Airbrush basics in the UK

[Rev]

HI folks.

I know this comes up all the time, but I\'d really appreciate your advice regardless.

I want to buy an airbrush.

The reading I\'ve done seems to suggest that I want a double action, gravity fed, internal mixing airbrush with a compressor.

I want it (currently) for painting large vehicles (GW valkyrie/landraider sized) with basecoats and camo patterns.

Can someone give me some specific suggestions as to what I need to buy?

I\'ve heard good things about Aztec, Passche and badger for my needs. Iwata sound amazing but might be too much for my needs.

Can you buy and is it worth buying \'complete kits\' i.e. airbrush & compressor toghether (I\'ve seen a few on Ebay) aimed at miniature painters? or is it better to buy the componants seperatly (if so which do I need specifically)

Which kit or products am I looking to buy for my basic needs? Some specific suggestions with pro\'s cons would be great.

Bear in mind i\'m in the UK. I don\'t want to spend a fortune, but am prepared to pay enough to get a solid setup.

Thanks so much for your time, I value the input of my betters!

Regards

Rev

Reading UK

p.s. Thanks to those I\'ve pm\'d re this matter also.






EDIT - as a started what do people in the know think about a kit like;



THIS?

 

[sg2009]

id advice you to get a 2 dual action internal mix airbrush\'s.

one with graity feed for more detailed work

and one bottom feed for more general spraying large objects

for a compressor you need make sure it has a moisture trap

im no expert on airbrush\'s so id recommend you pm airhead as he knows his stuff when it comes to airbrush\'s

 

[nick232]

this should help, nice \'nd cheep, plus they work just as well as my Iwata!

http://www.airbrush-pro.co.uk/index.html?target=dept_118.html&lang=en-gb

 

[airhead]

Those look pretty good and at a GREAT price. But I\'ve thrown away a few \'house brand\' cheap guns. I\'d be willing to give one a try anyway. At that price they are almost disposable.

For shooting just two pieces of armor, I would not invest in a high end gun. If you think you\'ll be shooting more, then I\'d go for it.

1. All you want to shoot is these two pieces of armor: Get an Aztec or try one of these guns that Nick linked. I\'d go with a top-feed, 0.2 mm, dual action gun. At less than 20 pounds, you don\'t have that much to lose. If it turns out to be crap, so be it. If it shoots one tank and jams up, ok.

2. You get bit by the bug and suddenly have to paint everything that will hold still long enough... You\'ll end up with several guns that will shoot from very fine to the whole house.

***

Compressors, 1/4 to 1/10 HP diaphragm compressors with a tank, pressure regulator and moisture trap is about the minimum. I\'ve got an old Badger without a tank that is 20 years old, will put out 40 psi and won\'t die. I added a tank via some hoses and an automotive spare air tank. Takes a while to get going as that thing has to bring that whole tank up to pressure, but then I\'m off an running with clean dry air.

I\'ve gone through 2 other compressors and have a small industrial and a large industrial out in my garage for other variuos things.

 

[Rev]

Thanks all.

Nick, on your link are some kits for under £100 inc compressors LINK would I be a fool to get something so cheap?

This kit is at the other end of the scale at £200 LINK but it might be too much for me.


Would it be better to get a good compressor and a cheaper brush as per your link nick? If so which compressor will do what I want for the best price, and low noise.

rev

 

[scottjames]

Just as an aside, I bought a cheap Badger airbrush recently that takes canned propellant. It was my first ever airbrush so I wanted to test the waters without much investment, i.e. under twenty pounds (GBP). It\'s great so far. I am getting used to using it, I have sprayed some terrain pieces, a vehicle, basecoated some infantry, played with spraying washes, with dusting, stippling, and am now doing a modular board with it.

One day I might buy a better one with a compressor, but this one is doing me fine for now and I didn\'t risk much cash getting into it.

 

[nick232]

Originally posted by Rev
Thanks all.

Nick, on your link are some kits for under £100 inc compressors LINK would I be a fool to get something so cheap?

This kit is at the other end of the scale at £200 LINK but it might be too much for me.


Would it be better to get a good compressor and a cheaper brush as per your link nick? If so which compressor will do what I want for the best price, and low noise.

rev

their absolutely fine, i use their compressor, and then an iwata brush and its great, but their brushes are just as good as iwata, just cheeper!

 

[squig hunter]

Hmm, I have managed to get a really quite good setup for just over £200, which is an Aztek \"deluxe professional\" airbrush, and a Revell standard compressor, the airbrush is really good, and easy to clean because it doesn\'t rely on such a complicated internal mechanism as most of them do, with this you just have the main body, and then you can slot in a variety of different nozzles for different effects and things, and also a variety of different paintcups, giving you options for bottom and gravity feeds Can reccomend this, also, it is one of the only airbrushes with a strong enough hose that it doesn\'t need a braided one

Finally, it comes in a swanky wooden box

http://www.wonderlandmodels.com/products/aztek-wooden-airbrush-set-with-case/
http://www.wonderlandmodels.com/products/revell-standard-class-compressor/

 

[Einion]

Originally posted by squig hunter
http://www.wonderlandmodels.com/products/aztek-wooden-airbrush-set-with-case/
http://www.wonderlandmodels.com/products/revell-standard-class-compressor/

Just a headsup for anyone in the market, that\'s not the very best price for the Aztek but it\'s pretty decent, equivalent to $134 US. Coincidentally I saw it here just this morning for nearly the exact same price (approx 100 Euros)!

Edit: slightly better price from Sylmasta. Postage differences might be enough to swing it back the other way so do check.

