The three big names for hobbyists are Badger, Paasche, and Iwata. I own several of all three brands and one or two others. The HF air brushes are cheap Chinese knockoffs and will work, but their assembly and quality are spotty. Parts can also be hard to come by, but they are so cheap that you can just buy another one and cannibalize it if you have to.
If you have not airbrushed before, I would not recommend these knockoff brushes, simply for the reason that I would prefer to see beginners painting, not fiddling with their equipment trying to make it work and getting frustrated if it doesn't.
We all have different size hands and different tastes, so I'd suggest you try some local craft or hobby stores and get your hands on the three major brands. It should feel good in your hands, and the trigger action should be smooth, not sticky. Badgers have slim bodies and people with smaller hands will like them. Their quality is good, parts are available, and they are not overly expensive. Try the Anthem for a siphon feed, or the Patriot for a gravity feed. Paasches have chunkier bodies, so if your hands are larger you might like one of these. I'd recommend the Millenium for a siphon feed or a Talon for a Gravity feed. They are also reasonably priced and parts are easy to find. Iwata is very good. They also tend to be a little more expensive, but they are more rugged and tend to be higher quality. Parts are easy to find, but more expensive than Badger or Paasche. The upsde here is that you won't need many. Their needles and nozzles, the two most likely things you'll damage, are made out of tougher materials than Badger or Paasche. I have been using an Iwata for three years as my main airbrush and have not yet needed any parts. I'd recommend their Eclipse HP-BCS for a siphon feed or their Eclipse HP-CS for a gravity feed.
Siphon feeders are good if you're going to shoot a lot of paint.
Gravity feeders are easier to clean, allow you to use less paint...just a few drops if you want and, can shoot at lower pressures because they don't have to suck the paint out of a bottle.
Definitely go with an internal mix double action. The added capability is a must IMO. Single action brushes don't allow you the flexibility or fine control of what you are spraying that a double action brush will, and internal mix brushes atomize the paint much better than an external mix brush will.
Do a little research on the net. Check out prices. Deals can be had.
Hope this helps.
