Hi
I am considering buying an airbrush and am wondering which type makes a better starter set (external or internal mix). I am also not planing on spending that much money on it.
ANY suggestions on which one?
I’m thinking if external, # 165-2501
if internal possibly, # 704-93216
thanks
I’ve used both external mix and internal mix and find the external to be easier to use and clean. With the internal mix airbrush I was always having to disassemble it and keep track of the little pieces. With the external mix Aztec airbrush I use I just clean the bottle and pickup tube and run a thin wire through the nozzle.
I’m going to commit heresy here, and recommend a brush similar to the one in this link, from eBay:
This is the first type of airbrush I bought (which was a Binks Wren B), lo, these many, many years ago. They are what is known as a single-action brush. That is, you adjust the paint flow with the knurled cone (in the above unit, the brass one), while the air flow is via the button on top. They are reliable, easy to clean, and give a more precise spray pattern than the Badger #250.
Furthermore, these are really, really inexpensive. With the Badger, you are paying for the name. I can go through a lot of <$10 airbrushes for the prices you’ll pay for some of the big-name brands. And the brand of an airbrush isn’t what gets you a good paint job. That’s up to you, the operator.
Once you get used to spraying with an airbrush, you can graduate to a dual-action one. The locomotive below was done with a single-action brush like the one I recommended above:
Have Fun!
I have used both types - Here is what I have found that works:
External Mix - The paint is atomized at the tip of the air brush. Easy to clean, and will give very good results for general model painting. However, even with ‘fine’ tips they are not good for weathering. You will see ‘splatter’ …
Intenal Mix - These come in two varieties:
Both internal mix types will allow one to paint fine pin stripes or do weathering. Again, you need to ‘clean’ your air brush after using it. The internal mix types are more sensitive to the build-up of dry paint. ALL air brushes should be cleaned after each use!
I have had a Badger 50(plastic/external) that came in a ‘kit’. After a year, I bought a Badger 200 in 1969 and have been using it ev
Start with a cheap starter brush. Air brushing is not for everyone as I found out the hard way when I ruined two internal mix ones.
I recommend external mixing. You can pick these up quite cheap at Harbor Freight with a small air pump.
If you do this indoors, wear a paint rated air mask, OR use a vent. You can ruin your lungs with those fine particulates! And wear old clothes. You’ll be surprised how much makes it to your pants and shoes even though you are spraying in the opposite direction.
Jim (jrbernier) does some really good work. I’ve watched his stuff over the years and he’s quite talented. So for some more advanced skills, I would consider him a good source.
I prefer internal mix and use a single action Pasche and do OK. I do not do enough air brush work to consider myself an expert. However, over the years, I did develop what technique I do have on old boards, wood planks, junk poster board, etc. The air brush is really just a tiny, unwieldy paint spray gun unless to turn it into the artist’s tool it wants to be with a good bit of practice.
The art of the airbrush comes solely from the user and not the impliment. The impliment just puts a good range of control and artfice into the hand of the user. Each of us have had our trials with using the airbrush. For me it was trying to remember not to rotate the brush while spraying using the open cup. (nasty business). If you need to work from a larger closed bottle then you would probably do better with a can of spray paint as you are probably looking for large area coverage. Most airbrush work is for weathering or smallish detailed painting.
The issue is not the airbrush but practice, practice, practice.
Richard
I would start with this Airbrush:
This is a dual action, internal mix, gravity feed type. You put your paint in the cup on the top so you don’t have to mess with special bottles. For most small projects, this AB will be all you need. If you like airbrushing, you will get more and different types of airbrushes. This is a cheap airbrush and you might want to get a better one if you decide to stick with it.
This eBay seller also has a lot of airbrush stuff. I have bought stuff from him and have not had any problems.
Of all of the airbrushes I have, the dual action, internal mix, gravity feed is my favorite type.
I have to agree with the Narrow Gauge Nuc. As long as you can adequately control the volume of paint heading towards your model, it will be your talent and technique that determines your results much more so than the equipment you are using.
Personally, I’m partial to the Aztek Internal Mix, dual action (I have the A470). I also prefer the ergonomic grip of the Azteks to the straight pencil of the other brands. The design of the Azteks (interchangeable paint cups) makes it very easy to change colors. Dump or spray the old paint color (hopefully, you didn’t mix too much) into your cleaning station, spray some soapy water, then rubbing alcohol through the brush, then move on to your next color. It takes you about a minute to swap over.
I keep a jar of soapy water next to me when I’m airbrushing, and just chuck all the used cups, nozzles, etc. into it after use, which keeps the paint from hardening until I get around to cleaning it up.
I have a Badger 200 single action brush, and love it. I usually spray thinned acrylic paint through it, and clean it immediately after use with iso alcohol. For really stubborn paint removal, I use lacquer thinner. Assembly, dis-assembly is a snap.