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.

[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

[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/coo...-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/mech...426#desc-block


https://www.gambody.com/premium/summ...427#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/31593328324...Bk9SR6zj44PlZA

[the_matrix_guy]

Wow, offer accepted, $190. Thats like almost half off from retail

[Deus Machina]

I'll chip in, a little late. A good Iwata is going to spoil you for other things. Learn the maintenance and that airbrush won't be what holds you back.
My one complaint about Iwatas is that they don't seem to have much in the way of parts interchangeability. Different model, different spares. Not much of in issue if you focus in doing one thing with it or get multiple brushes for different things.

Aside from that, I have currently have several brushes.
Paasche Talon: A set. Needles in .25, .38, and .66. Would have been amazing when it came out, now the atomization is a little lacking behind the new crop, but much better than some other stuff of the type. The .38 works well for all-purpose and the .66 does very well for larger things, like the life-size Pip-Boy I made, or the lacquer on a project guitar. Have found the .25 to be a bit finicky, or I just haven't warmed up to it yet. Or it just feels a little weird trying to do very fine stuff with an airbrush that is frankly kind of chunky. The brush doesn't fit in the general holders on the compressor. I do appreciate that the nozzles, caps, and needles have engraved lines to tell them apart.

Gaahleri GHAD-39: the 'Advanced' series. A bunch of good reviews by Youtubers, a sale, and I grabbed one. Not quite on level a high-end Iwata, but better than the NEO and maybe the middle of Iwata's range. At $45 now, it's definitely into the 'diminishing returns' area. I've been amazed for that price. Runs at a pretty low pressure and came with a .35 and .5 needle that cover everything I need for models. I tend to run the .35 except for clearcoat. Pretty well designed, easier to clean than the Paasche, and durable so far. One selling point was that the needles were made from spring steel, which makes it harder to damage them. Don't know if that's still true. My one complaint is that they don't have identifiers on them. Keep them organized.

Master G-22: Got another sale, $40 (at the time) for the airbrush and a chintzy little portable compressor that actually worked surprisingly well. Now the airbrush is $30. A little chrome is flaking on replaceable parts in non-critical areas so the fit and finish aren't as good as the others, but I didn't expect that. I bought it to do a Duracoat project on a rifle build, and the only spots that project doesn't look factory are entirely my fault from the prep.
The reviews suggest it might be more hit-and-miss than the big brands and maybe I got lucky, but I'm impressed for what it is. I've had $100+ Badger brushes that were worse.
Want a knockaround airbrush you won't stress about ruining with weird paints (Duracoat is impossible to remove if it dries), or to dedicate to base coats or primer? Here ya go.

YMMV. I use the airbrushes as a replacement for spray paints. I do models and occasional prop type stuff, not realistic miniatures. My 'fine' work is all in texturing and weathering.