Airbrush advice.

[Fido996]

Just wondering if anyone could help me with some advice on a decent airbrush and a compressor for home use. I've tried looking and I'm now more confused than when I started looking.

Cheers all

[viper3111]

I have moved this to the 'tools and tips' thread as I think it will be more usefull here

Ok where to begin, Firstly it comes down to cost. How much do you want to spend? then what would you be using it for and have you used one in the past.

I would recomend getting a good compressor as this will probably last you the length of your hobby. These start at about £50

The airbrushes I would go for if you are a beginner is either a badger double action or a Testors aztec. these are around £30-40

But then there is all the gubbins like hoses and regulators.

Here is a good deal from everything airbrush http://www.everythingairbrush.com/acata ... lbiss.html It contains a nice gravity feed, double action airbrush, compressor, braided hose, reulator and stand. These are also in our 'traders of merrit' thread in the modeling comunity area

Then all you have to choose is what paints you are going to use, I personaly use Vallejo model air as they dont need thinning in order to spray them.

You can then buy aother airbrushes as and when you are ready.

hope that helps

[viper3111]

That G-35 does look a smart brush. What are your steenbecks like? Ive got mainly Iwata's, an eclipse and a Hi line.

[viper3111]

I have never had any problems with the my Iwata's, and like yourself I would never swap for another make. They are also very easy to clean and easy to use, I supose it all comes back down to personal choice. As long as you like it then thats good enough.
I started out with a badger single action, for the time and my ability it was excellent.

[Fido996]

Thank you all, I now have a good place to start. I'm not a total beginner at all this modelling lark, just trying to get back into the hobby after quite a few years off. Things have moved on since then!!

[brewc]

Hi
Having just got back in to modelling since my teens I'm keen to try my hand at airbrushing having always hand painted in the past. I've found the topics covered here really useful but am still left wondering on what set-up you would recommend for airbrushing indoors - or not. Now my son has departed to Uni I've taken advantage of his old room to set-up shop with a kit and tools etc. and potter about nicely for an hour or so some nights, just taking my time and easing back in to kit building. However the thought of trailing my half built kit down the garden to the shed to spray in the cold, wet and dark doesn't fill me with enthusiasm. I'd thought about setting up some sort of box/screen affair in the room but am worried that everything will get out of hand, with paint on the curtains/furniture/floor and will then face the wrath of my lady wife! I've used aerosols to spray paint in the past and they do seem to require an awful lot of space and newspaper to avoid unwanted coverage.

I'm sure I'm not the first to encounter this, or perhaps I'm the only one daft enough to think of doing this somewhere other than a garage/utility room/den etc. but space to leave half built kits in peace is at a premium in our house. Any ideas how I could get round this would be gratefully accepted.

Many thanks

Bruce

[viper3111]

Hi Bruce

There are small spraying boths that you can get, but I have never used one as our garage is part of the house so I go out there to spray. But here is the link wich will have pretty much all you could need. I would also have a look on flebay as they do some interesting stuff.

http://www.everythingairbrush.com/index.html

They also do some great deals that include airbrush, compressor, hose, filter and stand. All you will need is your sundries like masking tape, paint and thinners.
If you have a whole room to yourself and an understanding mrs then you may not need an extractor. I would just cover anything that you dont want to get over spray on , shut your door and open the windows for ventiltion and away you go. Failing that if you have to use the shed/garage like me then I would keep all your paints inside (as they dont like the cold) and just spray out there, then bring it back into the house as most modern acrylics dont smell like the old stuff used to so it can dry nicely in the house without to much dust and bugs crawling on it. As long as you have an old model box to put your stuff in then its not to bad. Hope that is some help

[brewc]

Many thanks Shaun. I just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing anything obvious - see you later I'm off down the shed!
Cheers
Bruce

[viper3111]

What can I say Ive been called many things before but never a guru.

As you say I do favour Vallejo model air paints as they are indeed pre thinned. They come in a handy eye dropper so there is no spillage when putting them into the colour cup of the air brush.

As for the brush itself there are no hard and fast rules to say you should start with a single action brush, I find the double action brush easier as you can vary the spray, so that if you are a bit dubious at first you can increase the air slowly. Where as with a single action you cant as there is no adjustment. If you want a single action brush then by all means get one, you may even find it easier to use but a double action is more versatile. I would get an alrounder with a 0.03 needle as this will do both fine'ish detail and larger areas. I personally use my 0.03 for general areas and my 0.02 for fine details like pre shading and engines like on my F-4.

I hope that helps

[viper3111]

Im getting there slowly, I can now sit at my desk so Im doing some building at last

[HighlandSniper]

That's good Shaun, don't push it too hard.