Airbrush advice & opinions

[Model Builder 4]

Afternoon all,

Well guys it's nearly that time of year again, the season of present given, so I thought I would treat myself to a new airbrush I currently have a neo for iwata but the limited time that I have used it I can only say I'm not a huge fan of it so I'm in the market for a new one. I have been looking at and reading up on the ( badger renegade krome ) but what I can make out from its description and it's advert is, it's a super duper detailing brush while this may be great for my 35th scale models how will it fare with the bigger stuff of my 16th scale tanks ? I would like to hear what airbrushes you guys use and ones you would recommend, I'm looking for a decent quality all rounder, something reliable and which can tolerate my attempts at painting Any advice and opinions on this subject before I spend my hard earned would be very much appreciated,

Cheers, Lee.

[ALPHA]

Greetings MB....best Airbrush IMO is Passche....they are easy to maintain..with very few tip parts...I tend to like the older ones more than the new...but that's a personal preference as the old ones have a dome shaped trigger and the new ...a concave.....there are two primary models one is the VL the other is H...the H is a single action ...really good for shooting straight non diluted paint like a clear...the VL is a double action...the control is unsurpassed in my opinion...needle/tip changes can be done in a minute with no special tools
The good thing is a lot of airbrushers consider Passche to be obsolete....which means there are super deals to be had on EBAY and other auction sites

As an added note...both the VL and H are siphon feed...so you can use a variety of paint holders when you paint...also makes for quick flushes when changing colors

ALPHA

PS. If you look at any of my current Paint Jobs...they are done with a cheap 14 dollar Chinese Badger 100 copy....I am doing this just to show that it really doesn't matter what airbrush you use...but how finish is dependent on good technique ...Now with that said...I wouldn't say I would recommend this China copy...as really...it just doesn't have the "FEEL" of the Passche which fits my hand much better

[ALPHA]

Just an added note....if you don't like your Iwata...there's a good chance you won't like the Badger...they are very similar in design...Badger did try to copy Passche with their Cressendo gun...but that was a total fail....use of poor materials is what I suspect...I got one of those to try it out...it's ok...but dollar for dollar I'll choose the Passche

ALPHA

PS. The person I bought the Badger from sold it because it failed on him...he didn't admit it ...but what I found upon receiving the gun was that the velocity cone had flared to the point where the needle had no effect on the volume (because of improper trigger adjustment)....I purchased a aftermarket stainless cone and needle to make it work properly...Passche...everything is stainless from the get go...flaring is very rare...in most cases they fail because the user dropped it ...bending the needle or distorting the cone

[Model Builder 4]

Thanks Alpha

I know what you mean about the cheapy Chinese brushes, I had one free with my compressor and I just used it on a 1/35th Cromwell and to base coat my 16th stug, I got a more satisfactory finish with that than my neo I will have a look into the one's you've suggested and see what I can find, thanks for your help,

Cheers, Lee.

[maxmekker]

following.

I have used the 'hobbyking' / and the Norwegian walmart type 0,3mm for many years and good results , and last night bought the 0,4mm sparmax.. I could have saved me that,well atleast for now I did not get the 'liking' for it as I was hoping ..

The sparmax MAX-3 looks like it would be a better choise.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eo_c-YMxGUo

[ALPHA]

Thanks Alpha

I know what you mean about the cheapy Chinese brushes, I had one free with my compressor and I just used it on a 1/35th Cromwell and to base coat my 16th stug, I got a more satisfactory finish with that than my neo I will have a look into the one's you've suggested and see what I can find, thanks for your help,

Cheers, Lee.

Passches are especially good if you have fat fingers and equally chubby hands ....when I use the thin pencil type brushes they tend to move in my hand as I pull on the trigger...never happens with a Passche

ALPHA

[billpe]

I use an Iwata Revolution CR for general work, very efficient at covering large areas. Will do a 1/16 tank with about 25ml. For detail I have an Iwata HPC. It's a better all rounder but is a bit more fiddly to tune in to the flow you want. If I was to buy a new one tomorrow I'd get the HP-CH as that allows for super fine detail settings.

[Max-U52]

I've had several different airbrushes, but my fave is the Iwata HP-CS. I've never tried a Neo but I hope that won't turn you off to Iwata airbrushes. I've also had good luck with Testors airbrushes but I haven't tried the Aztec series. I do, however, have an old testors single action that's absolutely perfect for spraying future (or PFM or pledge or whatever they're calling it these days). My Iwata is gravity feed with color cup but you'd be amazed how much coverage I get from that little cup of paint. I've done a few camo jobs on tanks with it and I really love the thing. I did add the special handle kit, though, and that makes things a LOT easier and it's also very, very easy to clean with the adaptation in place. The whole needle pulls right out for easy cleaning, and we all know that with ANY airbrush, rule number ONE is that you have to keep it clean!

The one bad thing about Iwata's is the price. Being in the US I'm afraid I can't help you get a deal. Over here I show guys where to get a 40% off coupon for Hobby Lobby and that makes a big difference. Do you plan to use this brush just for painting tanks? Whatever your set-up for 1/35 is it should also work fine for figures and stowage and what-not.

[Model Builder 4]

Thank you all for your input guy's , I mainly use the airbrush for painting larger things like tanks, vehicles and groundwork on my dioramas, for smaller items like figures and stowage I prefer to brush paint . I have not been put off the iwata brand but although the neo is a budget airbrush it's still considerably more expensive than the Freeby one I have which sprays as good if not better ! I may start over again with the neo and see if myself and it can work things out I have got a few bits and pieces to spray over the weekend so I hope it will go a little better, if not keep an eye out on the sales page for a neo iwata

Cheers, Lee.

[ALPHA]

Good Luck MB
Just an added note to why I like Paasche airbrushes

If not for you...for anyone who might be reading....if you look at the breakdown...cleanup is made easy because there is only three parts aside from the needle to clean....another good point is that all the parts are easy to get / replace...the velocity cone #4 can be purchased in different sizes and changed out as fast as changing the needle...no special tool required
Most other airbrushes...Grex Iwata Badger and most Chinese Brands are configured like this

where there is four to five parts in the nose....the velocity cone #50-0391,0392.0393...can also be replaced like the Paasche...but for some models are hard to acquire....and difficult to change out...requiring a special wrench for removal ...which can sometimes result in damage to 50-0381,0382.0383...in the case of Chinese guns ...it's probably better to just buy three with the different setting ..as the guns cost about the same as the tip
The velocity cone on this type usually gets clogged much easier...and is harder to clean...you actually at times need to use the needle to push out any accumulated gunk ...this is because of the threaded area on the velocity cone... Paasche actually gives you the tools to clean the cone
If you also notice...if you change the cone on the Badger type gun...you also have to change the cone support
With all this said...if you are a pretty "seasoned" airbrusher...you probably do well enough with one tip

Happy AirBrushing Gents


ALPHA

PS.. I generally like siphon feeds....the reason is basically because I can use a larger variety of bottles...one which I can fill with solvent for fast flushes between color changes
Gravity feeds are just ok to me ....mostly because you have to clean the entire nose of the gun ...to make a color change...the other problem is because my trigger finger hits the cup