airbrush or brush?

[ALPHA]

One thing for certain Corporal 43...you should always wear a mask when Airbrushing....no...not a Halloween type mask...but one that filters debris from the air .........

In all my years of airbrushing...I can't really say one brand of airbrush is better than another..there is only so much precision that can go into a small tool and still be user friendly...I currently use a cheapo knock off chinese airbrush...just to show that point...My usual preference is Paasche ...mostly because of it's simple design which is easily serviceable and cleaned....parts are also available and easy to get ...I also like the "feel" of the brush...if you use other brands like Iwata Badger as well as the Chinese knock offs...the handles are usually rather thin...Where Paasche is thick...of course it boils down to personal preference just as grips on a motorcycle might

The best thing to keep in mind when shopping for one is whether or not you want a single action ...dual action...siphon feed ...or gravity feed
Dual actions provide more control in the spray pattern...single needs adjustment for different applications
Siphon feeds provide larger paint receptacle options ..."to me" easier clean up...and color changes while working
Gravity feeds are good because you use less pressure...thus less overspray

Pros and Cons to both....So Choosing wisely is the key

ALPHA

[ALPHA]

Hi Alpha thx for that now iam worried lmao

LOL...Not to worry Sarge...we all try to be kind


ALPHA

[SargeV1]

Thx a million 43 really appreciate those links.

[ausf]

Regarding airbrushes and quality, they are not the same.

I bought my first Iwata in 1986. I used it a few days ago. That's 30 years of flawless service, still all original, including the needle and it's still my main brush. The only thing that had changed over 30 years was the price, I paid well over $300 back then and the HP-BC2 can be found for a $100 less these days.

I bought two more Iwatas in the past few years, one large spray, one detail gravity, both are exactly the same in terms of design and quality. How many products remain unchanged in 30 years?

An airbrush is a tool and like all tools, you can buy one good one or many cheap ones.

[ALPHA]

Not to debate with you Ausf...but I've had my Paasches since the 70s when tie die shirts and freehand airbrushing was the thing ...They just like your Iwata were very expensive as well as the competition...models from Thayer and Chandler...Devilibis ...Badger pretty much flooded the scene...Now there are even more companies ...it can be quite daunting choosing one....I think everyone develops preferences...mine would be Paasche...Yours would be Iwata...some others might like the Grex...
Best I would tell anyone is to find a shop that carries some of these models or find a friend and try it out...then see if it fits within your budget ...especially someone who is new to using one

ALPHA

[43rdRecceReg]

Thx a million 43 really appreciate those links.

You're welcome. We were all beginners once- in everything we've ever learned.Sharing ideas and collective experience ...especially at no cost..well, that's what these forums can offer.

[43rdRecceReg]

Regarding airbrushes and quality, they are not the same.

I bought my first Iwata in 1986. I used it a few days ago. That's 30 years of flawless service, still all original, including the needle and it's still my main brush. The only thing that had changed over 30 years was the price, I paid well over $300 back then and the HP-BC2 can be found for a $100 less these days.

I bought two more Iwatas in the past few years, one large spray, one detail gravity, both are exactly the same in terms of design and quality. How many products remain unchanged in 30 years?

An airbrush is a tool and like all tools, you can buy one good one or many cheap ones.

The makings here of a lively discussion, but any airbrush system is as weak as the weakest link I'd guess. No matter how precise and accurately assembled an airbrush is, if the compressor is asthmatic the results will be bad.
What compressor would you be looking for if your current one broke, I wonder? Maybe it would be the same, and if so..what is it, and can the model still be obtained?
This might be illuminating for us apprentice daubers. A useful insight..

[43rdRecceReg]

One thing for certain Corporal 43...you should always wear a mask when Airbrushing....no...not a Halloween type mask...but one that filters debris from the air .........

In all my years of airbrushing...I can't really say one brand of airbrush is better than another..there is only so much precision that can go into a small tool and still be user friendly...I currently use a cheapo knock off chinese airbrush...just to show that point...My usual preference is Paasche ...mostly because of it's simple design which is easily serviceable and cleaned....parts are also available and easy to get ...I also like the "feel" of the brush...if you use other brands like Iwata Badger as well as the Chinese knock offs...the handles are usually rather thin...Where Paasche is thick...of course it boils down to personal preference just as grips on a motorcycle might

The best thing to keep in mind when shopping for one is whether or not you want a single action ...dual action...siphon feed ...or gravity feed
Dual actions provide more control in the spray pattern...single needs adjustment for different applications
Siphon feeds provide larger paint receptacle options ..."to me" easier clean up...and color changes while working
Gravity feeds are good because you use less pressure...thus less overspray

Pros and Cons to both....So Choosing wisely is the key

ALPHA

Thanks for the useful tips., A. Having sprayed cars, and motorbikes in my misspent youth...not very well, except once, I should add..I'm aware of the mask requirement. Also, now that the boyish looks are fading, a mask assists in not scaring the local sheep...otherwise, this is what they would see:

[mike1268]

I use both. Airbrush for large areas and camo stripes. brush work for detailing. Saying that I have weathered with an airbrush and also stippled a base paint on some tanks to build some texture for cast parts or any Russian armour

[ALPHA]

This is a thread of 1/35th scale research tanks I did with both brush and airbrush
viewtopic.php?f=82&t=18508
the airbrush is a cheap knock off model,,,but can still lay down an almost pencil point line
The figures in this thread are done with my Paasche several decades ago
viewtopic.php?f=33&t=12822&p=113160&hil ... EE#p113160
To me it's never about what you use to get the result...it's all about "WHO" is using the tool implementing a result

**For Cpl 43...I always use a single piston direct feed compressor the one that powers my Paasche is a Badger with foot control cut off...the one that I use with the knock off is a diaphragm model with auto cut off...there are better ones...but those are the easiest to store away in my kit **

Sounds to me like Sarge has some really good Brush skills...as said before...anyone that can lay down a gloss coat of paint without leaving stroke marks I would tip my hat and salute any day

I've done several of my 1/16th tanks using a brush...and so has PainlessWolf...to date...all of his to the best of my knowledge are done in brush...so it isn't an impossibility it has been done and documented

Brush On Sarge


ALPHA