discussion I got a new airbrush!

[stona]

I've just received a brand spanking new Harder and Steenbeck Evolution airbrush. It's their so called 2 in 1 and comes with two nozzle/needle combinations (0.2mm and 0.4mm). I'm not really sure whether that's a bit of a gimmick or not, time will tell.



It's the first new airbrush I've had for well over twenty years! There's absolutely nothing wrong with my two Iwata brushes but I thought it was time to treat myself to something more modern.

I haven't had a chance to try it, but I've already taken it to bits (as you do) to see what's what and it's clearly a very well made and nicely engineered piece of kit. I'm looking forward to giving it a go!

 

[Ian M]

You will like it.
I splashed out on a CR+ a while back. Be very careful the tip or the 0.2 is very fine and fragil... ask me how i know...
The larger cup is handy for one colour/primer on a largish kit.
Look forwards to seeing what you can get out of it.

 

[Guest]

I've just received a brand spanking new Harder and Steenbeck Evolution airbrush. It's their so called 2 in 1 and comes with two nozzle/needle combinations (0.2mm and 0.4mm). I'm not really sure whether that's a bit of a gimmick or not, time will tell.



It's the first new airbrush I've had for well over twenty years! There's absolutely nothing wrong with my two Iwata brushes but I thought it was time to treat myself to something more modern.

I haven't had a chance to try it, but I've already taken it to bits (as you do) to see what's what and it's clearly a very well made and nicely engineered piece of kit. I'm looking forward to giving it a go!

Happy Birthday Steve, see my previous post in Birthdays !

 

[adt70hk]

You will like it.
I splashed out on a CR+ a while back. Be very careful the tip or the 0.2 is very fine and fragil... ask me how i know... :sad:
The larger cup is handy for one colour/primer on a largish kit.
Look forwards to seeing what you can get out of it.

So are the nozzles......

 

[Mr Bowcat]

Good choice, had my Evo ~5 years now, only had to replace one nozzle so far, but ended up odereing the V2 versions of both the .2 & .4.

.4 is good for priming larger areas quickly, but I find myself using the .2 most of the time.

 

[Andy T]

My H&S has been sat in a drawer for a while as I prefer trigger airbrushes but it's a very well made piece of kit. I like the fact that you can even use it "cupless", with a few drops of paint and nothing in your eye line for close detail.

Some (including me) find the trigger response a bit vague compared to Iwata but a chap I know has recently published a hack on his YouTube channel for that if you find it an issue: DredFX

 

[stona]

Good choice, had my Evo ~5 years now, only had to replace one nozzle so far, but ended up odereing the V2 versions of both the .2 & .4.

.4 is good for priming larger areas quickly, but I find myself using the .2 most of the time.

This has the V2 versions, though to be honest, I don't know what that means

 

[Mr Bowcat]

Yeah a new one will do, they came out a couple of years ago. Slightly different profile at the pointy end (more progressive) and easier to see size markings on the needles and nozzles

 

[stona]

I've had a go with it. Having nothing to spray I just wrote my name in various sizes and thicknesses on a sheet of paper and it seems to work very well.

I can't say that it's better or worse than the equivalent Iwata, they both do the same job very well, it's definitely newer though! I can see the old Eclipse being relegated to back up while I use this one.

 

[AlexBB]

I think you will find the Evolution a very good tool, in respect to H&S all of the main models use exactly the same Needle & Nozzle parts so in basic terms an Ultra will work / spray the same as a Infinty CR Plus, its just finish and build quality of the rest of the brush that varies through the ranges.

I find virtually no difference in performance between my Iwata HP-C and my H&S brushes, where I do find a significant difference is in the price of spares!! A replacement H&S Nozzle is 1/3 of the price of an Iwata nozzle!
Also I find the H&S brushes way easier to clean and strip almost fully with no tools..

You may find a worthy upgrade would be to change the air caps for the pinch tip versions (0.2 Assy part # 126923, 0.4 Ass part # 126793, about £20 each). These make bubbling in the cup and tip cleaning so much easier than the standard air cap assemblies fitted to the Evolution..

As noted above you can tweak the trigger response using 1 or 2 nozzle seals (123180) to get a tighter feel on the paint release point (search Dred FX on YouTube for his hack) though as a modeller you may find it better to drill or ream the seal bore out to 2.70/2.75mm, depending on what tools you have rather than using the die grinder bit as per how Dred FX does it...

Happy Spraying

 

[stillp]

I think the gap that Dred FX wants to remove with the Teflon seals is a design feature intended to ensure that the air is flowing before the needle maves back to allow paint to flow.
Pete

 

[Tim Marlow]

I think you will find the Evolution a very good tool, in respect to H&S all of the main models use exactly the same Needle & Nozzle parts so in basic terms an Ultra will work / spray the same as a Infinty CR Plus, its just finish and build quality of the rest of the brush that varies through the ranges.

I find virtually no difference in performance between my Iwata HP-C and my H&S brushes, where I do find a significant difference is in the price of spares!! A replacement H&S Nozzle is 1/3 of the price of an Iwata nozzle!
Also I find the H&S brushes way easier to clean and strip almost fully with no tools..

You may find a worthy upgrade would be to change the air caps for the pinch tip versions (0.2 Assy part # 126923, 0.4 Ass part # 126793, about £20 each). These make bubbling in the cup and tip cleaning so much easier than the standard air cap assemblies fitted to the Evolution..

