Well, recently, I’ve been looking at airbrushes. But, I’m not sure which exaclty to get.
Would it be in my best interest to start with a double action airbrush?
Does internal or external mix provide the best results?
Is there a good airbrush kit that includes a compressor that is of good quality and won’t break the bank?
Suggestions, comments, anything please.[8D]
“Would it be in my best interest to start with a double action airbrush?”
Only if you need to vary the pattern of spray while spraying.
“Does internal or external mix provide the best results?”
External = easier to clean, less fine control. Internal = more control, harder to clean.
Well, for the limited airbrushing I do, my Badger Model 200 (NOT the newer model 200 Detail Airbrush) works just fine. It’s easy to operate and clean, and since I’m not at a level where the airbrush is the limiting factor, the less fine control doesn’t matter.
As for the compressor, look at your local discount or department store for a small compressor with a tank. They can often be found for much less than a dedicated airbrush compressor, and work just as well if not better. Their only downside is that they can be noisy.
Steve
The Badger Model 200 will do anything model railroad related. Internal mix single action. Just keep it clean! A less expensive model 350 is OK but harder to control spray pattern. Not as fine. Good for general work. The Model 200 will paint a line 1/16th inch wide so it has good control. Use good quality paint and thin appropriatly!
You wiil need a medium tip to spray the waterbased paints as the fine tip clogs too easily. The solvent based paints will spray very nicely but use good ventilation. If you get a small compressor like the kind you see at the big box stores, be sure to get a water trap filter and air pressure regulator. (Most come with a regulator) They will work just fine. No need to spend big bucks for a airbrush specific compressor.
Hope this helps
TrainFreak,
Great to know that you’re going for it. However, it would help if you stated how much you’ve budgeted to spend on a compressor and airbrush.
Suggestions:
If you’re in the $100 range…don’t buy the small hobby compressors. For the same price range you can get a Campbell Hausfeld “suitcase” compressor at Home Depot or Lowe’s. These are pretty neat units that are perfect for airbrushing and are more durable than the small “overpriced” hobby compressors. (I own two small hobby compressors and would never recommend them to anyone)
Airbrushes: I use a Paasche VL. and it has performed well for years…pretty finnicky little creature though. Today, I recommend the Badger Airbrushes. I’ve seen them perform, parts are easy to get, and the reputation for reliability speaks for itself.
I prefer double action since I like to customize my fan patterns, from “1/4 width to a 2” wide spray pattern. Also, with double action airbrushes the fan control knob or dial can be set to one position and left there if the painter chooses to for the same type of jobs…so in essence you can also use it as a single action “point and shoot” airbrush.
Single action airbrushes are very fine as well. Basically load and shoot. Be aware that airbrushes tend to be more expensive at hobby shops. I prefer to buy them at Auto Body supply stores, especially since they buy spray equipment in quantities. Check in your yellow pages to locate one nearby. Internet Discount train stores sell them as well. Do a comparison.
As I’ve said many times before…if you want that airbru***o last you YEARS…it’s critical that you keep it clean. Don’t just flush out…remove and clean the needle and aircap as well. Once a year, lubricate the trigger mechanism with a fine oil (instruction sheets usually show where lubing is applied).
Airbrushing is fun. Once I started…I ra
I’m fond of the double action airbrushes. They’re really nice for working on something as small as a model train. I tend to do a few practice passes on a scrap piece of foam core, to make sure I’ve got the proper feel for whatever I’m trying to accomplish.
You can’t do better than an Iwata airbrush. For a beginner, I’d reccomend one of their Revolution line of airbrushes. I’ve got a Revolution, and an Eclipse. Both are nice.
I can’t speak to Paasche and Iwata since I haven’t used them. I hear good things, though.
The Badger 350 mentioned above (single action, external mix) is an outstanding airbrush for beginners. It’s easy to use, robust, and a snap to clean. It also grows into more advanced work - I used mine for fifteen years before upgrading. It’ll set you back about $CAD 70. The Badger 200 is a good single-action internal mix airbrush - I got an older one a couple of years ago and upgraded it to the newer style acrylic-friendly head. A new 200 is about $CAD 90. The 200-20 “Detail Airbrush” seems to come highly recommended for model railroad work as well. Any variation of the 200 is a bit more complex to clean than the 350, but it will spray a finer mist of paint. This allows a finer line, but more importantly, a thinner coat of paint. It’s well worth the extra twenty bucks.
Consider whether a given brand has a local dealer that carries repair parts. My local hobby shop carries the full line of parts for my Badger, and that has saved me a lot of frustration over the years. When I lived further from a hobby shop there was nothing worse than waiting for weeks to get a 25-cent part for the airbrush before I could finish a project.