Why an airbrush needs to be your next purchase!

[ColemanCollector]

In my group build KV-2 project I decided that finally using an airbrush was going to be my personal challenge. Out came the used Badger single action brush, Badger diaphragm compressor, and Beaver 200 double action airbrush I had bought at a yard sale years ago, but never used. If experienced airbrushers out there are saying "Beaver airbrush--never heard of it?", there's a good reason. It is a cheap nasty airbrush that belongs in the garbage!

After watching youtube tutorials, and fussing/practicing a bit with the Badger, I laid down some panel shading and then the overall topcoat. Holy crap, I am never going back to a rattle can! Ever. Well, maybe for primer, but I hope not. I've used rattle cans for decades and I'm pretty good at it, but it's not really fair to even compare a rattle can with its wide pattern/massive volume of paint released/lack of control with the finesse of even my most basic Badger. It took all of about 10 minutes to convert me to an airbrush. You lay the paint down with such control that it is much, much easier than a rattle can. Am I ready to do an intricate camo pattern freehand? No, but I'll get a cheap kid's toy at the dollar store and go crazy. Even if you only spray single colour schemes you will want an airbrush.

I immediately researched and bought a well-reviewed, low price ($50 CAD) dual-action brush and I'm even more impressed with airbrush versatility. It made applying hairspray for chipping effects a breeze with none of the beading or glopping of pressure/hand pump bottles. Dial down the air pressure and you can apply finesse coats of shading, whitewash, and weathering effects. I'm using low odor acrylics and I could do this almost anywhere in the house. Yes, there's overspray but not the clouds of paint from rattle cans. I'm filtering my paint and making sure I'm cleaning the airbrush properly, and that's not voodoo science when you see how people do it. What don't I like about airbrushing? That I waited so long to give it a fair try!

I'm hoping I'm not sounding like some arrogant airbrush messiah (especially to the airbrush impressarios I've seen on this site), sent by the hand of Iwata to save the commoners below. I'm an experienced modeler that has shied away from airbrushing and I'm regretting it because it is so much fun, and adds so much control to my work. In retrospect, if I had cash set aside for a new tank, or a control board, or metal running gear, or a heap of detail parts, I would take it and buy an affordable airbrush and compressor!

Mike.

[HERMAN BIX]

You on channel Mr Chef !!

[MrChef]

You on channel Mr Chef !!

How much did you pay him?

It's in the works boys. I have a few surprises for the new Tigger!

Thanks for the cult sales pitch Mike. Yes, yes very soon Mr. Bix.

[ColemanCollector]

Resistance is futile...you will be assimilated!
I'm really impressed with this Neoeco airbrush. It has good youtube reviews too, and from people who have actuaĺly used it! $50CAD, so what, about $35USD and you get this complete kit. The quick release fittingvis righteous. I ordered off Aliexpress and had it in 8 days. I love this kind of no-risk investment. I have a pressure control on my compressor but this brush also has an air control on it. Plus you get to make "pffffffff" sounds while you're pretending to use it!
Do it...do it...do it!

Screenshot_20240305_174137_AliExpress.jpg (599.22 KiB) Viewed 548 times

Mike.

[tankme]

I went the cheapish route and bought a Paasche Talon for my first airbrush. After struggling with it a bit, I bought an Iwata HP-CS...I haven't touched the Talon since. I didn't think there would be that much difference...there was. I don't know of many things were you actually get what you pay for, but buying the Iwata was one of them.

I did however buy a generic Harbor Freight 4oz paint spray gun as I have some 1/6th scale stuff to paint and I wasn't going to use my little airbrush for that.

[michaelwhittmann]

I wish I had a dedicated workplace for an airbrush. Maybe someday.

[ColemanCollector]

I wish I had a dedicated workplace for an airbrush. Maybe someday.

I'm using a foldup "spraybooth" I made from corrugated cardboard. 3 sided about 2' square each panel. I put my tank on a lazy susan so I can get to it at any angle. I'm spraying acrylic with water and alcohol as thinner so it's very low odor. I spray on my workbench that is not a modeling workbench. It's a workbench workbench so the spray booth needs to get folded up after each use. Eventually I'll reorganize and find a bit more permanent spot for things, but this is working just fine.

Mike.

[Herr Dr. Professor]

I applaud ColemanCollector's "fold up 'spraybooth'" idea. I actually used an airbrush for decades in apartments, with great care to ventilate and cover everything around with newspapers. Of course, the apartments in which I lived were...well, as my sister said, "Which dumpy apartment?"
Does anyone reading here have experience with a Grex or Iwata pistol-grip type of airbrush. After starting in the early '70s with a single-action Thayer and Chandler, I finally bought a Paasche Talon about three years ago. I, too, gave it up on the Talon (and gave it away) and turned to a Paasche H single action (which is working fine for me). But I drool at the Grex.