Badger Airbrushes... worth it?

[Taun2305]

Hello all,

I really want to start using a airbrush for my mini's the guys over at Awesome Paint Job recommend the Badger airbrushes I was looking at the velocity I was wondering if anyone has any experience with them can could share their experiences with me and let me know if there a good buy for a 25mm painter. I would like one that can do base coating and blending. especially would like one to use on Cang when he arrives.

 

[Einion]

I would like one that can do base coating and blending. especially would like one to use on Cang when he arrives.

Big difference in requirements. But yes, Badgers are good. They're not the best or for that matter the only brand you could go with, but many people use them and recommend them so clearly they can be good enough.

If you haven't already done so, I'd highly recommend searching for prior threads on airbrushing (lots of 'em here) which have numerous recommendations and tips, including options on compressors. The compressor is at least as important as the airbrush, not least because it's likely to cost you more.

Einion

 

[airhead]

If funds are limited, I'd go with Paashe over Badger.

The Badgers I've used have all felt like intro guns, not like professional tools (if that makes any sense.)

That said, I've not used the Crescendo (sp?), so I reserve my judgement on ALL Badgers.

As Enion said, a lot depends on what you are wanting to do with an airbrush. The same gun won't clear-coat helmets, paint truck murals, t-shirts and photo-realistic artwork.

 

[RuneBrush]

Agree with Airhead on the fact that Badgers are a good make as an introduction into airbrushing but ultimately if you get on with it, you'll end up with one of the more expensive airbrushes. I went from my bottom fed badger to a gravity fed iwata and have never looked back.

And you certainly do need a compressor if you're serious in wanting to do some airbrushing!

 

[Einion]

Agree with Airhead on the fact that Badgers are a good make as an introduction into airbrushing but ultimately if you get on with it, you'll end up with one of the more expensive airbrushes. I went from my bottom fed badger to a gravity fed iwata and have never looked back.

To be fair though, this is comparing a Golden Delicious to a Seville (one step on from apples to oranges).

...

There are plenty of threads on the Renegade Velocity on various fora and reviews are mostly very positive.

But price-wise, as a general thing you should be able to beat Badger, Paasche and of course Iwata in a gravity-feed, double-action airbrush with a fine nozzle, even in a trad all-metal airbrush type. The Renegade Velocity specifically is over $150 full retail (available for under $100) and there are one or two decent ABs that run to around $50-70... so if cost is the major determinant that's the decision made right there.

Einion

 

[pauk777]

I actually just picked up a Badger Velocity - I'm new to airbrushing for minis myself but found this on youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/user/WGConsortium#p/c/11472D3558AEA3F7/0/5vDgaRqlhI0
Really helpful unbiased review of a number of airbrushes and compressors.
Also I found that of the online stores, TCP Global had the best prices and on a large range, no matter what model you end up chosing.
Good luck!

 

[CreganTur]

I have a Badger Crescendo that I got a couple months ago- I got the kit that comes with 3 different sets of nozzles/needles that range from wide to fine. I really like it- works wel, easy to clean, but I have never been able to use the fine nozzle in the ways that they claim. They say the fine nozzle can do pencil lines- it can do very small stuff, but not that small. I can use it to highlight figures to such a degree that I just have to come back with a brush for the final extreme highlights.

My biggest problem is that I feel like my paints have a tendency to clump on the needle no matter how thin they are- it's like an instantaneous thing that makes painting a bit of a challenge at times.

Be sure you pick up a set of fine cleaning brushes so you can scrub out the nozzles- and look for a 40% or 50% off coupon for Michaels- that's where I got mine.

 

[Einion]

My biggest problem is that I feel like my paints have a tendency to clump on the needle no matter how thin they are- it's like an instantaneous thing that makes painting a bit of a challenge at times.

That's a pretty regular thing spraying acrylic and vinyl paints; happens to me all the time with the Aztek.

I keep a stiff-bristled brush handy, dampened in acetone or alcohol, to clean off the needle tip periodically. With the occasional spray-through of water I'm usually good to go throughout a long spraying session (say a couple of hours at the outside).

Einion

 

[RuneBrush]

That's a pretty regular thing spraying acrylic and vinyl paints; happens to me all the time with the Aztek.

I keep a stiff-bristled brush handy, dampened in acetone or alcohol, to clean off the needle tip periodically. With the occasional spray-through of water I'm usually good to go throughout a long spraying session (say a couple of hours at the outside).

Einion

Exactly the same with my Iwata. The colour of paint makes a huge difference too - GW Foundation paints need the needle cleaned a lot more regularly than something like a regular yellow paint. I think once you realise this is "normal" and accept that making sure you remove the needle gak regularly it just becomes part of the process. I rarely (i.e. never) paint with the needle cover on the airbrush which makes spotting and removing gak much quicker.

 

[airhead]

This is why you see a lot of airbrushers with a long fingernail. Gotta go mineing for gak instead of boogers.
Easy to just flick it off with just a fingernail.
Another option is a q-tip (cotton bud), but use the ones with the hollow plastic tube. Wet it, poke it over your needle, twirl and done.

 

[Mr_Zsasz]

this is a rather noobie question but are airbrushes absolutely necessary to achieve some quality level? i'm going to take all the painting thing more seriously so I am getting some stuff for it - I only have my old paintbrushes. I'm totally unfamiliar with airbrushes, hence the question.

 

[airhead]

this is a rather noobie question but are airbrushes absolutely necessary to achieve some quality level? i'm going to take all the painting thing more seriously so I am getting some stuff for it - I only have my old paintbrushes. I'm totally unfamiliar with airbrushes, hence the question.

not for most 25-50 mm scale stuff.
You get into armor (tanks, etc) or you get into 12" models (anime vinyl, large resin, etc) and you may find an airbrush a very handy tool for doing camo patterns, or flesh tones on the big stuff.

Most of the users at the mini level are looking to prime without cans or into the armor aspect.

 

[RuneBrush]

As Airhead says, airbrushes are a fantastic (verging on invaluable) for doing larger models and scenery. I also use an airbrush for bulk base coating - so the whole of my Space Wolves army has been base coated Fenris Grey with an airbrush.

Personally (and this is my opinion) having good traditional brush & painting skills is more important than an airbrush. I find that it's possible to spot something that has been solely airbrushed*, but something that has been airbrushed and then had the final shadow & highlights and all of the details painted by hand suddenly looks superb.

pete

* There are talented folk out there who can break this opinion

 

[Einion]

this is a rather noobie question but are airbrushes absolutely necessary to achieve some quality level? i'm going to take all the painting thing more seriously so I am getting some stuff for it - I only have my old paintbrushes. I'm totally unfamiliar with airbrushes, hence the question.

Depends on what you're painting. For certain jobs when working at larger scales (or large pieces in smaller scales) arguably they are necessary to achieving a certain standard of finish, as well as some specific effects. Paint type matters too - airbrushing makes possible certain effects with acrylic or vinyl paint that would otherwise be very challenging to do, and/or very time consuming (and to be blunt: impossible for some people).

But for mini painting generally - figure work more generally, up to a certain size - no, not absolutely necessary.

Einion

 

[airhead]

That's what I was trying to say.
Too many paint fumes got in the way....

 

[Mr_Zsasz]

Ok, then I'll wait to get one because for now I only have 25mm on my mind - more concretely, the one I recently submitted. I really appreciate the feedback, thanks! Now I don't have to make a probably repeated thread for it.