tony66 Posted October 22, 2006 Share Posted October 22, 2006 I've tried a search but haven't come up with a definitive answer to my dilemma. The ebay seller that I've chosen to buy my Iwata from has quite a large range. What I need to know is which airbrush would fit my needs. I want a brush that can do quite fine detail and larger areas (1/48 aircraft, 1/35 armour). These are my choices: HP-BC HP-BP HP-CP HP-CH HP-AH HP-CS HP-SBP I can only afford to buy one airbrush to suite all my needs. Thanks Tony Quote Link to post Share on other sites
trojansamurai Posted October 22, 2006 Share Posted October 22, 2006 (edited) Honestly, any of these will probably work for you, although the HP-A and B series might hold too little paint for you. The A-series hardly holds any paint at all. I have an HP-B with a 0.2mm tip and use it for everything from large surfaces to very tight German and Italian mottle camouflage. I also use Gunze Mr. Color acrylic lacquers, which can be thinned to the consistency of ink. However, if you are a novice to intermediate in airbrush use and/or spray primarily enamels, you might find the SB and C series with 0.3mm tips more user-friendly. I haven't kept up with all the different suffixes like P and H, but the basic layout is the same: A series = small cavity at the front of the airbrush (mostly for artists using ink); 0.2mm B series = small built-in color cup; 0.2mm C series = fairly large built-in color cup with cap; 0.3mm SB series = side-mount removable color cup; 0.2mm (0.3mm might be optional) Edited October 22, 2006 by trojansamurai Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MikeC Posted October 22, 2006 Share Posted October 22, 2006 (edited) Tony, After years of loyalty to Badger I bought an HP CS - the one with the larger gravity-feed built-in paint cup. I model 1:48 aircraft, and so far it's proved ideal. It can do wonderfully fine detail, free-hand RAF-type disruptive camouflage, and it holds enough paint to cover a reasonable area: the largest model sprayed with it to date is a 1:48 EA-6B. I was concerned as to whether the large paint cup would prove difficult to manage - it isn't, the brush is wonderfully balanced and controllable. I use acrylics with it, it takes them in its stride. Clean-up is easy too. Also bought the Quick-Release attachments for the Iwata air hose - makes changing back to my Anthem (which I have kept for varnishing and other such work) far easier. HTH, Edited October 22, 2006 by MikeC Quote Link to post Share on other sites
kozlok Posted October 22, 2006 Share Posted October 22, 2006 (edited) I use the HP-C, and it's wonderful. The color cup is big enough for most everything. Occasionally I have to refill the cup in the middle of a big job (like flat coating a 1/48 F-14). The HP-CH is the high-line version, the HP-C+ is the high performance + version, the HP-CR is the revolution,and the CS is the eclipse. The eclipse line is mostly for heavier media, like automotive lacquers, the high-flow nozzle is probably not what you want for modeling if you do very fine work freehand. The revolution is a good airbrush for a lower price, but it has a bigger needle, so a little less control for fine work, but better at broad coverage. The C+ is a great choice, more expensive than the revolution, but the finer needle configuration will let you freehand german mottle. The high-line is even more expensive, and is supposed to give even better control for detail work. www.iwata-medea is their home site. Lots of useful info there. Edited October 22, 2006 by kozlok Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jrallman Posted October 22, 2006 Share Posted October 22, 2006 I also have an HP-B and I have found that with the gravity feed, I generally need less paint, so the smaller cup is just fine. I do 1/48 props mainly. Also, being smaller, it is easier to hold, see what I am doing, and less to clean. The only time I have had to refill in the middle of a paint job was when I was painting a 1/48 B-24. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Chuck1945 Posted October 22, 2006 Share Posted October 22, 2006 Gravity feed models will usually permit you to use lower air pressures and, like jay said, use less paint. They are also easier to clean, at least imo. I have the HP-C and it permits very fine mottleing - I build 1/72 and it works fine for that, so 1/48 would also be fine. Never have used the HP-B, but those who do like it too. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jrallman Posted October 23, 2006 Share Posted October 23, 2006 righto! i especially like that I got my HP-B for $15 because the people at my LHS didnt know what they had on their hands when this guy brought in a box of painting equipment (mostly for lexan RC car bodies) and this AB was in there. they just slapped a $15 tag on it and i nearly fell over myself getting my wallet out! Even got em to throw in a nice braided air hose for a buck! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
volzj Posted October 23, 2006 Share Posted October 23, 2006 My HP-CS does everything I could ask, including freehand camo in 1/72. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tony66 Posted October 24, 2006 Author Share Posted October 24, 2006 Thanks everyone that replied I'll either be getting the HP-CP or HP-CS. Tony Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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