"In praise of the Neo for Iwata (airbrush)" Topic

I recently picked up a pair of new airbrushes, Neo CN for Iwata. link

These are Iwata specced low end airbrushes, which means they're meant to compete with the sort of cheap as chips stuff you find on eBay. You'll find plenty of far more insightful reviews than I could write online, suffice to say I'm very impressed.

The build is solid (for an airbrush these are on the heavier side, but certainly nothing that would impede hours of painting) and it's well assembled. Disassembles easily, and it has a simplified trigger mechanism to save on cost, but which is actually a lot easier to clean and lube than the other airbrushes I have (several el cheapo Sparmax's and a lovely Iwata HP BH).

Gave them a good clean and lube, and then ran water through them today. Running water through your brush is the best opportunity to see how the brush sprays/disperses the paint, and the Neo gives a nice tight cone of spray. Also impressed that there wasn't any issues with the needles (especially centering) which is always a problem with low end brushes. It gave a consistent and quality spray, which is all you could ask for, right out of the box.

If it wasn't for the fact that my Iwata HP BH was in need of some serious cleaning and servicing I wouldn't have considered buying a new airbrush, but I'm glad I did.

I also sprung for a large amount of AK Interactive's range of paints and washes, so once I get the time I'll get a bunch of tanks painted and do a follow up post.

So if you're looking to get a cheap airbrush then you will not go wrong with the Neo for Iwata airbrush.

Agreed. I purchased two of these little gems. I am extremely happy with the results.

the five year warranty is also a nice touch.

Hmmm…AK Interactive primer is a quality product, but it dries pretty fast and clogs up the brush. Got to do my first full strip down and clean of the Neo, but am now a bit wary of the AK paints. Used them straight out of the bottle, I was stupid to think the advertising from them ("works straight out of the bottle and doesn't need thinning") was true.

But putting aside the drying issue, it's actually a good primer. Will experiment with thinning the paints with Vallejo thinner (don't want to use Tamiya as that's a lacquer thinner) and water, pretty sure that will solve the problem.

The Neo worked a charm however, though the needle cap is definitely too large and blocks some of the view, need to look at some after market caps and crowns.

Tamiya, thinned with demineralised water , shaken and stirred then after blow through with rubbing alchohol, I buy it by the 5 litre tin. I prime with an aerosol etch primer from bunnings .better all round for your airbrush

what are these AK paints?
you might like to look at this?
link

Not on Facebook Kendo, but we can chat about it at MOAB, I'll be there on Saturday – let me know what you're selling ;)

You referring to cleaning the brush, or a thinner for paint?

AK are a spanish mob that for a while was partnered with Mig Jimenez, who specced their acrylic and enamel range. As far as actual paint quality I'm not entirely convinced they're anything special though they are far from bad or even average, but their range of colours in matched sets is superb. Basically they're packaged like Foundry triad sets, but there's up to five tones per colour. I also like their "scale effect" approach to colours, so they tend to be much more vivid than the real world version. AK and Mig had a falling out, and he's got a new but identical range out called Ammo. Went with AK as you can buy it in Sydney, the Ammo range I would have had to order from BNA World in Melbourne.

I have a very smaklll window at MOAB clean the brush with Isocol type stuff, think with demineralised water blow throug after cleaning with demineralised wat.I don't need to buy any more paint!!! I find Tamiya covers everthing needed for doing 20mm and is easy to handle.I have been dipping intop using Life Color as well.Vivid is fine .Where in sydney, which I don't go to much anymore, is this AK stuff to be seen at.I don't sell anywhere other than fb these days you really should join fb, it is where things are at these days.
sell ,and buy here
link

Combat Company sells them, and have a well stocked range, but their anti MOAB attitude makes me question being a regular customer. Mighty Ape also sells them, but they're online only.

You may not find much in the acrylics, but their enamel washes and filters may be right up your alley.

It will be a cold day in hell before I join Facebook. The interwebs knows too much about me already!

I stay right away from the dirty world of enamels,as for the hinter web just make up any anything , face recognition always has me as one of my fake identities

Tamiya is the best and safest and most accessible paint around.

as for washes and filters I use precisely one Vallejo sepia wash all you need for scales less then 1/35th