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More about Airbrushes.......

Discussion in 'Acrylics' started by chailey, Mar 16, 2016.

  1. chailey Active Member

    Country:
    England
    Following on from Samson's recent thread on airbrush techniques, I am also looking into using an airbrush for some of the 'spadework' on the larger figures.
    Can anyone suggest a decent quality airbrush/compressor package for around the £100 mark?

    The easier to use the better............

    Thanks,

    Steve
  2. Eludia A Fixture

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
    The Neo for Iwata range are pretty good for the money. Note that these are NOT Iwata airbrushes, they just carry the branding but are good quality for a starter brush. I've since upgraded to a proper Iwata and the difference is noticeable.

    As for the compressor, I bought a cheapo Chinese one from fleabay. It came with a couple of airbrushes which were atrocious so went straight in the bin but the compressor itself is quite good. It has a decent sized tank, adjustable pressure, is relatively quiet (I rest mine on a shelf on top of some sponge mat in my shed) and it hasn't blown up on me....yet.
    chailey and tomifune like this.
  3. kagemusha A Fixture

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
  4. pgarri27 Well-Known Member

    Country:
    United-States
    Buy cheap, get cheap. I started with a Badger cheap airbrush, but when I bought an Iwata, what a difference.
    chailey likes this.
  5. kagemusha A Fixture

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
    With a given budget of £100.....I would be very interested to see what you come up with :whistle:
    martin tabony, chailey and pgarri27 like this.
  6. pgarri27 Well-Known Member

    Country:
    United-States
    chailey likes this.
  7. kagemusha A Fixture

    Country:
    United-Kingdom

    All siphon fed airbrushes have an inherent weakness....the angle the jar is at when held....governs the flow of paint....which is generally erratic at best....
    Any dual action gravity fed AB....within reason....will give more than adequate results....providing the paint is prepared properly for the needle/nozzle size being used....
    I personally....am not a fan of Iwata airbrushes....I have owned three.....and much prefer my Infinity (Harder and Steinbeck)....with my Badger Renegade Krome a close second :)....
    martin tabony and chailey like this.
  8. chailey Active Member

    Country:
    England
    I think perhaps I'll steer well clear of words like 'Basic' and 'Pro', the £100 budget is what it is unfortunately but the ebay deal for the compressor and airbrush for £125 is most certainly a tempting one.
    Thank you all for the thoughts and advice.

    Steve
  9. Kevindunne Active Member

    Country:
    United-States
    Would like to go airbrush for the bigger busts(n0 pun intended) and 120mm figures but have no idea what size( .02. .03) airbrush would be best...gravity fed seems best? Thanks for any info.
  10. Mat Lambert A Fixture

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
    Hi - I got an AS-186 compressor kit new from supplier on eBay 3 years ago for £75 and it's been fine so far. Has all you need to start off, 3litre tank, regulator and moisture trap and is pretty quiet for home use too (I can use it up in the attic at night while the family sleep downstairs and it doesn't disturb anyone). Came with 2 airbrushes which I dismissed at the time but shouldn't have done as they are very good (especially if you think you're getting them for free really) - they perform better than a more expensive Aztek 4709 set that I also got at the time. Just make sure you get a deal that includes a gravity feed airbrush with the cup on the top (mine actually came with the cup on the side).
    I'm no expert but I wouldnt go for anything expensive before you try a setup like this - I think you may be pleasantly surprised as I have been. I'm sure the very Pro airbrushes are better eventually but my cheap kit is fine for now.
    Hope that gives you some confidence with your £100.
    Cheers
    Mat
    chailey likes this.
  11. Mat Lambert A Fixture

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
    My cheap 'chinese' airbrush as described above has a needle of 0.3 but can easily do very fine detail with carefull use, but also goes broad enough for good even coverage too.
    Cheers
    Mat
    martin tabony likes this.
  12. Kevindunne Active Member

    Country:
    United-States
    Thanks Matt...answers all my questions...
    Cheers,
    Kevin
  13. chailey Active Member

    Country:
    England
    I suppose it's 'horses for courses', and dependent on what it's primary purpose will be and what your expectations are.
    I am making the painful journey changing from enamels/oils to acrylic and find on the largest figures (200mm/1.9th) that the borders between highlight and shadow very difficult to portray convincingly using conventional methods.
    My thoughts are to use the airbrush to lay in the basics ( spraying from below for shadow and above for highlight) then accentuate as required using washes, it all sounds so simple doesn't it!:inpain:

    Steve
  14. kagemusha A Fixture

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
    Your budget is adequate for a starting setup....I posted the link to that particular setup because it includes the 'cleaning station'....very useful (y)...
    Please keep in mind....you will need some airbrush lube and cleaner ;)
  15. kagemusha A Fixture

    Country:
    United-Kingdom


    With regard to needle/nozzle sizes....anything between 0.2 - 0.5 mm will provide you with very good results....keep in mind....smaller nozzle/needle sizes require your paint mix to be accurate to aid flow ;)
  16. kagemusha A Fixture

    Country:
    United-Kingdom

    Everything sounds simple when you are looking to achieve a certain result....whilst the airbrush is...IMHO....a valid tool in the figure painters arsenal....it is not the be all and end all of the search for smooth graduations between hi-lite and shadow...
    Spraying in the basics from above and below will not give you true hi-lites and shadows......what it will give you is an idea of where they should go....
    As long as you accept that the airbrush is a complex tool....that....once mastered to a certain level.....can offer superb results....your money will be well spent...
    If you need any help please ask....:)
    chailey likes this.
  17. Kevindunne Active Member

    Country:
    United-States
    I wof acrylics only...still use oils for shadow/highlight...great info...thank you.
    ant to use it for base coats
  18. chailey Active Member

    Country:
    England
    Thanks again all for your input guys, I can now hopefully make a more informed choice than would otherwise been the case.

    Steve
  19. Ron Tamburrini A Fixture

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
    Airbrushes :facepalm::eek::rolleyes:
    Be prepared for a bit of a learning Curve and get it into your head that the cleaning must be manic
    It is the same dilemma often faced with buying a first guitar , get a cheapo and it will put most prospective players off for life as they struggle with a shaped bit of wood masquerading as an instrument
    As for the AB , I have two an HP- B plus which is a love hate affair and a CM-B which cost the price of a cheap run around car:eek: which I find totally useless as the needle and nozzle are to fine for paints , and best suited for inks .
    Would like to try other makes but spent enough on this toy .
    Might be worth going to an AFV modellers club and see how these guys do things before purchase.
  20. kagemusha A Fixture

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
    Or....you could sell the CM-B....and get the CR Plus 2 in 1....which is a much better AB....and will work from the start.....even with bloody Tamiya syrup :LOL: :sneaky:

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