Einion

 

[Rev]

Man I\'ve spent ALL DAY researching this I feel like I\'ve owned and used them all....

Thanks so much for those who are taking the time to email etc (Airhead..) Its amazing thanks.

I\'m thinking I might shell out a bit extra for a airbrush compressor with a tank. The tank seems to make the airflow a bit more reliable correct? I\'ve seen THIS OFFERING on ebay, any thoughts? Its local to me is another reason I\'ve picked it out.

There\'s also THIS ONE, which has been pointed out before. Its about £100 but comes with 2 brushes I could start to try out with before buying a better one...

With that I\'d look to get a brush kit for 50-80 I\'d guess, perhaps one of those aztec wooden boxes with all diff nozzles.

oh, and are piston/diaphragm compressors the same thing?


thanks again keep the advice flowing.

rev

 

[generulpoleaxe]

get the deal mate, you can always get better brushes at a later date if you decide to get more into it.

if you need help with stripping and cleaning the airbrush just give me a shout and i\'ll take you through it.

 

[Einion]

Personally, I\'d go with a brand name every time when it comes to an airbrush. How do you know if those bundled ones are pretty good, not bad or rubbish? I wouldn\'t want to take the risk.

Plus what about replacement parts? For traditional ABs you can need a new needle and nozzle first time out if you\'re unlucky (no exaggeration, I know someone who bent two needles in five minutes)! Even ignoring major parts, can you get washers/seals if needed?

Einion

 

[airhead]

I have a stong suspicion that those bundled airbrushes would not sell in any decent art supply shop. Like Enion said, where you going to get parts for it? You will crash a needle. Spare needle & cone are a must.


I\'d jump on that compressor though. Pretty good price (at least compaired to ones over here...)

Iwata eclipse or aztec on that and your in business. Don\'t forget to order a hose with it.

Originally posted by Einion
...I know someone who bent two needles in five minutes

Ouch. I\'ve had bad days, but that had to take the cake. What gun? Iwata CM and you\'re looking at $50 for a needle/cone.

 

[Rev]

hmmm split opinion here.

some reckon the cheaper kit is fine.

Some reckon to get a more expensive one.

Lets say I\'ve got £200 max.

I\'m happy to spend £100, but willing to blow it all if neccessary. What would you do?

 

[cybersquig]

I\'ve brought the cheap brush that Airhead said he would look at from the cheap website linked above, with one of their compressors, and I have to say that it kicks the ass of the revell one I was using before. An excellent buy, particularly for a first timer. The spares on the site are easy enough to order and they have very (very) fast delivery times when I\'ve put in for things. Can\'t recommend them highly enough.

you might as well shell out the £15 on the cheap one before blowing £150 - worst thing that happens is that you use it for six months and get the hang of airbrushing until you decide it\'s time to upgrade - then you\'re bending cheap needles too!

 

[Jericho]

If you\'re going to get into some serious airbrushing, then a compressor with a tank would be very nice. Mine is nice, tiny and quiet, but doesn\'t have a tank so it\'s always got to be turned on. I\'m not convinced that I made the right choice there.

That reminds me, how do you add a tank to an existing compressor?

Anyway you don\'t need to go too crazy just yet, the Iwata Eclipse series is pretty damn sexy, I bought an HP-CS for my first airbrush about a year ago after doing a ton of research. Loving it so far.

Anyway there\'s lots of good advice on the thread so far. In the end you\'ll just have to decide whether to test the waters a bit first with a cheap disposable gun, or go balls-deep and hope for the best. I went for the latter

 

[Rev]

Thanks so much all.

I\'m thinking about doing this;

1) buying a compressor from ebayer or a retailer. I\'ve seen some nice iwata ones on ebay at a good price. They seem nice and quiet, and despite the lack of tank reviews seem to suggest pulsing air flow is minimal.

2) Start with a £15 brush from Nicks link. I think I\'ll go this route, with everyintention of buying a better brush in a few months time.

3) Buy a brush as recommends by many of you from an iwata or similar.

Thanks again for your input. Has anyone used an iwata compressor out there?

rev

 

[Jericho]

I have the Iwata SprintJet, which is probably one of the ones you\'ve read about. It\'s very quiet, the pulsing is minimal since it has a moisture tap and regulator included, but the pressure does drop off pretty quickly after a few seconds of spraying. Not a huge issue with thinned down paints, but not quite ideal either.

I didn\'t really research compressors much at all before buying this one, so I don\'t know how it compares to other ones on the market. I\'ve never had a problem but you might be able to get your hands on a decent one with a tank for less? One of the more experienced guys would probably know better than me

 

[Einion]

Originally posted by airhead

Originally posted by Einion
...I know someone who bent two needles in five minutes

Ouch. I\'ve had bad days, but that had to take the cake. What gun? Iwata CM and you\'re looking at $50 for a needle/cone.

I think it was a Devilbiss. This was a loong time back but I think the needles were over 20 quid, maybe $35 at the exchange rate then. Ouch.

Originally posted by Rev
Lets say I\'ve got £200 max.

I\'m happy to spend £100, but willing to blow it all if neccessary. What would you do?

Buy the compressor, then go look for a cheaper AB....

...like the Premi-Air G35, which you can get for £29.99 and has gotten great reviews in the modelling mags in the last six months.

Einion

 

[Rev]

Yeh I think thats the plan. Thers a few iwata compressors for sale in the UK on ebay at a good price (compared to retail) and Airhead reckons they don\'t need a tank to work without too much pulsing so I\'ll wait and try and grab one.

Then I\'ll get a brush to get a feel for it.

rev