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Airbrush advice wanted


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Hi guys,

 

I'm thinking about buying a badger as I've heard they are the best (I can use my mates compressor) however I have no idea as to the validity of this assumption, or the actual model I'd need.

 

What I'd like is a discussion from experienced folks about which airbrush they recommend on the basis of:

 

a) it's limitations

:D user friendliness (including ease of cleaning)

c) it's cost

 

NB I do understand the difference between double and single action, but feel free to talk about this where it becomes relevant.

 

Cheers,

 

Jim

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Its very much horses for courses and what you want to do with it.

 

The best on the market from my point of view are Harder and Steenbeck brushes.

 

But then my current rig is 2 unbranded double action airbrushes. One gravity fed .2mm for smaller work and one suction fed .35mm for larger base colouring.

 

Badger are a flagship name but it doesnt really add up. I have owned a badger and hated it.

 

The happiest set up i have owned is my current one and that cost all of £100 for the compressor, 2 airbrushes and delivery.

Another plea for help concerning an airbrush eh?

 

 

Just kidding!

 

I am a bit of an Iwata junkie. As for cost, they are competitive with other major brands. IMO they are the industry leader. Easy to use and break down. Pretty easy to clean also. wide variety of interchangeable bits and bobs. You should check them out.

 

-Kata

its totally dependant on the user, if its hard to get replacement parts etc for it then try & find an easier to source brand.

 

personally i use a renegade krome (badger) and i think its great. id suggest starting cheap though, same as anything else, no point wasting money if you decide airbrushes arent for you.

On the topic of airbrushes, and as I am in a similar spot as the OP, I have a couple questions for those of you who use them. Do you have a spray booth or something similar to protect the walls desk where you brush? Do you wear a face mask to protect from any aerosol paint? I know airbrushes are better than spraypaint, since it's just compressed air instead of an actual propellant, but not sure if that is enough for everyone.

Zhent, personally i dont have a booth. I have a large cardboard box with most of the top section removed. It catches all the overspray so performs the job well enough.

I do (when i remember) have some very basic dust masks that help prevent the paint getting up my nose and down my throat.

 

Other simple precautions would be an open window, gloves as if your anything like me...you end up with multicoloured hands lol.

I have a large cardboard box with most of the top section removed. It catches all the overspray so performs the job well enough.

I do (when i remember) have some very basic dust masks that help prevent the paint getting up my nose and down my throat.

 

Other simple precautions would be an open window, gloves as if your anything like me...you end up with multicoloured hands lol.

 

Pretty much this...

 

@ Jim:

 

Single Action Airbrush = spray can

Dual action airbrush = push down on the "plunger" you get air, push down and back, you get paint and air

Gravity feed = Hopper above the needle and chamber where the paint and air mix - useful for fine detail work

Siphon feed = the citadel spray gun os a good example (although it is only single action).

Thinner = Screenwash - you want a milky consistency, not too thin or the bloody paint dries BEFORE it hits the model and you end up with sandpaper.

 

I bought a Neo CN for Iwata - it's sort of a licence make and a piston compressor for about 130.00 easy to strip, easy to clean, easy to loose or damage parts that cost the earth.

 

This is a whole new world you're dipping into - you need to research airbrushes, nozzle width/needle size, and compressor - there are many types of EVERYTHING and lots of things are personal preference.

 

Read up on stuff, read some more, ask more questions here etc. Best thing to do is see if you have a modelling club, Air Cadets, Army Cadet Force all do military medelling and have access to several individuals who can provide info or even better let you try stuff out before you commit.

 

Do I regret it? Let me put your mind at rest - I wish I had started airbrushing 10 years ago. Worth every penny.

 

MR.

i use a respirator when i remember it (usually when i bust out the alclad as laquer based paint is vile) i also tend to go down the card box route just to stop dust going everywhere.

 

i have a load of surgical gloves that i use when airbrushing and occasionally when im painting too, ive ended up with black thumbs etc too many times to count from forgetting to put them on though.

I posted this a while ago but it might not be useful, it is a comparison of the Iwata Eclipse HP-CS and a master G23 airbrush.

 

http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/index.p...43&hl=iwata

 

In regards to spray booths I also just use a cardboard box, I do however have a nice respirator that I wear which I got at a hardware store.

 

http://www.legionsafety.com/images/D.cache.dpthmbn/1578.jpg?http://www.legionsafety.com/images/D/mm5101_1.jpg

I mean the Iwata eclipse HP-CS has a .35mm nozzle and I find that to be good for basecoats as well as being able to add highlights etc... I think I would stick somewhere around .3mm because with good control you can still draw fine lines but it works well for basecoating as well. Mind you how fine a line you can get will also depend on the airbrush, I feel like I can get finer sprays with the Iwata (.35mm) than I could with my master G23 (.3mm). Also some airbrushes have additional nozzle/needle combos you can get to allow you to swap them out with the same airbrush body.

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