Airheaded suggestions (airbrushes)

[Modderrhu]

I\'ve gone through all the previous airbrush topics, and I\'m happy to go with an Iwata airbrush. I\'ve seen recommendations for the HP-B and HP-C - both gravity fed, which suits me. So, two final questions;
- Are the Eclipse HP-BS and HP-CS the same, except for the HP-CS having a larger cup?
- Why would I want to get an Eclipse HP instead of the Revolution CR, since the Eclipse requires a lot more dough?

Basically, a toss-up between these two,
Eclipse HP-BS or CS

and the Revolution CS

 

[Garyo]

Well not only do you get the groovy cutaway handle with the bs, but it\'s machined to a higher tollerance and in theory with mucho practice you should be able to paint a finer line. I use my HP-C all the time on mini\'s and have yet to need it to go finer. If you are thinking about doing illustration work you might want to think about it though...

Garyo

 

[mrteal]

I personally just got an HP-AH for smaller stuff and its great. Really depends on what you are going to be doing, for us to suggest which is better suited for you.

 

[finn17]

Easy toss-up Mod.....

Are you going to be spraying tanks and garden sheds or individual minis???

It seems like you have already made all the important decisions, and I certainly can\'t fault your choice, but how much paint do you want to load at any one time? Those ABs with big paint carrying capacity do limit your ability to do fine work you know..

HTH

Steve

 

[Modderrhu]

Originally posted by Garyo
...but it\'s machined to a higher tollerance and in theory with mucho practice you should be able to paint a finer line.

Ahhh, so initially I might not notice much of a difference, but later on, I\'d begin to appreciate the finer quality of the HP-BS/CS? Make sense to me.

Originally posted by mrteal
I personally just got an HP-AH for smaller stuff and its great. Really depends on what you are going to be doing, for us to suggest which is better suited for you.

Good point. My brother is turning into a propeller head, and we\'ve been talking about getting an airbrush. My dad was a track head, and there are some models he built that need painting. So, mainly, it will be used for model vehicles and individual minis.

Now, the best undercoating I\'ve seen has been done by airbrushing PVA paint onto a mini. The coat is even and tenacious. Also, I\'ll be painting some small pieces of terrain. I\'m thinking to get a cheap single-action for these jobs, though.

One day when I start to freehand my minis with an airbrush, I\'ll go for a HP-A.

Edit:

Originally posted by finn17
Those ABs with big paint carrying capacity do limit your ability to do fine work you know..

Um-hum! Definitely helped, Steve. After reading the replies so far, I am tending towards the HP-BS. It has limited paint capacity for terrain, but a single-action with a large capacity shouldn\'t break the bank.

 

[finn17]

Single action with med to large capacity...

You can pick them up really cheaply. Auto suppliers are a good source as is eBay. Great idea to have a both a cheap \'shotgun\' and a fine \'sniper\'s rifle\'.

 

[Modderrhu]

Originally posted by finn17
Great idea to have a both a cheap \'shotgun\' and a fine \'sniper\'s rifle\'.

Just what I was thinking, but less in terms of fire-arms, and more in terms of B-cups and DDD-cups.

Thanks, guys. I\'ll get the HP-BS.

 

[Einion]

If you want to get a \'shotgun\' type then seriously consider an Aztek, it\'ll do what you want it for while being so much easier to maintain than a trad metal airbrush.

Einion

 

[finn17]

I\'ll second that...

Azteks are considered second rate by AB officianados but they are very versatile and very easy to maintain.

 

[airhead]

wow...
Love my HP-B

The revolution is a fine gun, but not the tight line of the HP-B (think fine-line mechanical pencil vs. standard sharpie with the aztec being a blunt tip marker) All good tools in their own right, but each with a different purpose.

If you want to go real fine, try an HP-CM (Custom Micron) or a Paashe Tubin AB. (both make you say ouch in your pocketbook).

 

[Modderrhu]

Right, I\'ve found the HP-BS for $119, and the HP-B for $139. I think the choice there is a no-brainer: HP-B. http://www.shoptheartstore.com Now to find out why the bastards don\'t list South Africa in their shipping destination countries. Obtaining these things locally, is at least twice the price. If that site won\'t ship to ZA, then I\'ll get the HP-B Plus for R1800 ($277). Not too much more than the HP-BS at R1695 ($261). I love South Africa, but getting specialist stuff like this is a pain in the arse.

The Aztec A220 has been found locally for R205 ($31). It might be out of production now, but it\'s cheap.

 

[airhead]

Don\'t know about shipping to your part of the world, but a good source of info and all things airbrush is:

bear air

check that. Seems Bear Air and Iwata are having dificulties.

 

[Einion]

I\'ve used Bear Air as a go-to recommendation for airbrushes for a while too.

Weird about the Iwata thing eh? Are they trying to limit their sales? ???

Einion

 

[Jarrett]

Im using an Aztek 470 - works great so far, and easy to clean. I just painted 4 Tau tanks with it very quickly and easily.

 

[airhead]

@Einion, I have no clue. Only guess on my part would be the brick & mortars are whining to Iwata that Bear Air is too cheap.

 

[Modderrhu]

That\'d be my guess too. All the major retailers/suppliers threatened to pull Iwata because they couldn\'t compete with Bear Air, so Iwata had to make a choice.

Oh well, a friend of mine in the US is taking receipt of my shiny new HP-BS. The local hunt for a compressor starts on Saturday. :bouncy:

 

[EPStudios]

I use a typical dual action aztec... It has been treating me well. Though, I didn\'t take proper care of it as first and ended up ruining 4 of the provided 6 tips fairly quickly.

 

[airhead]

Originally posted by EPStudios
I use a typical dual action aztec...and ended up ruining 4 of the provided 6 tips fairly quickly.

EP, you know that you can actually disassemble the tip cartridges? There is a retainer, a needle and a spring in there. Pull apart and run under the tap a while to get ALL the paint out.

Then use a cone shaped proxy brush in the little tip while the needle is out.