Modelers choice on air brushes
 

We are in the market for and air brush to paint model airplanes. Any experience or preferences you can pass on.

Looking at an Iwata unit. What compressor is best?

Thanks

I have been airbrushing for over 20 years. My preference for a compressor is a "Silentaire"

http://www.silentaire.com/silentaire/supersilent.asp

For the airbrush itself, I use an Iwate HP-C for detail work.

http://www.iwata-medea.com/products/airbrush/micron/cmc_info.jsp

For thicker paint such as t-shirts, I use a Thayer and Chandler Vega.

http://www.misterart.com/g2042/Thayer--Chandler-Vega-2000-Airbrush-Kit.htm

I usually purchase my supplies from Coast Airbrush in Anaheim, Ca. The owner, David Monig, is great for answering questions.

http://www.coastairbrush.com/categorypage.html

Good luck, David

How weird, I just looked for and bought my first airbrush for modeling as well.

I went with the Paasche H airbrush. Seems to be well liked by others and isn't expensive. I got mine for $49 at Tower Hobbies. Plus, the fittings and such are all metal, unlike some other starter airbrushes with plastic parts.

Anyhow, that's what I chose, I haven't used it yet though.

For a nice airbrush without the price of an Iwata, look at Richpen. I've been using my 213C for some smaller pieces or those that require better detail and have been very pleased. I do like my Iwata HPCS too. My work horses are Badger 175 Crescendo guns. These come with three needles and tips to allow you to taylor the brush to your spraying needs. I usually use the medium and large for tee shirts but the small would be good for some smaller details. I like their versitility and they are more comfortable to hold IMHO than my other two brushes.

http://www.bearair.com/prodinfo.asp?number=100304

First you need to decide if you want a single action or a double action brush. Double-action brush as they can be difficult for an inexperienced painter to use. A double-action brush controls both the amount of paint going to the spray tip and the amount of pressure. This mix is achieved by pushing down to control the air pressure, and pulling back to control the paint flow. A good single-action brush is easier to use, easier to clean, and can provide as good or better results as a double-action brush -- especially in the hands of a novice user.

I suggest taking a trip the your local hobby show and explain what you want to shoot and what type of paint you are using. I suspect you will be using acrylic paint. My opinion is to go get a decent Badger single action gun.

As to your question about a compressor, I would not recommend using a normal household compressor for spraying with an airbrush unless it is equipped with a regulator which can drop the pressure to about 15 psi, and unless it has a water trap. Nothing is worst than doing some detail work on your model and having water shoot through the gun and all over your model. BTW - I use my garage compressor that has a tank, water trap and can regulated down. I have good results this way.

Oh yeah, I forgot about the compressor question. I use either a 15 gallon DeWalt for when I'm on the road and doing larger murals and a a 3 Gallon pancake fro the home. The pancake resides in a cabinet that is lined with eggcrate foam bedding material to help keep the noise down. When I do tee shirt work, it runs every few minutes but for detail stuff, it doesn't run all that much. Yeah, a silent compressor would sure be nice, but I had a choice, buy several good airbrushes and all the paint I could plus a louder compressor or just a silent compressor. $99 VS $999. It wasn't a hard choice.

my friends use a recycled CO2 bottle from a soda machine system.

Just tried out my new Paasche H airbrush and I am fully impressed!!

I set it up with my Craftsman garage air compressor. The one I have has a valve at the bottom for water and a regulator so you can dial down the pressure.

I set the regulator for about 20 psi, mixed up a 50/50 mix of flat black enamel and thinner and went to work. I had taped off some areas on a NASCAR model I am doing for my son and started spraying. Once I tested it out a little on some paper and got the flow of paint right it was a breeze!!

The coolest thing is that if you set it up right, it's almost as if the paint dries as you are spraying. The air evaporates the thinner, leaving nearly dry paint behind! I was able to get GREAT results on my first try!

Now granted, this was just a single color and it was masked off but hey, you gotta start somewhere!!

Next project is a Tamiya 1/48 Spitfire. I'll use the airbrush for most of the painting, weathering, camo, etc. Should be fun!

thanks, for the replies, I am excited to get started!!! I think I will buy the the Iwata used and a badger compressor.

thanks, Dave

Good start, but... Please do yourself a favor and get a water separator. Put it on a line about 10'(of hose) from the compressor. The valve you are talking about is to remove the water from the tank and it will collect more than you think. Even so, you will still get moisture in the line from the cooling air. Even a Lowe's or Home depot Water separator will be fine. The regulator you have is fine so unless you want another closer to your work area, it's fine. I bought both and mounted them next to my bench for easy adjustments.

Ok, I will do that. You can just buy a water separator at Lowes? Sweet.