"Airbrush Recommendation?" Topic

I'm thinking of getting started with an airbrush system. I'd like something complete and great to use. I'm not really worried about price, but want to get everything I need at once without having to upgrade down the road. Any recommendations on what to get and what to avoid?

I got an Iwata Revolution CR. It has done well on everything from large Martian Tripods to microarmor. Easy to clean, solid design, easy to use, very flexible.

It works better than the high-end Pasche that I paid a lot more for, twenty-five years ago.

I have a Grex Tritium TG. It costs about $210 USD on Amazon. I like the trigger-type airbrush better than the traditional style. My compressor is a Sparmax bought from Hobby Lobby (with the 40% off coupon, it costs about $180. USD

Also, Don Wheeler's airbrush site has a kiloton of useful stuff. link

Whichever airbrush you get, learn to tear it down and give it a thorough cleaning. I'd also order a spare needle, as that's the easiest component to damage for a newbie.

The "Techniques" section of my Texas Wargamer blog has numerous tutorials that include using an airbrush. Www.texaswargamer.com

Air Brushes need air. Go to Harbor Freight. There are two in Madison (I checked). Get an oil-less air compressor with a tank and a pressure regulator. Not only will this run your air brush, but you can also use it for your car tires etc. 1/3 hp., 3 gal. hot dog or pancake type tank real air compressors are $57 USD. Air brush (hobby) AC's are two or three times that and pretty much worthless for any thing else.
The $10 USD air brush at Harbor Freight might spray primer or base coat, but nothing more. Get a good air brush elsewhere and you will grow into it.
Oh, and don't forget a hose and couplings.

Iwata. I have two, one I've owned for 30 years.

Get a compressor with a moisture trap and a tank. Silent ones are more expensive but since you aren't bothered about the cost that's what you should buy. Don't buy a cheap one – they rust out.

I've been using badgers for probably 20 years. I tend to keep to one company for logistics so I've never tried the others. YES!!!! to Walking Sailor, get a compressor from the hardware store. When I started I had the "airbrush compressor" for about 25 years and wish I'd have gotten a regular one sooner.

Thanks for the link Tbeard. Tons of stuff on there.

Iwata Neo, best low cost beginners unit by far. Use two of these, along with a Badger Renegade Krome when I'm feeling all artistic and such.

Also have a bunch of Iwatas and nasty cheapos, but this is my current rig.

I like the trigger-type airbrush better than the traditional style.

Interesting point.

The traditional control has two actions, depressing the control and pulling it back. The first, controls the amount of air and the second controls the size of the spray. It is the interplay of both these actions that is the skill in airbrushing.

The trigger control just seems to pull back the pin, thereby opening the hole for the paint to come out of. Do I have this wrong?

1. Single Action: push down on the button to turn on the air. Paint flow is a mechanical preset, screwed in or out, prior to use. Air/painting is pretty much on or off (think rattle can).
2. Double Action: push down on the button to turn on the air, there is some play. Pull back on the button to control paint. You can lay down a heavy stream of paint or just a shadow.
3. Trigger type can be either, check specs before buying. I've never had one.

What I was asking about the photo of the Grex trigger style brush was, "How does pulling back on the trigger control the amount of air flow and the movement of the needle to control the paint flow"?

Two separate movements are required to work a traditional double action airbrush. I don't have any experience in a "gun type" airbrush and fail to see how simply pulling back on a trigger achieves both actions with the same control.