discussion Airbrush Recommendations

[Guest]

I've been on the look out for a new airbrush recently but i have little knowledge in this area.What brand or model of brush would you guys recommend,my budget is around $200 but i'll take any recommendation given.

 

[Robert1968]

Hi Luke


Best thing at the moment is scroll through the forum down to ( Airbrush ) and look in there as this is a big talk and speciality and every modeller likes a differant brand/ type/ needle size etc etc


John at SMS does sell a very good A/b at a reasonable price which is very good for a lot of tasks so do look him up too. Not sure on postage.


I prefer gravity fed A/b and the two I have are perfect for my work and I'm no expert. I like the Iwata range personally but there are others as good if not better out there


If it's your first AB then I suggest a cheaper version than spending heaps on a all singing all dancing but this is a personal choice.


Hope I've helped in a little way


There are a lot of guys on here that can give lots of advice better than I


Regards


Robert

 

[Guest]

Hi Luke
Best thing at the moment is scroll through the forum down to ( Airbrush ) and look in there as this is a big talk and speciality and every modeller likes a differant brand/ type/ needle size etc etc


John at SMS does sell a very good A/b at a reasonable price which is very good for a lot of tasks so do look him up too. Not sure on postage.


I prefer gravity fed A/b and the two I have are perfect for my work and I'm no expert. I like the Iwata range personally but there are others as good if not better out there


If it's your first AB then I suggest a cheaper version than spending heaps on a all singing all dancing but this is a personal choice.


Hope I've helped in a little way


There are a lot of guys on here that can give lots of advice better than I


Regards


Robert

Thanks for the info Robert i'll be sure to check out the airbrush forums

 

[john i am]

I use iwata tr2 and tr0 for finer detailing work these are both side gravity fed brushes which I'd highly recommend to anyone. When I first started out I wasted lots of money on cheaper Chinese brands.


These now sit on the naughty shelf The link below might be of some assistance but good luck with your choices.


http://www.scale-models.co.uk/threads/purchasing-a-new-airbrush-kit.30413/

 

[Guest]

It is horses for courses, my tale is the opposite of yours John. My H&S ultra, around £60 is on the naughty shelf and I am doing everything with one that cost £15.99 of Scale Model Shop with no problems at all.


There is no definitive answer I am afraid. Like a lot of modelling related things, there is a big element of 'suck it and see'

 

[Guest]

I bought a Harder and Steenbeck CR2+ (0.4 mm nozzle size) AB about 3 years ago, costing about £160 (same price today, roughly). It is beautifully made and has performed very well. In particular, the nozzle cap is simply screwed on and off, without the need for a spanner. I find it easy to clean. The result is a smooth clean finish. It is of the gravity fed type (paint reservoir above the nozzle) which many recommend). It took me some time and a lot of practice to learn how to airbrush. Oddly, it came alright after a few months without my knowing why. Unconscious learning I suppose. Practiuce on 2 litre lemonade bottles from ASDA or Sainsbuty's (in the UK), the type with a smooth surface. No need to prime for practicing. I have had blocking problems but, along with a thread on this forum, the conclusion seems to be that the paint is usually at fault, due to lumps.


It is always difficult to decide whether to buy cheap, get experience and trade up; or search, then buy expensive in thee hope that it was the right choice. Above all: practice, persist and don't give up.

 

[Guest]

I use the Iwata Eclipse Hp CS for menial, normal modelling, but use the Hi Line HP CH for fine work, occasionally with a 0.2mm needle and nozzle for fine work on luftwaffe nightfighter camo patterns


If I were you, I would get an eclipse, use that for a year, then buy an HP CH if doing very hard patterns such as the projects pictured that I have done, as I found they were quite intense.


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[Snowman]

I use the Iwata Eclipse Hp CS

If you already have a compressor, then your choice is very wide, but if you still need to factor in a compressor + sundries - this will then compress your actual budget for airbrush itself (pls forgive the unintended pun) which will limit your choice.


Take your time and weigh up all the pro's and cons - remember that it will take a while to get use to the AB in terms of application and maintenance.

 

[dave]

An airbrush is very subjective.


As a basis look for a gravity fed, double action air brush and at least  0.2mm needle and nozzle , if only one I would look at a 0.35 or 0.4 to start. (the bigger nozzle makes it more difficult to do fine detail but will be more forgiving in terms of the paint)


Iwata and H&S both have their adherents, likewise cheap versus expensive brushes.


If you do need a compressor as well,  there are some reasonable sets out there, but look for a compressor with a tank.


For what it is worth I think the very cheap airbrushes tend to be lower quality and more likely to have problems, and as a beginner it can be very difficult to work out if it is you or the airbrush that is the problem.  That is not to say you cannot get a cheap airbrush that works really well and I know some people have had problems with expensive brushes.


But as snowman said, read around there are lots of threads just on this site, tutorial videos on you tube etc. weigh up the pros and cons and what you want to do with the brush.

 

[colin m]

As a basis look for a gravity fed, double action air brush

+ 1. There are a few big brands to choose from, and some smaller, but I would agree with Dave, gravity fed and double action.

 

[Guest]

Harder and steenbeck is a quality airbrush. I have the the CR 2 +ultra and cant fault the quality or performance.


It feels very comfortable in my hand and the fine control that I have is top notch.


At the end of the day they all have pros and cons but buy the best that you can comfortably afford and stick with it.


Get to know its limits and caperbillities but most of all enjoy your using it.

 

[Guest]

If you already have a compressor, then your choice is very wide, but if you still need to factor in a compressor + sundries - this will then compress your actual budget for airbrush itself (pls forgive the unintended pun) which will limit your choice.


Take your time and weigh up all the pro's and cons - remember that it will take a while to get use to the AB in terms of application and maintenance.

agreed, but this is on the assumption the person already has a compressor with a water trap and psi gauge