Hi all, as you can tell from my amount of posts, I am only new here. I have tried to dig and dig through here before raising this topic. So far all my modelling has been done by hand and paintbrush, however I am looking at cheap beginner airbrush setups.

I have found AC330 Artlogic Double Action Gravity Feed, and wondering if anyone else has one of these, and how beginner friendly they are. I plan to practice away from my models first. Hobby Tools Australia have it in a kit with AC1316 Artlogic Mini Compressor for $139.00 at the moment. For you American's yes that price will be a lot higher for the same product. Don't forget I am in Australia, and our prices are higher for everything.

The other one I have found is the U-Star S-120 Airbrush with 0.2mm Nozzle. However I would have to buy separate compressor at BNA Model World, but would buy the compressor elsewhere, as BNA cheapest is $155 and it is sold out. Next cheapest is $199.

As a warning SWMBO, won't allow a large sum of money to be spent, that is why I have been plugging away with just brushes.

Any help on a decision, whether it is the above two, or another, with links please, would be greatly appreciated.

I'll probably get hammered but here goes. How much experience do you have with an airbrush ? Have you considered E Bay , there a lot of Chinese clones out there with free shipping .Do your research and look for an Iwata clone usually they are like 20 or so bucks free shipping , use this to learn how to airbrush and save your money for a later purchase of a good airbrush . You might get lucky and get.good copy . Now the compressor get a decent one , no matter what airbrush you get initially you will need a good compressor so don't skimp on it right now. And practice and practice some more , unless your a natural with an airbrush . That's just my two cent worth . I got to ask what is SWMBO ?

Brad,

I have one of these:
http://www.iwata-medea.com/products-type/neo-cn/

They're inexpensive and very easy to use. I"m sure they're available in Australia somewhere.

Steve

I recommend the Badger Sotar 2020. It does fine, medium, and large areas. Last I saw one on Amazon, it was $74usd. The only thing I don't care for is, the size of the color cup. But, if you learn on it, I doubt you would notice.

Thanks for the helpful advice from all.

chumpo sorry, must be an Aussie thing.

SWMBO - She Who Must Be Obeyed. In other words the Minister for War and Finance (wife)

To the questions, with models it has all been brushes, that includes my wargaming figurines. The only time I have used a gun for painting, is painting houses in my younger days.

Hey Brad,

I also recently purchased the NEO for Iwata (mentioned in a previous comment) as my first airbrush, it's insanely cheap but brilliant build quality and made me fall in love with painting models all over again.

It's basicly an Airbrush made by a chinese company for very little money and then fully endorsed by Iwata as a beginners airbrush. It's also a Gravity feed dual action design.

Cheers
Tristan

I recommend a badger parts are readily available and you only need to change damaged parts unlike iwata were you need to replace matched parts.chinese copy brushes are ok so-long as you can get parts easy.

I like the iwata neo but don't own one, I picked up a revolution cs for a song through kijiji.
If you ask around with local hobbyists you can probably find a used model for not too much money and why not see if they would help you learn the ropes. Might just make a new friend.

I would also suggest looking into using co2 to power your airbrush, a 10# tank and regulator should cost a little less than yor average hobby compressor and its dead silent.
Try local home brewing or welding supply shops.

My own recommendations: I started airbrushing at age 12- I am now 61. I bought the cheapest BADGER Airbrush available at the time (Which is still being sold today!!!), and it was not much better than a toy; but it was GREAT for learning the basics. Within a few months, I realized that my skills had outgrown this first airbrush. My next purchase was a BADGER Model 200, which was and still is, an excellent choice in Single-Action airbrushes. They are easy to use, easy to clean, and parts are readily available online or in the better hobby shops.

I still use 2 BADGER 200s today, along with my 3 Single-Action PAASCHE H-1s. The PAASCHE H-1s are also easy on your wallet, and parts availability is as good as the BADGER products. I also own a BADGER 200G, which is a Gravity Feed brush with an integral color receptacle. I use this for those fancy, complicated, diffused dappled camos on my 1/48 German aircraft. Yes, I build "Wing-Things"- also HO Brass Steam Era Locomotives and Trains, 1/24-25 Classic Automobiles, 1/35 and 54-120mm Figurines, 1/350 Ships, and anything else that may strike my fancy. 1/35 Armor and Softskins are moot...

I use one of my H-1s strictly for "metalizer" finishes, and the others for solid colors. I like using the finest needles available in all of my airbrushes, finding that they will not only give you very fine line spray patterns, but will also give you great coverage when you open the needles almost all the way out.

Why so many airbrushes? Well, I work on several projects at a time, PLUS I can switch to another color very easily, while my other airbrush's parts are soaking in thinners. I use 3 compressors, with adapter fittings to service all 6 of my airbrushes. My own experience has shown that keeping your airbrushes clean is KEY to getting the best performance out of them. I ALWAYS break my airbrushes down between colors- this is time consuming, but it prevents a lot of heartache in the long run.

ALWAYS work in a well-ventilated area, and WEAR A MASK when airbrushing- even the "safer" acrylics can damage your lungs. I also wear surgical gloves when I paint; that's just common sense...

You'll want to think about what you want to use as an air supply for your airbrush. There are lots of great air compressors out there, but keep in mind that the most expensive doesn't mean that that's going to be your best choice. Whatever your choice in compressors turns out to be, you'll want a unit including an Air Pressure Regulator with a Sight-Glass and Drain Valve.

I also use PAASCHE Water-Traps in all of my airbrush air lines as "double-insurance". Keeping your air lines free of water condensation will very much help to keep your airbrush from "spitting", which can sometimes ruin your painting-project. Before you begin your color application, open the valves in your Water-Traps and just spray air through your system, allowing any water to escape through the valves. You may want to do this several times during your painting process on humid days. I do it at least once during my airbrushing...

I've tried Dual-Action airbrushes, and in my own experience, a good Single-Action airbrush AND EXPERIENCE will deliver the same performance as using the more expensive and more complicated Dual-Actions. That's been my experience, it works for me, and I'm going to stick with my Single-Actions.

In no way am I trying to influence your choice of the airbrush/es that you wind up buying. As you gain experience, you may find that you want to go on to better things, i.e- more complicated (read: expensive) airbrushing equipment. In any case, start out with simple equipment, not necessarily the cheapest, gain experience, and then work your way up to what you're comfortable with... GOOD LUCK!!!

. If you had just said the old lady I would of understood crystal clear . Maybe get her interested in building models then she might loosen the purse strings .