions are more expensive, because they're better. Lissen up mate, I say, the best single action out there is the passche H. Never used it meself, but numerouse respectable personages have utilized it to considerable effect. Now, the azteks, which are quite a respectable line, have some cleaning issues, and has attracted some detramental comments from other respectable peronages, including myself. They are double actions though. Well, some of them are. the a320 is clearly a single action. it should do ya fine assuming you're mainly a mask and sprayer as opposed to a freehander.

H Single Action Hobby Kit
by Paasche Airbrush Comp.
That's it, right? It's fairly cheap, which is good for. me.
One question, however: It comes with a 6' HP-1/8" Air Hose. how would that work with the blue ice compressor (1/4 NPT airhose fitting)?

Wait: i found this:
which one looks better for a beginner:
http://www.hobbylinc.com/htm/pas/pash-set.htm
http://www.hobbylinc.com/htm/pas/pash-card.htm
http://www.hobbylinc.com/htm/pas/pas2000h.htm

I'm thinking the first one. a little more expensive, but it comes with lots of stuff.

http://www.hobbylinc.com/htm/pas/pasmt.htm - how is this for a moiture trap?

QUOTE: Originally posted by Comrade Sergei OK so: double action grav. feed all the stuff that comes with the AB hose compressor (if I get the blue ice and an testors brush, i wouldn't need an adaptor, right?) moisture trap (maybe) cleaning stuff (would normal child's toy pipe cleaners work? also, testors enamel thinner would be fine for cleaning airbrush [if i had just used enamels, of course]?) EDIT: on second thoughs, the double actions seem to be more on the expensive side. Unless someone could give me an example of a cheap one: how does the A320 Internal-Mix Single Action sound?

The Badger 100 lg and the Iwate Revolution CR are both double action gravity feed brushes, and both are less than 70 bucks. I bet you could find one of the Peak airbrushes at Bear Air for less than 70 as well. The Peak airbrushes are made by the factory that makes Iwata and should be of excellent quality as well. I personally own a Revolution and a 100LG (I use the LG for everything anymore though) and both are really excellent brushes that can do anything you ask of them.

In all liklihood, you'll still need an adaptor, but don't worry, you can get one at any hardware store, and they're less than 50 cents.

I used to have the Aztek A320, it was my first airbrush and I grew to hate it. It was really a bear to clean and eventually it wouldn't spray consistantly at all. It would spray fine for a minute, and not spray at all for a minute, then repeat the process. Very frustrating stuff. When it did spray though, it was just fine. You'll end up spending more money on tips than you would if you just bought a 100LG or a Revolution though.

Think about that one for a minute, that's what I call a false economy. You save a little bit of money on the brush, then end up spending more down the line on parts to keep it running that if you'd just bought the better product in the first place. Air cannisters seem cheaper at first, but after you've bought a dozen of them, and that doesn't take long, you'll have been ahead to buy an compressor anyway. Just something to think about.

Yeah, madda's right. But I still think (mulish expression on face) that the paasche H would be a good choice. It can spray a pretty fine line too I here.

Oh, and BTW, sergei, since I know you personally, that moisture trap is beyond what you are gonna want to do. it involves cutting the airhose open and then putting the moisture trap in.

QUOTE: Originally posted by Tankmaster7 Yeah, madda's right. But I still think (mulish expression on face) that the paasche H would be a good choice. It can spray a pretty fine line too I here.

Actually, I'm sure the H would be a fine airbrush, I just think that for ease of cleaning and versatility he'd be ahead to pick up a double action gravity feed. That said, I've never heard anything but good about the H and several people on here swear by them. I think that most airbrushes that are well made are worth having, after a certain quality level, it all comes down to preference. Personally, I really really love my 100 LG.

yep. I'm in love with my 155 anthem too.

I think the H is an excellent choice for someone starting out. Although single-action, I don't think that it is particularly limiting. It's fine line capability is sufficient for almost any modelling situations.

For one starting out, I do recommend the H-Set, which gives you 3 different sized tips, large and small bottles, and extra bottle, color cup, and a good hose. About all you need then is a compressor with regulator and moisture trap.

For prices, check out Dixie-Ar, $49.95 with free shipping.

http://www.dixieart.com/HSet.html

http://www.airbrush-depot.com/scripts/depot.exe?pgm=abpaakits.bbx

Nice site, woodbeck! Just one question: they have those compressors with or without tanks. what's the difference. Correct me if i'm wrong, but the compressor still works fine without a tank, right? Cuz i don't got no $216 !

Maddafinga, the only problem I can see with the Badger 100 lg is that I can't seem to find it in any site that also stocks cheap compressors. I'd like to buy the two together to save on S&H costs.
But I did find this awsome german site. For you german language fans out there, here's a new word: Airbrush-Kompressoren. So like the germans to call everything what it actually is. For instance: Hibernation is "winterschlaft" or "Winter sleep"

Sears and Home Depot both currently have small compressors with tanks for under $100. I'm just saying that you don't have to ship one. It's likely that you can find one at a tool store nearby.

well the only reason to get a tank with your comp is to have a study non pulsing airsupply. Ifyou get a single piston or diaphram type compressor with a regulator and moisture trap you wont get any pulsating. If you go directly from the piston or diaphram youll get pulsing and be a slave to whatever psi it is rated at. So no you dont need a tank but they are sure nice. I use a mini blue compressor which is of the diaphram type with a good regulator and moistior trap and I have no problems what so ever

a major reason for a tank: a lot less time with the motor running. 2.6 gallons gives me a whole lot of airbrush time without having to hear a motor running. Less time with the motor running also means longer compressor life.

Diaphragms that do not have auto shutoff run constantly and all of that air is let loose through a bleeder. It's wasting operation time to run an already short-life motor to supply airflow that serves no purpose, while tank compressors waste nothing because all of its air waits until you push the airbrush's trigger.

urgh..pulsing airflow.. sounds despicable. So many things to buy. Suddenly $200 seems like nothing. Maybe I'll just get the airbrush and a propellent can, and get the compressor a little later. How long do propellent cans last ?(9 oz or something like that)

And about the badger 100 lg:
It comes in fine, medium, and heavy. which would you recomend for general paining (both wide area coverage and (when I get there) camouflage patterns. (medium, right?)

and for the compressor:
If I buy one from home depot or something, what PSI would you recommend?

compresors don't come in set PSI levels! they give what they give, no more and for less you need a regulator.

The Badger 100... now you're lookin' at impressive airbrushes Definitely get the medium head assembly for that one. It's an illustrator airbrush. My guess is that the 100 medium will make you feel like you'll never need the fine head assembly.

These days, every compressor worth anything comes with adjustable psi with a visible gauge. Gravity airbrush-using model builders are usually airbrushing at 10 to 20 psi.

This is all safely under the $200 budget. I'm not kidding. A Badger 100 for about $65 and a 2 gallon hardware compressor for about $90. No problem. You've still got a few bucks left over to add a moisture trap.

QUOTE: Originally posted by jdavidb This is all safely under the $200 budget. I'm not kidding. A Badger 100 for about $65 and a 2 gallon hardware compressor for about $90. No problem. You've still got a few bucks left over to add a moisture trap.

I agree totally. Just took a pic of my setup. Labeled too Total price: $160. The moisture trap is a cheapie $5 but it does the job.

Decent set up there I-beam... whats the decibels on that one.