Airbrush for beginners

[Caliyak]

I have seen everything on Amazon, Ebay and Hobby Lobby. Sure the $200 gun is probably the best but, don't have that kind of money. What would you get for your first one? Kit with compressor or buy everything separate

[MN Fisher]

I use airbrushes for scale modeling.

 

I'm really impressed with my Master G23 - get the G233 kit and you get 3 different needle/nozzle sizes with it. I also have a Paasche single-action, suction feed with 3 needles/nozzles, but I mainly use side cups with it. There's also an old (40+years) Badger 200.

 

The G233 kit is around $40 from Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002KJDXHQ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

For air - I use my shop 3-gallon pancake compressor with a dedicated regulator/filter/water-trap mounted to the home-built spray booth. To use the compressor with my shop tools, I just unplug it from the airbrush regulator...it's also got a filter/water-trap on it.

 

 

[looking45]

I would buy the compressor separately. Most

compressors that are bundled with an airbrush aren’t very strong. I suggest looking at the Master G233 airbrush for $39 and the Master  compressor TC-320 for $89. Both are on Amazon. Hope this helps

[Bdnoble84]

Hobby lobby carries iwata neo. Its a decent brush for $70. Do not get the kit with the compressor. The compressor is not powerful enough or offer enough adjustment. I bout a $70 compressor off amazon that has worked pretty well for me so far.

[MN Fisher]

2 minutes ago, Bdnoble84 said:

Hobby lobby carries iwata neo. Its a decent brush for $70. Do not get the kit with the compressor. The compressor is not powerful enough or offer enough adjustment. I bout a $70 compressor off amazon that has worked pretty well for me so far.

One guy I follow for my modeling tested this compressor from Amazon that goes for $90...he was impressed.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07VT2F5N9?psc=1&linkCode=sl1&tag=barbatosrex-20&linkId=f4ee9fd6516ac3a0bc5767afa2790678&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl

 

[detroit1]

Hey Ken, what kind of scale modeling?

[MN Fisher]

1 minute ago, detroit1 said:

Hey Ken, what kind of scale modeling?

Mostly Sci-Fi and X-Planes (SR-71/YF-12, XB-70, etc) Though I have done some warships and WW-II aircraft.

[detroit1]

Yeah, i figured sci-fi but posted before i remembered. Show us your work if you want. ?

[MN Fisher]

8 minutes ago, detroit1 said:

Yeah, i figured sci-fi but posted before i remembered. Show us your work if you want. ?

Ask and ye shall receive.

 

P-38J

 

BAC TSR-2 (British bomber from the 60s) - superimposed over a Google-Earth shot

 

Mini Romulan - this is the 2500 scale, about 4" across the wings...had to scratch-build the Plasma launcher on the nose...superimposed over a nebula shot from Hubble.

[Munkin]

6 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

I use airbrushes for scale modeling.

 

I'm really impressed with my Master G23 - get the G233 kit and you get 3 different needle/nozzle sizes with it. I also have a Paasche single-action, suction feed with 3 needles/nozzles, but I mainly use side cups with it. There's also an old (40+years) Badger 200.

 

The G233 kit is around $40 from Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002KJDXHQ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

 

 

 

So I have some $150 airbrushes and some $20 ones as well. For most of what I do I really like some of the cheap brushes. No they cannot do the quality of detail but nothing I paint requires it? I am painting basic patterns and if I want gills, craw lines, etc I use a stencil. Look into the brush MN Fisher posted above and a Harbor Freight airbrush compressor. Wicked brand paints over regular Createx for less problems. Pearl paints are the hardest for me to mix and shoot well. Just throwing some lessons I have learned through frustration and airbrush tossing.

 

Allen

[Caliyak]

thanks to all the info and links. This forum is awesome. And Ken, that's some great stuff. Thank you. 

[ChrisD46]

Great air brush kit suggestions ! ... Where art , science and the love of custom colored hard bait bass lures come together !