Air Brush Equipment

[tball4217]

Badger is on the list to check out. I'm budgeting $400.0 foir a complete kit cost. If less-fine.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01M33C8MV/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01984GEOY/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

the aircompressor is KNOWN for having odd threading, but hey it IS really quite. and the tank does work.

As for detractors of painting/airbrushing.. its our choice. And ironically, if you are going to spend 100$ on a model upgrading the rigging blocks to a realistic approach, why would you NOT want ot paint the hull? Yes it is the old debate from the 2000-2005 era "i spent 400$ on a kit, it has genuine cherry and teak planking strips. why would I paint that good ness"?

those were also commonly the people snickering at "noobs" who spent a fortune on a proxxon table saw and made their own planking strips out of enlgish oak for an accurate "material" for their glory model of hms victory that hasnt been finished in the last 3 decades.

 

[Charlie K]

Like many other things, it depends on what you want to do with it.
To start off with, I'm going to assume we are looking at something to paint models with and not painting automobiles or houses. So, I'm going to focus on the smaller airbrushes.
There are many different brands and each person is going to have their preferences based on what they and their close friends have used. There are many good brands out there. And all of those brands have good and lower quality airbrushes.

The 2 most common to modelers are going to be Pasche and Badger.

Then there is single stage and dual stage to consider. Single stage you have to adjust the needle before you start painting with it and the needle stays there during the painting process. The position of the needle is what determines the "pattern" of the spray. This is what people consider the airbrush to start with because it is easy to learn due to not having as many things to vary to get a good finish. The single stage airbrush is also easier to clean. This is also what people will use when painting to replace "rattle can" paint. There are still things to learn like thinning the paint to the right consistency to get a good finish is probably what most struggle with. Dual stage you push the button to spray and then move the button forward and back to adjust the position of the needle to adjust the pattern as you paint. This gives you flexibility in adjusting the spray pattern as you paint. These are considerably more challenging to learn to use well.

The next thing to consider is if you want top feed or bottom feed. Top feed is for painting with small amounts of paint that goes in a cup on the top of the airbrush. The bottom feed uses a small bottle slung under the airbrush that can hold more paint. Obviously, the bottom feed brush holding more paint can paint larger areas without having to stop and refill the airbrush reservoir.

Things to also consider are the compressor and tank to use, an air regulator and a moisture separator, or you can get little cans or propellant to use but they don't last long at all.

Sheesh ! Making me type so much first thing in the morning. (I'm just kidding)

I hope that helps !

Jeff

Jeff, great answer and info!
I am also considering an airbrush purchase. In my research, I noted that the Passche has a large compress and runs about $200. I was thinking that this might be a little overkill for my modeling.



Until I saw your post, I was considering the Madtec small box compress kit.
The reviews say it is good for detail work and small jobs. Do you have any thoughts or experience with this type?

 

[Corsair]

Jeff, great answer and info!
I am also considering an airbrush purchase. In my research, I noted that the Passche has a large compress and runs about $200. I was thinking that this might be a little overkill for my modeling.

View attachment 509080

Until I saw your post, I was considering the Madtec small box compress kit.
The reviews say it is good for detail work and small jobs. Do you have any thoughts or experience with this type?
View attachment 509082

Although I didn't mention Passche, it is also a great brand.
The one you are considering I have no experience with. However, my primary concerns would be if the compressor is as small as they show in relation to the brush, I would be concerned with it keeping up with the amount of air needed to get a finish. Also, with no regulator, you can get inconsistent amounts of air which can cause problems. Since there is no supply tank, you would be ok without the moisture trap, but also if there was a supply tank, it would help with more consistent pressure.
Lastly, and possibly the biggest concern would be that it is (to me) an unknown name and if you have any problems there would be a very small group of people that you could get help from.

If you end up getting it, I would love to hear how it performs !

 

[Charlie K]

Although I didn't mention Passche, it is also a great brand.
The one you are considering I have no experience with. However, my primary concerns would be if the compressor is as small as they show in relation to the brush, I would be concerned with it keeping up with the amount of air needed to get a finish. Also, with no regulator, you can get inconsistent amounts of air which can cause problems. Since there is no supply tank, you would be ok without the moisture trap, but also if there was a supply tank, it would help with more consistent pressure.
Lastly, and possibly the biggest concern would be that it is (to me) an unknown name and if you have any problems there would be a very small group of people that you could get help from.

If you end up getting it, I would love to hear how it performs !

Thanks Jeff. My gut tells me your concerns are valid, as they say, "You get what you pay for".
- Madtec and many others available on Amazon are made in China.
- You are correct; there is only a high, medium, and low setting for the compress, but no real regulator.
- for $60 I may still try it, it is small and quiet. plus I am not sure how much I am going to use it. If I find myself using it a lot, then I may upgrade.
Thanks again.

ps. I think you wrote, "The 2 most common modelers are going to be Pasche and Badger." I just figured you left out the second a. Amazon carries Paasche, but I didn't see the Badger compressor, just the gun.

