Good beginner Airbrush

[Bullet101]

Hey peeps

I've been basically brush painting my kits, but the results from all the airbrush work i see here is stunning, so i figure i might try it myself so i need your help.

What is a good airbrush to start with and what extras would i need to make it fully operational? Oh and i don't wanna spend too much on it any help?

[polo1112]

Hello Bullet101,

I am just like you, I have bought a Badger 150 and I find that it works great specially for a beginner. I have bought it at the Great Models.com webstore and the price was quite attractive compared to the french price!

Give it a try if you want and . Regards Polo.

[Bullet101]

I see, thanks polo1112

that's kinda expensive though, any cheaper ones that are good? and thats just the airbrush what do i need to go with it? what type of thinner? Spray can propellent or something else? etc etc...

Its not that i'm cheap its just i'd rather spend the extra money on models

[f14peter]

I would recommend the Paasche H and while it's a single-action brush, there's not a lot that you can't do with it. As an example, check out the Modeling Madness site and Tom Cleaver's models, he's used the same H for 20 some years and turns out some great looking stuff. The brush, with extra (Different sized) nozzles, a cup and jar, and hose can be found for around $40 and the brush is tough as a truck. Well maintained, it should last you years and years and years.

While double-action brushes allow for more finesse, they're usually more expensive, a bit more complex mechanically, and may take a bit more practice to master. Speaking of practice, that's the secret to airbrushing so that's why I recommend a single-action as a first brush. It takes a while to master things like thinning, managing air pressure and nozzle settings so single-actions allow you to work on those skills without having to learn how to handle a double-action. Once you've got the basics down, you could then move on to a double-action if you wish.

Air supply is another hotly debated subject. For certain, do not rely on aircans, other than to probably paint your very first model. They're relatively expensive, and Murphy guarantees that your can will run out of air in the middle of a shoot, and during a time that the local source of the cans is closed. It's also difficult to regulate air pressure. You'll definately need a reliable air supply and I use the Cambell-Hausfeld compressor/tank, available at Wal-Mart for around $90 (Similar models are sold at most of the big-box homestores). What's great is that it comes with a regulator and the brush runs off the tank, not the compressor so you avoid the "Pulsing" that sometimes happens with a compressor-only setup, and the compressor only runs to fill the tank, not continuously. Pick up their watertrap (Another $10-$12) and you have a complete air supply at a pretty good price. I took the compressor/tank, the watertrap, and my airbrush hose to a mom-n-pop hardware store, held up my hose saying "I want to hook this" pointed to the compressor and said, "To this" and I was out the store in 15 minutes with all I needed. I put a slip-joint (The attachment with the sliding collar) downstream of the watertrap with a matching male fitting on my hose and I can pop it on and off in a split-second, and the compressor can be used for any other air tools you may have around the house.

Other recommend an airbottle, like the kind you see in welding setups, when it's empty you take it back to the shop and have it refilled. Getting set up is about the same price as what I described earlier, what makes it popular is that it is silent, so if noise is an issue, that might be something to consider.

[Bullet101]

Thanks now to see if i can get this stuff over here.

[Don]

Hi there:

Not sure where you are located, but it really doesn't matter I suppose. But watch Ebay. You can snag some pretty good deals on Airbrushs from different manufacturers if you have patience and know what kind of airbrush you are after.

When I started out, I used a Badger single action 200. Single action tends to be easier to learn on then the dual action type as all you need to worry about is setting the air pressure, having the right setting for the amount of paint you want to shoot out the nozzle (dial it in ahead of time and try it out on an old model or plastic card), then point and shoot. As you gain more experience and get more comfortable with the airbrush, you may want to move to a dual action. But as has already been said, many fantastic model builders produce some outstanding work with single action brushs!

As far as thining the paint. That depends on the type of paint you use, and the type of airbrush you end up buying. I use Gunze acrylics and it took me awhile to find the right paint to thinner ratio that I like. But what I like and prefer may not be what you like. Once you get your airbrush, take your favorite paint and thin it with the appropriate thining solution (acrylics and enamles use different thinners) and try it out on a scrap model or piece of plastic card. Paper isn't necessarily a good thing to try your thinned paint on as the paint reacts differently to paper then to plastic. Whatever you do, don't get upset or discouraged! We've all been there at some point and your first few spray jobs might not produce the results you hoped for. It just takes time, patience, and above all...practice (which is good as that means more models will be needed ).

Air sources. I use an aircompressor and an air tank. But if you don't want to get into that expense right away, you can use cans of air found in most hobby stores. But you should try and save up for an air compressor. Makes life a whole lot easier.

Hope this helps a bit. There are way more guys here that are far more experienced and better modelers then I am and I am sure they will step in here and lend a hand.

Good luck and kind regards,

Don

[volzj]

If you go single action to start with, the transition to double can be kinda tough. Not to say single action is no good, but double is more versatile in terms of varying patterns as you go and such. It just may be better to start off down that road right away.

