Hobby air brushes: Recommendations

[the_matrix_guy]

Hey, would you guys recommend me an airbrush for model painting. I see they vary in price from around $50 to $150+

[Drcemento]

get the best one you can afford. Iwatas are the gold standard. I would not recommend any kind of siphon feed - gravity cup all the way for modeling. the revolution HP-CR is a good all around airbrush, and can do pretty good on the fine stuff for the price especially. check out coast airbrush for the best selection. check out Paul Budziks extensive youtube videos on airbrushing for models.

[SignOfZeta]

These days even a real cheap airbrush can get the job done. The junk is much better than it used to be.

My main is an Iwata HP CS and I’m hooked for life. They are more or less perfected as a tool and they spray thicker stuff easier than other extremely similar brushes. They can be had for $150 or so which to me isn’t a lot but if a noob buys it and plugs it up with enamel day one there may be disappointment.

Don’t waste money on Iwata’s “Neo” line. They are simply farmed our Chinese stuff. There’s no point it paying more for a brand and nothing but a brand. The “real” Iwata are for sure worth paying for but the upgrade from something half as expensive might not be obvious to a beginner.

The Pasche Talon is a good brush. It’s US made and not expensive. If you master it upgrade to an HP CS.

The stuff Harbor Freight sells is good for learning. If you outgrow it you have a backup. If you decide you hate airbrushing you didn’t waste much money.

[Rickfactor2]

If you are new to using an airbrush, needle/nozzle size are a factor as a larger size is more forgiving on paint consistency and your cleaning regimen.

I use an Iwata HP-CS which has a .35 mm nozzle/needle and I highly recommend it. I also have some cheapy Chinese brushes that I had no issues with but again, larger needle size.

Shameless link to some of my stuff. CoolMiniOrNot - Rickfactor's Portfolio

[the_matrix_guy]

Those are super cool. I sent the link to my friend that’s into Warhammer 40k

[SignOfZeta]

Indeed. There is something about the design that helps the HP-CS flow better at .35 than others. Lacquers flow great. Acrylics don’t dry out on the tip as easy as some ABs. It doesn’t need another nozzle size. It does everything great as-is. It’s a very perfected, dialed-in product.

[the_matrix_guy]

What compressor do you guys run? Er. I had a cheap chinese home compressor for paintball and it was such a pos. And a huge PITA to run. It ran so hot, that you needed a bucket full of icy water and it burned oil like crazy. I’’m guessing these are better? I hate the idea of having to get a compressor. I dont see anything on Amazon about it needing oil?

[Pumpytrilly1]

I just use my 6 gallon? Oil less Pancake compressor. I have a inline water separator and another pressure regulator I stole off a dead air compressor.

Barely turns on and haven't had water problems.

[Rickfactor2]

What compressor do you guys run? Er. I had a cheap chinese home compressor for paintball and it was such a pos. And a huge PITA to run. It ran so hot, that you needed a bucket full of icy water and it burned oil like crazy. I’’m guessing these are better? I hate the idea of having to get a compressor. I dont see anything on Amazon about it needing oil?

You'll want one with a tank so it does not run continuously. This is the one I use. No oil. My does not have the fan as this one is the newest version.

https://spraygunner.com/products/cool-tooty-airbrush-compressor-with-tank-by-no-name-brand

[the_matrix_guy]

You'll want one with a tank so it does not run continuously. This is the one I use. No oil. My does not have the fan as this one is the newest version.

https://spraygunner.com/products/coo...-no-name-brand

They have a whole kit for $150 on Amazon, I think its the same compressor:

https://www.amazon.com/NO-NAME-Airbrush-Compressor-Decorating-Painting/dp/B0CCST8HDV/ref=sr_1_6?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.RjO3l3RWgYrR0iUR7WZkM_ kbFhl_4uc-BMgmN1LCSUAIo4NBNkd2dHxuuRaSzMcjqKXmwcxLNmSMZXRTQB 3jJmzyxq8lPN20R0d8UA9Qnz1O7wQPAhSCdpuMilOdTwWDyuS6 FnzAQblkqJEZZPM8LN-YZr5TtiwMYlLn26DafUX24FXdR_G6Wia6VcePx7T1E7jlnuFO6 8BWf_wcliq2x0iybDWPLs4I4ocnNw3LqoJoD7a5RC1ZuuqGmYJ 7ByoLXa5WoydGad5unLr7CktfTQP7DTgW48IKATwYDbxpm80.l lzxjWJqPQR7HyQ33VYoCJeX0My-5S3SZituNy1Rc-4&dib_tag=se&keywords=Cool%2BTooty%2BAirbrush%2B Co mpressor%2Bwith%2BTank%2Bby%2BNO-NAME%2BBrand&qid=1731537901&sr=8-6&th=1


Edit: and what about acrylic paints? Which do you use/recommend? SignOfZeta Rickfactor2

[Drcemento]

An alternative to a compressor is a bulk Co2 tank. silent and no moisture/temp issues. if you have a welding supply nearby check it out. allot of modelers really like them, esp in humid parts of the country
the only downside to starting with an Iwata is not appreciating just how nice they really are by using something else first. i thought my high end badgers and a paasche were great until I bought an Iwata!