 

[tball4217]

Thanks Jeff. My gut tells me your concerns are valid, as they say, "You get what you pay for".
- Madtec and many others available on Amazon are made in China.
- You are correct; there is only a high, medium, and low setting for the compress, but no real regulator.
- for $60 I may still try it, it is small and quiet. plus I am not sure how much I am going to use it. If I find myself using it a lot, then I may upgrade.
Thanks again.

ps. I think you wrote, "The 2 most common modelers are going to be Pasche and Badger." I just figured you left out the second a. Amazon carries Paasche, but I didn't see the Badger compressor, just the gun.

MOST of the compressors are going to be made in china. The ones that ARENT made in china for 100% certainty, are going to be costing 300$ USD as a typical starting point.

Its like the compressor i got, it has issues but has gotten excellent reviews for the actual model and the brand itself. Its quiet as can be. However to get a non chinese model with none of the issues, I would have had to have paid 9 times as much as I payed.

Thats a "why does the mini mamoli hms Victory kit cost 50$ but the non mini version costs 1,200$?" situation.

 

[Bob Cleek]

Regarding the above airbrush and compressor combinations:

Airbrushes are one technology where you really get what you pay for. The Chinese are knocking off all sorts of copies, but airbrushes are high-tolerance instruments and most anything Chinese isn't going to be. I can't say whether the Paasche compressor is made in China, but I doubt the Paasch airbrush that comes with it is. In any event, if you have problems with it, Paasche is easily contacted. The Paasch airbrush that it comes with is only a single action model which is suitable for general model spray painting but if you intend to do any weathering and detailing, you will want a double action airbrush. (Contrary to some assertions, I have never found a double action airbrush more difficult to use than a single action one.) For a few bucks more, I'd go with a double action brush every time.

The biggest concern with off-brand airbrushes is that they rather consistently develop problems inherent in their use of less expensive materials, fit, and finish. They are notorious for stripping threads and threads are important because the fine threaded fittings are essential for airtight connections. The threads get a fair amount of use because you have to occasionally disassemble the airbrush to give it a thorough cleaning. If you strip the threads, that's pretty much the kiss of death for that airbrush.

I'd urge anybody thinking about buying an airbrush to get the best quality airbrush you can possibly afford and then you can cut corners if you must on the compressor. The compressor really should have a tank and a good regulator so you can adjust an even airflow. I routinely run my airbrush off of one of my shop compressors and I have no problems. The compressor only turns on when the tank pressure gets low and needs to be pumped up. If the noise is a big issue, you can always buy one of those five-gallon portable air tanks they make for filling tires and put a regulator on it. Then you can pump it up and bring it into the house or wherever and airbrush in silence.

There are lots of "bargain" airbrushes and compressors available because good ones are relatively expensive. What's that tell you? The most expensive tool is always the one you have to buy twice. It's better to bite the bullet and get a setup that will last as long as you will and if you find that have no use for it later, you can always sell a used name-brand one on eBay.

Anybody who's looking for an airbrush or compressor would do well to go to the various airbrush company websites and check for sales, discounts, and "seconds." For example, both Paasche and Badger corporate websites sell airbrushes and compressors with slight visual finish blemishes, or discontinued models, etc., at substantial discounts. See: https://www.paascheairbrush.com/clearance?page=1 and https://badgerairbrush.com/Special_Offers.asp

 

[Roger Pellett]

DO NOT buy a compressor without a regulator. Also, whatever you buy must have an automatic on off switch that turns the compressor off when it reaches a set pressure.

Regulator: Airbrushes often have cast resin bodies into which a brass threaded insert is pressed. These will be blown out of the body if over pressurized. Once this happens, your airbrush is toast. Epoxy, superglue is not enough to fix it.

On-off switch: A tank full of compressed air holds a surprising amount of energy. It is therefore potentially dangerous. A ruptured tank will spray potentially deadly pieces of metal around your shop. Here in the USA state pressure codes require that pressure vessels pass a hydrostatic pressure test equal to 1.5 times the pressure that it is designed to withstand. With the dominance of Chinese products this is a concern. Your tank should be equipped with one or more spring loaded relief valves set to open if the pressure exceeds this design pressure. The auto on off switch is the first safety feature but the relief valve is the ultimate one.

Your tank also needs to have a drain, and remember to use it. Humidity from the air in your house will condense in the tank and this trapped water can corrode it.