I personally swear by my Iwata brushes, and the Revolution model is available in both single and double, gravity or bottle feed.

[RedHeadKevin]

I've said it before, and I'll say it again. Wal-Mart often carries a Testors airbrush set that comes with an Aztek A320 double action, internal mix brush. It also comes with a can of propellant, siphon bottle, general purpose nozzle, and a mixing pipette. It also comes with the Testors Paint Carousel, and a dozen little bottles of testors acrylic. It's not a bad deal for 40 bucks, and even if you dont' like the Aztek, keep it for the rest of the stuff it comes with.

(THe Aztek website says the A320 is single-action, and most are. This set comes with the double-action version.)

[mkimages]

I'll second the recommendation of the Paasche H brush. I have that and a Paasche VSR-90 double action that cost more than twice the price of the H and I still like the H ten times better for the ease of use and cleaning. The thing is a tank and is practically indestructible unless you do something really stupid. As far as airbrushes go, it's in the lower mid-range, price wise, which makes it, IMHO, the best deal out there for beginners or otherwise.

[silver1]

I agree with everything f14peter said. I have a Passche H and an air compressor with a tank and I am happy with it.

I recently got back into the hobby and have painted 5 planes so far. I use MM and Tamiya acrylics. Acrylics mainly because of the ease of clean-up and less fumes when spraying. I thin my paints with alcohol 50/50 and use an eye dropper to measure and mix my paints right in the airbrushes cup.

Ed

[Bullet101]

Thanks guys for your responses, problem is i live in the UK so no Walmart for me, and Hannants don't stock paasche so i'm a bit buggered now :blink: :blink:

[Pumpkin]

If you go single action to start with, the transition to double can be kinda tough. Not to say single action is no good, but double is more versatile in terms of varying patterns as you go and such. It just may be better to start off down that road right away.

hi volzj, am I right to say that, double action is essential only if one is doing WWII subjects, especially the Luftwaffe? A single action is pretty sufficient for modern jet.

cheers, :blink:

[mkimages]

Bullet101: It looks like the Badger 350 brush would be the equivalent to the Paasche H. The 250 if you really want/need to go cheap. Can't comment on quality as I've never used either.

[Bullet101]

thanks mkimages

[volzj]

If you go single action to start with, the transition to double can be kinda tough. Not to say single action is no good, but double is more versatile in terms of varying patterns as you go and such. It just may be better to start off down that road right away.

hi volzj, am I right to say that, double action is essential only if one is doing WWII subjects, especially the Luftwaffe? A single action is pretty sufficient for modern jet.

cheers, :blink:

I'll buy that, assuming a general overall skill level. It is after all just a tool, and practice/knowledge are more important than anything.

I had a single action Badger 200 for years, and as a modern jet builder I never really felt handicapped. My current Iwatas spray smoother and are constructed better, but that's about it.

[polo1112]

I have a Badger 250 as a first airbrush. It was very cheap (15 €) but you cannot do a lot of things with it. It's an external mix airbrush so you can only paint large surfaces.

But my dear wife gave me as a present a brand new Badger 150 ,and this one is a very little gem! It's a twin action internal mix airbrush, and you have 3 different nozzles and needles, so you can airbrush everything you want!! Highly recomended!!

Have a great day and :blink: Polo.

[Guest RocketDog]

Thanks guys for your responses, problem is i live in the UK so no Walmart for me, and Hannants don't stock paasche so i'm a bit buggered now :blink: :blink:

I don't know how much you have to spend but I use an Aztek A470 picked it up a few years ago for about £75.00 from my local hobby shop. You might like to look at these websites for some ideas:

http://www.airbrushes.co.uk/. When you compare these prices with Dixieart (http://www.dixieart.com/) in the USA they start to look expensive so it might be worth your while thinking of getting one via the USA ebay site

[Bullet101]

Thanks RD

[Sam747]

Hi Bullet101,

As beginner i would recommend you get Tamiya Spray works Airbrush. I have this and it works great as single action airbrush. The only problem is that it runs with 7.2 volts battery or adapter for direct supply. The battery runs for almost 25mins countinously but you will never use it countinously like that. Cleaning is simple and this kit comes with everything you need to start with it (Airbrush gun , compressor, 2 size nozzles, screw on paint container which is huge). Yes it has tendency of "pulsing" air supply since its direct sourse of air but you dont have to worry about it as a beginner. I am very comfortable with it and all my models are painted with this airbrush. I will at sometime switch to double action airbrush but so far its working for me. I had problem spraying Future from it but i have found my own way to tackle this problem.

Also its very affordable cost wise too, i just paid $50 CDN

for my airbrush and it was best investment i did and changed whole model painting perspective for me.

Sam747

[Wildthingbg]

Hey Newbie!

welcome to the club. I have only been airbrushing for a few months and i have only used the Aztec. I think it is a wonderful brush. It is versatile and cleaning is very easy. I have had very good results with it. I used to have the plastic one but it decided to quit working. Now i use the metal aztec and it is exactly what i was looking for.

Hope this helps.