Airbrush recommendations

Started by acctingman, June 08, 2017, 10:44:41 AM

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acctingman

So, I tried my hand in 15mm ww2 miniature gaming and while it was ok, what I enjoyed the most was painting the tanks! Selling off my mini's and terrain I made  :bd:

15mm is a nice looking scale for gaming, but I'm looking at 1/72-76 or possibly 1/48th for tank kits. I found I didn't need an airbrush for 15mm, but anything larger I think an airbrush is going to be a requirement. So, here I am, asking any kits builders what you'd recommend for an airbrush.

Thinking I should start out with a used airbrush or something entry level as I build up skill and technique. Has anyone used those trigger brushes?

Danke!

Barthheart

JD just went through this... the thread should still be here somewhere....

acctingman

Oh, great. I'll take a peek around  :notworthy:

Barthheart



Bison

You mean to tell me we haven't had an airbrush recommendation thread in 4 years?  Wow are we slacking in this joint.

mirth

Quote from: Bison on June 08, 2017, 12:14:20 PM
You mean to tell me we haven't had an airbrush recommendation thread in 4 years?  Wow are we slacking in this joint.

The dongle threads have been all consuming.
"45 minutes of pooping Tribbles being juggled by a drunken Horta would be better than Season 1 of TNG." - SirAndrewD

"you don't look at the mantelpiece when you're poking the fire" - Bawb

"Can't 'un' until you 'pre', son." - Gus

Bison

I'd rather discuss airbrushes personally.

acctingman

#8
I do know that I don't want to spend too much right out of the box....I've used an airbrush a couple time many many years ago. Something used and cheap while I hon my skills. I'll practice on a couple cheap kits but after that is the help I'll need.

I REALLY like the look of these and from what little I've read, they seems to be very popular.

https://www.amazon.com/Grex-Tritium-TG3-Trigger-Gravity-Airbrush/dp/B002XQ2K5W/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1496942480&sr=8-1&keywords=grex+tritium

Review...

http://www.finescale.com/product-info/kit-reviews/2014/05/grex-airbrushes

JudgeDredd

You rang?

I bought a Harder & Steenbeck Ultra.

https://www.air-craft.net/acatalog/Harder-Steenbeck-Ultra-Airbrush.html?gclid=CIn-ofzlrtQCFawK0wodODQJDw

It was a great brush, but I was having some difficulty with the trigger (it requires downward pressure to allow air and pull back pressure to allow paint flow). If you can control it, it's great but I had difficulty (because I was new to it - not because it's not a nice configuration).

In the end I sold that and bought this bad boy (similar to yours)

Iwata Neo Trn1
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Iwata-Gravity-Pistol-Trigger-Airbrush/dp/B00HJ777W6/ref=sr_1_4/262-3946170-7516226?ie=UTF8&qid=1496944024&sr=8-4&keywords=airbrush+iwata+neo
or in the US
https://www.amazon.com/Iwata-Medea-NEO-TRN-Trigger-Airbrush/dp/B00HJ777W6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1496944093&sr=8-1&keywords=neo+trn1

I love it. The trigger mech is much easier for me to use. It's easy to control paint and airflow, it's easy to strip down and clean and it's got a preset nut at the back (as do most - including my Harder & Steenbeck) to set the maximum pull back of the needle, limiting paint flow.
Alba gu' brath

JudgeDredd

I should also point out what I "skimped on" was the air compressor - something I plan to remedy soon.
Alba gu' brath

Bison

I've been considering this one or one similar to it.  http://www.hobbylobby.com/Crafts-Hobbies/Model-Kits/Airbrushes/Neo-Gravity-Feed-Trigger-Airbrush/p/80732503

I'm just not ready to drop the money on an airbrush, compressor, and then another line of paints....yet.  Give me a year or two and that might change.  I'm really more interested in one for priming purposes, because I've come to not enjoy using the aerosol cans of primer.


acctingman

Can't really find anything used in my area, but after visiting a Hobby Lobby I think I'm going to pick up one of those beginner $25 airbrush kits that take the canned repentant (and a bargain bin kit to practice on) to get a feel for everything. Once I feel my skills are adequate I'll graduate to a nice trigger airbrush.

Thanks for the info gents

JudgeDredd

I'll be honest with you I bought a cheap starter set (about £60 I think it was for the airbrush and compressor of which roundabout £20 was the airbrush) and I was having no end of issues getting any consistency.

I had no idea whether it was the brush or the compressor (airing  ;D  on the compressor because of the air feed feeling ropey). I posted around the internet and the general consensus was that the brush was not up to the job.

Changed the brush and hey presto - a working solution.

In short, I wasted some money. YMMV but I thought I should pass on my experience.
Alba gu' brath