hi i am quite new to modelling(about 1 year) and i have read in many articles about the use of airbrushes for painting models,i was wondering what is an airbrush used for and how much do they cost?

An airbrush is a tool that uses forced air to help you paint. Because of the physics involved the paint is very thin and finely spread over the area painted. Basically what happens is the forced air sucks up the paint to shoot it through a noozle.

An airbrush can vary from about 15-20 USD to hundreds of USD. Everything depends on what you want out of it and what you can afford.

I guess a rule of thumb might be that, the cheaper the airbrush the less versitality that is built in to it. Versitality is divided up in to several categories like external mix airbrushes, single-action airbrushes, double-action etc. - with the idea that the more control you want the more you have to pay for it.

There is a learning curve involved. The more control that is built in makes for more things to think about when painting. The key with airbrushing is to airbrush - practise makes perfect.

Air supply is also an important issue. The rule of thumb is the more constant the air flow is the more the unit costs.

A starting package for a newcomer like yourself would be, in my opinion, a single-action airbrush with a small compressor. Canned air is expensive and hard to control. If you add up the cost for canned air and compare it the cost for a compressor, the compressor is most cost effective over time.

Having said all this, there is all kinds of information in the General Modelling section of the Features area. In the painting forum all kinds of information can be found on airbrushing too.

But most of all, if in doubt ask!!

Welcome to Armorama!!! I'm sure you will find your self being hooked!!