As noted above you can tweak the trigger response using 1 or 2 nozzle seals (123180) to get a tighter feel on the paint release point (search Dred FX on YouTube for his hack) though as a modeller you may find it better to drill or ream the seal bore out to 2.70/2.75mm, depending on what tools you have rather than using the die grinder bit as per how Dred FX does it...

Happy Spraying

Interesting. I’ve never needed tools to strip my hot rodded Iwatta eclipse SBS. Hand tight is more than good enough for the nozzle cap, even though a spanner is included. It has a good compliant O ring so doesn’t need tightening like an engine head bolt. I do wonder occasionally if the problems sometimes seen come from the overzealous use of tools?

 

[John]

This has the V2 versions, though to be honest, I don't know what that means

on the needles and nozzles you have for example 2 bands to show it’s 0.2mm, makes no difference to how it works, and V1 & V2 will work in any airbrush.

 

[KarlW]

The v2 nozzles have ID banding so you can play Mikado with them.
The most important bit though is the shape of the needle tip, it has a chamfer to it which helps with paint shedding and, allegedly, preventing "dry tip".

 

[AlexBB]

I’ve never needed tools to strip my hot rodded Iwatta eclipse SBS. Hand tight is more than good enough for the nozzle cap

Hi Tim,
The SBS is different to the HP-C+. They have different designs of how the nozzle is installed into the body.

On your SBS the nozzle assembly complete 16042 which has taper on it where it seats into the body is held in place by the cap 16031, unless it's really tight the cap as you say on these can easily be removed by hand, and then the nozzle just falls out or if not just needs a slight press to the side to remove for cleaning.

On the HP-C+ the nozzle is screwed into the body of the airbrush and is very small, the cap 11403 screws on afterwards and does not contact the nozzle. The nozzle needs the special tool to remove and insert (unless you have Micro Fingers!! lol). Iwata state to insert by hand then 'slightly tighten' with the tool...it should NOT be overtightened.. Its common I see posts from people who have managed to snap these off with being only a little over zealous!
I am used to dealing with very very small screw threads in instrumentation from when I was at work but even I find it a little fiddly now I am older..

I do like the H&S design with the nozzle fitment and seal, I have an Ultra I have had for over 14 years I use on a regular basis and has had several new nozzles and in all that time I have had no issues with wear on the body where the nozzle seal sits.

 

[Allen Dewire]

Happy Birthday Steve! I take it the H+S was a pressie to yourself, eh. Glad to see it works well for you. I have an Iwata Eclipse SBS I bought about a year ago and am too scared to use it. Sounds stupid, but I'm afraid I'll break it or not clean it properly or something. I still use my about 30 year old Aztek dual action for my hissy work. Everything is original and I even bought a new spray needle/nozzle for it, but never used it either. The Eclipse will go into action shortly, after I practice a little with it though. I need to spray a 7 color mottled camo on my Halberstadt fuselage and the old Aztek ain't gonna cut it I'm afraid...

Prost
Allen

 

[Tim Marlow]

Hi Alex, didn’t realise the HP-C + nozzle was that fiddly to assemble.…..seems quite a complex arrangement that’s more attuned to fine art than model making. I assume it gives slightly better alignment so potentially allows a more refined spray pattern.
It’s a truism though, give some blokes a spanner and they will break off a bolt head
I don’t seem to have come across another person using the SBS. I’ve had it for a good ten years I think, and only ever needed to replace one needle due to ham fisted handling. It is very robust, extremely easy to clean, yet capable of very fine work if needed. No idea why it isn’t more popular?
Never tried an H and S brush….maybe one day……sounds good.

 

[Tim Marlow]

Happy Birthday Steve! I take it the H+S was a pressie to yourself, eh. Glad to see it works well for you. I have an Iwata Eclipse SBS I bought about a year ago and am too scared to use it. Sounds stupid, but I'm afraid I'll break it or not clean it properly or something. I still use my about 30 year old Aztek dual action for my hissy work. Everything is original and I even bought a new spray needle/nozzle for it, but never used it either. The Eclipse will go into action shortly, after I practice a little with it though. I need to spray a 7 color mottled camo on my Halberstadt fuselage and the old Aztek ain't gonna cut it I'm afraid...

Prost
Allen

Turn me into a liar why dont you Allen…..I typed up I didn’t know another SBS owner, and you posted this just as I hit the go button…..

 

[Tim Marlow]

Happy Birthday Steve! I take it the H+S was a pressie to yourself, eh. Glad to see it works well for you. I have an Iwata Eclipse SBS I bought about a year ago and am too scared to use it. Sounds stupid, but I'm afraid I'll break it or not clean it properly or something. I still use my about 30 year old Aztek dual action for my hissy work. Everything is original and I even bought a new spray needle/nozzle for it, but never used it either. The Eclipse will go into action shortly, after I practice a little with it though. I need to spray a 7 color mottled camo on my Halberstadt fuselage and the old Aztek ain't gonna cut it I'm afraid...

Prost
Allen

It’s a great brush mate. Very easy to use and clean…..did you see my posting of a while back….
https://www.scale-models.co.uk/threads/hot-rod-iwatta-airbrush.37841/

 

[Allen Dewire]

Sorry Tim, I've never used it though, so you are correct in your post...