Roger

 

[tball4217]

https://www.amazon.com/Timbertech-Airbrush-Compressor-Double-Accessories/dp/B00LO4PKY2

Timbertech Airbrush

Welkom in de wondere wereld van airbrush. Airgoo is fabrikant, groothandel en specialist in airbrushtools. We leveren alles wat de professionele en hobby airbrusher nodig heeft. Ons assortiment bestaat uit airbrushpistolen, airbrushcompressors, airbrushverf en natuurlijk al het benodigde...

www.airgoo-europe.com

Sure the Airgoo europe company may not have great customer satisfaction at this time.. but i bought the kit, and found a fitting was missing, a fitting i did not NEED ... but they still sent me one for free on their own dime for postage too.

 

[Bob Cleek]

Your tank also needs to have a drain, and remember to use it. Humidity from the air in your house will condense in the tank and this trapped water can corrode it.

Correct to read: "...this trapped water will corrode it." They don't seem to ever paint the inside of a lot of air compressor tanks. I've got a couple of high-quality portable air compressors with pinholes in the tanks from guys ignoring the water purge valves after use. I think it's actually cheaper in the long run to buy a new portable compressor these days than to try to source and buy replacement tanks. The regulations and product liability insurance seems to have made the tanks the high-ticket item in the cost of production.

 

[Smithy]

As a 25 year user I recommend Harder and Steenbeck. This company’s airbrushes are top quality and designed to be easy to use. In particular that can be stripped down for cleaning without tools in seconds and all of the parts are large enough to handle easily. This is something that becomes more and more important as my hands age.

For any veterans out there, stripping and reassembling an H&S airbrush is like taking your rifle apart and yes, I have done it blindfold, just for fun.

 

[Adry]

I'm 74. Have been modeling since 1959. Never used an air brush. I moved in to a new house and my goods arrive today. Now I am assembling a model workroom-from scratch. The room I chose has a large openable window. Which air brush set up is best Mfgr? model?, and can be upgraded as skill increases? Cost? That depends because good work starts with good equipment.

In January I bought my first airbrush. Since it's the first one and I didn't have much idea how to use it, I chose a cheap one on Amazon, an Oasser. It comes with its own compressor (small and can regulate the pressure).
What I can recommend is that you always keep it very clean (that sometimes takes more time than is spent painting), if you don't you will have a problem the next time you use it, really, without exaggeration.
There are many videos on YouTube to learn how to use the airbrush correctly, being an expert comes with practice. I have made countless mistakes, I have destroyed a model of a German U-boat by doing tests... but I have learned something and now without being an expert the things I paint look decent to me.

 

[RussF]

https://www.amazon.com/Timbertech-Airbrush-Compressor-Double-Accessories/dp/B00LO4PKY2

Timbertech Airbrush

Welkom in de wondere wereld van airbrush. Airgoo is fabrikant, groothandel en specialist in airbrushtools. We leveren alles wat de professionele en hobby airbrusher nodig heeft. Ons assortiment bestaat uit airbrushpistolen, airbrushcompressors, airbrushverf en natuurlijk al het benodigde...

www.airgoo-europe.com

Sure the Airgoo europe company may not have great customer satisfaction at this time.. but i bought the kit, and found a fitting was missing, a fitting i did not NEED ... but they still sent me one for free on their own dime for postage too.

This weekend I set up the Airgoo Timbertech compressor I got for Christmas. It has all the things mentioned, regulator, water trap, pressure relief valve, auto-cutoff. The trickiest part was the regulator - first realizing that you have to lift the black knob to adjust, and then having to make a LOT of turns with it to see any pressure adjustment. Once you actually start to see the pressure drop, though, it only took minor adjustments to change the pressure and it works like a champ. My wife, crocheting in the next room (open doors) could not hear it running at all.

 

[Jay-Anchor]

I have a workbench air compressor that is doesn't have tank and a cheap airbrush that I bought both at Harbor Freight 15+ years ago. The air compressor has never given me issues, and it's till plenty quiet. I've not felt the need to get anything more expensive than a $25 airbrush, that I've only had to replace once (because I dropped it while cleaning and mangled the needle). I can't justify the $100+ range for what I'm occasionally doing.

 

[Roger Pellett]

My air compressor is just one tool in a noisy shop; 10” table saw, jointer and a planer that I move outside to use where it can drown out the noise from the many dogs in our neighborhood, and unlike these tools it only runs on and off to fill up the tank.

After 55 years of marriage my wife must be used to it as she doesn’t complain.

Roger

 

[Spars]

In January I bought my first airbrush. Since it's the first one and I didn't have much idea how to use it, I chose a cheap one on Amazon, an Oasser. It comes with its own compressor (small and can regulate the pressure).
What I can recommend is that you always keep it very clean (that sometimes takes more time than is spent painting), if you don't you will have a problem the next time you use it, really, without exaggeration.
There are many videos on YouTube to learn how to use the airbrush correctly, being an expert comes with practice. I have made countless mistakes, I have destroyed a model of a German U-boat by doing tests... but I have learned something and now without being an expert the things I paint look decent to me.

View attachment 509475

THANX! I'll do an online search for this unit.