ModelRailroadForums.com is a free Model Railroad Discussion Forum and photo gallery. We cover all scales and sizes of model railroads. Online since 2002, it's one of the oldest and largest model railroad forums on the web. Whether you're a master model railroader or just getting started, you'll find something of interest here.
I am wanting to buy an airbrush. I just got the MR book "Done in a Day" and well it has motivated me to buy an airbrush lol I dont want a real expensive one right now, just something I can learn and do some nice projects with, sorta to prepare for me a better airbrush. My uncle is a professional painter/artist/carpenter so he can get me a top of the line airbrush when im ready for it, i just want to start out with something less expensive and learn before i commit to spending big bucks on a nice airbrush...
I looked through Walthers, they have a couple on sale that I would like to get, but am wondering, out of these 2, which do you think is the best for a starter? Now before someone says it, i dont want one of the $20.00 airbrushes from Harbor Freight or a super low end airbrush like those... I am willing to shell out a small chunk of money to get a medium grade airbrush for starting with... I also want a Dual Action, Gravity Fed airbrush
to bad HF discontinued their "deluxe" airbrush for 15$. i got one of these , it is ok brush. i seen the complressor in their new kit and somehow i have my doubts about its quality. in any case it is bottom fed brush instead of gravity as specified by OP. used one from ebay perhaps?
To be honest with you Josh a good single action airbrush will be all you need for complete paint jobs and even light weathering. I've got a single action Paasche and a dual action Paasche and have had them and used them for over 30 years. I can count on 1 hand the number of times I've used the dual action one. You may recall I ordered a Paasche model H single action from you some months back as a gift for my son. In less than 1 day he had it down and laying on paint jobs as good as I do.
If your uncle will eventually help you with an artist quality airbrush why spend the extra money right now for a dual action? 90% of using any airbrush is learning the paint mix ratios and what pressures to spray them at. A single action brush will work here and is a lot easier to clean and maintain. The other 10% is just practice.
Thanks guys! But like i said, I am not looking to get anything from Harbor Freight...
Mike, If I get a single action airbrush, will it be okay for weathering? I dont plan on doing much painting with it, the little painting will be patching and very small paint jobs like that. Ill be using it for weathering primarily...
I use a dual action Paasche for paint and a siphon Badger for weathering. The badger tip is smaller than the smallest available Paasche tip, so I can control weathering better. The dual action is great for painting and has less chance of choke and splatter than single action.
I would spend the extra coin for a good (better, best) airbrush as it will last forever if kept in good shape. I find the Paasche is virtually maintenance free, but the Badger requires the nylon washers and internal gasket replaced every couple years or so.
Well I may have just solved my own problem here. i sent a quick text to my uncle and asked him what I should do for a starter. He said he can get me a Iwata Eclipse HP-CS for $118.00. He said its the best brush for me because it will progress with me and is the most versatile with any paints i will need to use. He said he uses it himself for 90% of the airbrushing he does today lol
Go ahead and get one from your uncle. That sounds like he'll be letting you have it at his cost. I seriously doubt that you'll be seeing one on E-bay any cheaper. Retail for those around here are at $179.00.
There are cheaper Iwata "like" brushes on Ebay, but an Iwata Eclipse at $118 is a steal.
Well I may have just solved my own problem here. i sent a quick text to my uncle and asked him what I should do for a starter. He said he can get me a Iwata Eclipse HP-CS for $118.00. He said its the best brush for me because it will progress with me and is the most versatile with any paints i will need to use. He said he uses it himself for 90% of the airbrushing he does today lol
Get the Iwata! You won't find a better airbrush unless you get one of Iwata's Hi Line or Micron guns. They have the smoothest trigger action of any gun I have used. With respect to the other guys, a double action internal mix is much better than a single action gun, and way way better than an external mix gun. It sprays a finer line. Gravity feed offers finer control than siphon (or bottom fed) guns. A gravity feed airbrush is simple to clean. Just flush solvent or windex depending on what you're spraying until it shoots clear, and you're done. If you prefer you can remove the needle and wipe it off to but it isn't necessary. One thing: Never remove the needle on a gravity fed brush with paint in the cup! You'll be able to spray wide patterns or a line that's pencil thin. You'll love it. I really like mine! Good luck!
If I could do it all over again I would have skipped the bottom feed single action Badger and gone with the Iwata from the get go. You won't be disappointed (dual action is easier than you think).
Oh and I just had to add this. If you are using Acrylics and clean your brush with Windex, DO NOT let the airbrush soak in a jar of Windex for a week like I did (I forgot it was in there). It will ruin the rubber “O” ring in the valve casing.
I have used the ones from HF and I think there a POS even though people seem to like them. I have an Aztek A470 and I love it. Some people think its overkill, but I really like it.
I'm a little late on answering you Josh, sorry. Yes the single action Paasche is fine for weathering. The paint tip is adjustable. Paasche also offers 3 different tips for the model H. But after all that it sounds like you're all hooked up your uncle. With your talents I'm sure you'll catch on quickly and turn out some great stuff.
I have used the ones from HF and I think there a POS even though people seem to like them. I have an Aztek A470 and I love it. Some people think its overkill, but I really like it.
You know, I have at least one of everyone's airbrush except the Aztek series. I just never got around to trying one...and it isn't overkill if you like it
I've got the Harbor Freight "deluxe" model that's a direct copy of a Badger single action brush. I can see no functional or material difference between the two. I also have had the HF compressor for about two years and have no problems with it either. I'd certainly rather have the Iwata for doing contest quality painting, but I've found the HF brush to work fine for general painting and weathering. Don't know what problems you had with your HF brush, Jeff, but you must have gotten one made on Friday afternoon.
As with most things from HF, you get what you pay for. The HF one I used was a friends of mine. I never bought one. He likes it. I didn't. It might just be that my dad had an Aztek and that's what I learned on so I bought the same thing because its what I am use to using.
i have the HF dual action bottom fed and love it. Starting to get pretty comfortable with it and i have had some great results using it a total of 5 times.
I do like that Iwata top fed. I'de probably save alot of paint.
Top feeders can lay down a finer line on our kind of work than siphon feeders, mostly because you can use lower pressure. Still, the most important things are proper thinning, good trigger control, and practice, practice, practice!
lol
