Airbrush 0.2mm, 0.25mm, 0.3mm or more question?

[boubi]

I read lots of post about airbrush and compressor. I am living in China and don't have access to many airbrush suppliers but have some cheap source to start with (local chinese brand). They look quite fine especially for a beginner, but I have a question when looking at the specifications which was not really covered in previous posts. What is the best size for painting minis?

The nozzle size varies from 0.2mm, 0.25mm, 0.3mm and more... What are the main differences? Which one you advice? smallest the best?

 

[gohkm]

I doubt that there's a 'good' size, it all depends on how you use the airbrush. Assuming you're looking at a double action airbrush, I would suggest that you focus on learning how to control the air and paint flow, so that you can get a broad spray, right up to a small, thin line. Just for reference, I use a Sparmax with a 0.3mm nozzle, and it's quite a skill - getting the nice, big spray for basecoating is easy, but I find trying to get that thin line spray incredibly difficult.

I would also suggest that you look at the ease or difficulty in disassembly of your desired airbrush. I got a couple of cheap Chinese airbrushes (20 bucks a piece), and the single action one was ridiculously hard to break down. I gave up and tossed that one out. The double action wasn't actually a lot better, but at least I could break it apart with some pliers and get at the needle/nozzle assembly.

It might be worth freighting in a good airbrush, say, a Paasche or an Iwata. Sparmax isn't too bad, and is pretty reasonably priced - I got mine at about $70 AUD, but I'm sure that if I asked my mates in Taiwan, they would be able to get it cheaper than that.

 

[RuneBrush]

My Iwata came from an ebay seller in China and was a bargain. However it was a lot more than $20

Needle size depends entirely on what you're hoping to achieve - so the question is what specifically are you hoping to do? My 0.3mm is great and I don't have any wish to change as it fulfils everything I want.

pete

 

[Einion]

What are you intending to spray? That will completely govern what might be most suitable. If you're intending to use it just for basecoating and basic 'area spraying', you don't need the smallest nozzle size (and it might be actively a bad choice). But if you want to try to use it for painting thin, even lines then you do need a finer nozzle obviously.

Einion

 

[boubi]

Thanks for the feedback, I was looking for airbrush for basecoat, shadow and highlight before coming back to adjust the blending with normal brush, in order to speed up my painting capacity (a bit like the video of speedpainting by miniature mentor). I was also looking to paint bigger models, for example Stonehorn or even Mournfang cavalry from GW. As mentioned in other post want to start small not spending for the highest level of equipment that's why I was comparing entry level airbrush produced in China and for the same price you have 0.2, 0.25, 0.3mm and above. I was curious to know what are the differences brought by the nozzle size in order to make a good choice and not being disappointed by something that I will never be able to control and use correctly from a bad choice. So will it have a major difference? if no, why there are different sizes? what are the actual differences for mini painting? best choice?

 

[RuneBrush]

I believe (and may be corrected) that the nozzle size generally indicates the smallest line that's possible to achieve using your airbrush. So a 0.2 can achieve a finer line than a 0.3. Airbrushes are quite versatile bits of kit, used in anything from custom motorcycle paint jobs through to nail art which is why there's quite a variety. Personally my 0.3 works for doing what you've mentioned quite happily.

I've not watched the speedpainting MM video yet - must download it and watch I reckon

One thing to bear in mind is that you get what you pay for. If you look to "go cheap" expect to replace most of your bits within six months. It's very common to hear of somebody who starts off with a low-end badger and pressurised cans and then replaces the can's with a compressor and then brush with a better quality one. However you shouldn't need to spend the earth either.

The other thing that I would mention is that I found it really useful to start off with a piece of scenery to experiment on. I learned quite a bit about how to manipulate the airbrush and to achieve blends and shadows/highlights. Still a long way to go, but quite good.

 

[airhead]

The nozzle size is the opening at the nozzle. This opening is always partially taken up with the needle. (in no case that I'm aware of does a gun pull the needle all the way back behind the opening of the nozzle.

One thing to look at in an unknown airbrush brand is parts availability. How much does a new needle & cone (nozzle) cost and how long to get it?

Nozzle size can be a disadvantage if you are shooting stuff that is not ground fine enough to pass between the needle and the opening - i.e. metallic or iridescent paints that have bits of glitter in them.

On the other hand, nozzle size is often used as a judge of quality (smaller opening = better airbrush) but this is not necessarily true - brand plays more into quality than nozzle size.

 

[boubi]

Ok, I will give it a try, the airbrush is actually quite cheap... In China you have a really famous website called www.taobao.com where you can find almost everything at the cheapest price. Most middle class chinese are buying on the website 3-5 times per week. There are million of express parcels sent everyday in Shanghai only. So you can find the replacing parts quite easily as other cheap goodies.
I will keep you inform in my WIP thread, but as everybody mentioned in other threads it will take me time to get good results, I will give it a try on my actual Mournfang Cavalry then on my Stonehorn (bigger models). Lets see for speed paint ogre later where the difficulty might increase by having a smaller surface to spray on!

 

[Einion]

...as everybody mentioned in other threads it will take me time to get good results...

'Everybody' might be wrong; see my comments at the bottom of this thread.

Einion

 

[boubi]

'Everybody' might be wrong; see my comments at the bottom of this thread.

Einion

Read your comments already Einion, and I will only realize it when equipment will be received and try it by myself. But my comments is that the fact using an airbrush is another tool an adaption time is really necessary but will not make the painting and color schemes better