As for acrylic paints.... well thats a whole can of worms. they can be finicky to airbrush without allot of additives , and for best adhesion require a lacquer primer first, so though i have tried and had good success with them, I stick to the stinky stuff and a good spray booth. That said there is allot of buzz about the new ATOM line by ammo/ mig good adhesion and ease of spraying.

[the_matrix_guy]

An alternative to a compressor is a bulk Co2 tank. silent and no moisture/temp issues. if you have a welding supply nearby check it out. allot of modelers really like them, esp in humid parts of the country
the only downside to starting with an Iwata is not appreciating just how nice they really are by using something else first. i thought my high end badgers and a paasche were great until I bought an Iwata!

As for acrylic paints.... well thats a whole can of worms. they can be finicky to airbrush without allot of additives , and for best adhesion require a lacquer primer first, so though i have tried and had good success with them, I stick to the stinky stuff and a good spray booth. That said there is allot of buzz about the new ATOM line by ammo/ mig good adhesion and ease of spraying.

Awesome, ty.

And yeah i thought about the appreciation factor. I do that with everything. With the slot cars, I got a run of the mill Carrera (german slot-car brand that makes decent but not professional racing slot cars), just to compare to the better ones. At least as a point of reference.

[Rickfactor2]

I use a variety but mostly Games Workshop and Vallejo. All acrylics.

If I use oils, it's with a brush.

Primer is important too. You want a matte instead of gloss as the next layers will stick better. You want a rattle can as airbrushed primer does not seem to stick as well. I use Rustoleum Flat Black Primer. You can then it top down with some white to pick up the highlight areas as painting a lot of color over black can be challenging.

[the_matrix_guy]

I use a variety but mostly Games Workshop and Vallejo. All acrylics.

If I use oils, it's with a brush.

Primer is important too. You want a matte instead of gloss as the next layers will stick better. You want a rattle can as airbrushed primer does not seem to stick as well. I use Rustoleum Flat Black Primer. You can then it top down with some white to pick up the highlight areas as painting a lot of color over black can be challenging.

Thanks for the tips. Thats really great.... and cool, ill add the primer spray can... What do you think about the kit I posted? it's basically the same price as the standalone compressor.

For masking, do you use tape? I was looking for a good quality tape that doesnt allow paint to sip through. That's actually my primary objective: is to paint masked off sections of a racetrack, and I also have these huge 3d printed MechWarrior Battlemechs that shooter311 printed for me a year+ ago, (big shout out for all the hours of trial and error printing these), and I havent gotten around to putting together, I wanted to get an airbrush first


Which BTW, in case you're into Battletech/ MechWarrior, I have the stl files from gambody.com, in case you're interested. Ill send them for free.

https://www.gambody.com/premium/mechwarrior-bobcat

https://www.gambody.com/premium/mechwarrior-mad-dog?pid=150426#desc-block

https://www.gambody.com/premium/summoner-battlemech?pid=150427#desc-block

[Pumpytrilly1]

Hey, would you guys recommend me an airbrush for model painting. I see they vary in price from around $50 to $150+

The iwata(forget model) one from hobby lobby if they still have their coupons.

[Drcemento]

Coast airbrush again for the masking.... https://www.coastairbrush.com/prodde...e_Masking_Tape and again - starting here might be spoiling you a bit, but the wrong tape on your perfect acrylic paint job can really ruin your day. this stuff is just as good not better than the gold standard Tamiya tape. accept no substitutes no matter what the morons on youtube say they found at Michaels for 50 cents.

[the_matrix_guy]

I made an offer on this: lets see what happens:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/315933283240?_skw=Iwata-Medea+HP-CS+.35mm+Eclipse+Airbrush+W%2F+IS35+Ninja+Jet+Compressor&epid=2014330150&itmmeta=01JCM3RY6HRP5Q5H0Y0XSKKB77&hash=item498f1753a8:g:VH8AAOSwCEVmrTeE&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAABAHoV3kP08IDx%2BKZ9MfhVJKlWZiK6i2gFEX5yc%2F6cmaNO4FVF%2BzUF43YZCX1uunwS3xSmKzQAqSfR218vnm8ui8DSevgH5YVZEiiKFTcjksB46cs8h8sRTtrSz7S%2BCGR%2BiF4YGM1yWMF9EzNm19qK0n3b8DiJ2AHOJzS58Vn0xeMu0gDgTARRIo9Y8lf9c0EWUv9o6vfPf7VHTbSlCrfFyVaQx4FoZcaxmhFXSTHlvCEp8LpoAay4oS48JR12tHRXSXudF%2ByDty12vwoVGjfnWtMz6H3VdcerZMqSilryTnv1Gg%2BLlGxh61x99Gwzv7SfISMUHTvzsQRJ26WQ%2F41Yctg%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR6zj44PlZA