Airbrush help.. please.

[Guest]

Hello,

New to modeling and my son and I are very eager to get into it. We have been to what little clubs we have around our area in Kansas and have decided we would like to get into airbrushing with the models. It seems to do such a nicer job.

Our dilema is deciding on a brand and here in Kansas we can't get a single good recommendation. Some say Badger, others say Pasche and it becomes a big political battle. I posted on Fine Scale Modeller site and got a similar response so my wife's father suggested posting here.

So here I am, the one thing I do know is we want bottom feed (think thats what the term is). however evertyhing else is up in arms on brand and model.

What we will be painting is 1/35th and 1/48th scale WWII airplanes and tanks and we like using Tamiya paints..well thats all we have used so far and we like them.

Could any of you suggest a make and model or suggest a brand for me and my son?

Thanks for your time.

[Ian M]

Hmm That is the $60,000 question.

I guess that the best start would be What can you get local, then if you are OK with buying over the internet...

I would think that Badger are quite up front in the USA so the best idea would be find a good stockist and see what they have. Feel them, hold them see how the balance feels.

Now you say bottom feed, (siphon) but I will say that a top feed or Gravity feed might be better. Easy to use and easier to clean and use. IMHO. I find that the paint cup on a siphon type gets in the way and worse can fall or get knocked off. Been there done that lol.

I would suggest a mid range gravity feed Badger with a double action.

Ian M

[Guest]

Started Alexander with poor advice with a bottom feed. Yucks & more yucks. So many disadvantages with the bottom feed.

As Ian has said easier to clean. With gravity feed you can load paint mix & thin straight into a cup & be airbrushing in seconds. Bottom feed everything has to be done before loading the bottom feed bottle onto the brush. You will also use more paint. Plus if you run out of paint with a gravity feed you just pour in more paint in seconds. Bottom feed dismantle top up then reassemble. If you are in a session with different colours to airbrush. Gravity feed wash out the cup with airbrush cleaner then load into the cup the new colour. Dead easy stuff.

I use a Harder & Steenbeck double action. Do not let any one persuade you to go for single action you will regret the decision. I did & threw away my money. Double or dual action gives you control over the amount of paint spewing out of the airbrush. Single action only gives a specified amount. The double action is very simple & not complicated as some times written about.

Laurie

[stona]

First I heartily second the opinions above regarding single/double action and gravity feed. Get a double action,gravity feed brush.

As for the brand,it's like asking someone if they prefer an Audi to a BMW or Ford to Toyota. What you get is opinions,everyone has their favourite. The bottom line is that any decent brand mid range airbrush is adequate for typical modellers.

I use Iwata and H+S but others will prefer something else.

Cheers

Steve

[Guest]

As stona said, "others will prefer something else." As everyone here has said so far, and I agree, a gravity fed airbrush is the way to go. Easy cleanup and easy switching of colors are the biggest advantage. I have used a bottom feed Paasche VL airbrush and always thought I liked it, until I bought the Badger Patriot 105. Cost me just over $100/CDN but it was well worth it. I also have a Badger Renegade Velocity, which I don't use because I don't like the action on it, but Badger was good enough to take it back and go over it to see what was wrong with it. They tweaked it and it seems smoother, but still not to my liking. Badger had great service and it cost me nothing but the shipping to get it to them.