Paints for Airbrushing?...
- Thread starter Eagle
- Start date
Re: Airbrush & Compressor Combo
With money being and object, you need a good all around brush. My recommendation is an Iwata HP-BCS Eclipse. Reasonably priced as well. I would recommend picking up a compressor at Home Depot in the tool department. At least a couple gallon tank with auto shutoff. You can use it to run your air tools too. Silent compressors are nice, but pricey. If money was no object, I'd use a Sata Mini jet for airbrushing too as it is good for larger areas and the Iwata Eclipse for detail. Just my two cents. I'm lucky, I do custom painting on the side and I have an airbrush for everything occasion. Hope this helps.
Cheers, Kevin
With money being and object, you need a good all around brush. My recommendation is an Iwata HP-BCS Eclipse. Reasonably priced as well. I would recommend picking up a compressor at Home Depot in the tool department. At least a couple gallon tank with auto shutoff. You can use it to run your air tools too. Silent compressors are nice, but pricey. If money was no object, I'd use a Sata Mini jet for airbrushing too as it is good for larger areas and the Iwata Eclipse for detail. Just my two cents. I'm lucky, I do custom painting on the side and I have an airbrush for everything occasion. Hope this helps.
Cheers, Kevin
Re: Airbrush & Compressor Combo
I recomend Aztek's Mark, 'cos then i can sell you my almost brand new metal series with extra nozzles lol for a great price lol.
Seriously, Iwata seem the weapon of choice, but i just started out using the Tamiya line that are made by Iwata, and both dual and single action brushes work awesome.
I use a Sparmax compressor too, which can be bought pretty cheap here now and it works great for me.
Id say aim at £200 and youll have a workable package!
lee
I recomend Aztek's Mark, 'cos then i can sell you my almost brand new metal series with extra nozzles lol for a great price lol.
Seriously, Iwata seem the weapon of choice, but i just started out using the Tamiya line that are made by Iwata, and both dual and single action brushes work awesome.
I use a Sparmax compressor too, which can be bought pretty cheap here now and it works great for me.
Id say aim at £200 and youll have a workable package!
lee
Eagle
Sr Member
Re: Airbrush & Compressor Combo
Teh missus™ has a compressor which she used for nail art/body tanning etc. It was bought from a model supplies shop so maybe that'll wurk... :confused
If so, it might free up some cash for a brush.
Hmm... doesn't look up to much but I'm assured it still works...
The accessories confuse the hell out of me though - what will I need? What paints should I use? Thinners? Gravity feed? Suction feed? anti-pulsation? :confused
Teh missus™ has a compressor which she used for nail art/body tanning etc. It was bought from a model supplies shop so maybe that'll wurk... :confused
If so, it might free up some cash for a brush.
Hmm... doesn't look up to much but I'm assured it still works...
The accessories confuse the hell out of me though - what will I need? What paints should I use? Thinners? Gravity feed? Suction feed? anti-pulsation? :confused
Last edited:
Re: Airbrush & Compressor Combo
You might be able to limp it through. Just remember, RC's star destroyer is quite large. It could over tax that small compressor. You could also consider renting a large CO2 tank. No moisture problems, large capacity, refillable and then return it when you are done. I think the most important item is the airbrush itself.
Cheers, Kevin
You might be able to limp it through. Just remember, RC's star destroyer is quite large. It could over tax that small compressor. You could also consider renting a large CO2 tank. No moisture problems, large capacity, refillable and then return it when you are done. I think the most important item is the airbrush itself.
Cheers, Kevin
Eagle
Sr Member
Re: Airbrush & Compressor Combo
Looks like I'll be going with an Iwata HP-BCS :thumbsup
About compressors - will these be any good?
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/_W0QQitemZ150223479884
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/_W0QQitemZ380003292364
Looks like I'll be going with an Iwata HP-BCS :thumbsup
About compressors - will these be any good?
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/_W0QQitemZ150223479884
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/_W0QQitemZ380003292364
tk1608
Sr Member
Re: Airbrush & Compressor Combo
Hi Eagle, I use a Revel profi, about £50 I think it was..I've had it a while... I'm sure it's not the best thing out there by any means, but it does well enough for me.
It's a double action brush which means that you have much more control over the amount of paint sprayed.
When you press the button on the lever down, the air starts to pass through, and as you pull the lever back, the paint comes out. The futher you pull it back the more paint you get.
With a little practice you can spray a large area, or do precise shading and blast marks all with the same airbrush, at the same time if you like. I believe it's much more flexible than a single action brush.
I've never used one, but I've heard that a compressor with a diaphram gives a very unpredictable airflow with the pulsing you mention.
My compressor has a tank that stores the compressed air, this way you can regulate the air flow, it's much more consistent, with no pulsing.
As for the suction or gravity feed, I'm not sure.....I don't know enough about that to say what difference it makes, but I'm sure someone here will be able to help you with that.
You can use any paint really, enamel or acrylic, providing you thin it enough to go through the airbrush. I always use the thinner that goes with the brand of paint I'm using...don't want any nasty reactions later on with the finish.
I try not to mix enamels and acrylics on the same model either. I'm sure people have done with no problems, but I worry they might react with each other over time.
Some recommend to thin paint to the consistency of milk, I think that's about right. It's difficult to be exact with ratios really 'cos the thickness of the paint always varies from the jar...depending on if it's a new or used jar...different brands and what have you...
To clean it I use badger airbrush cleaner in an aerosol. It's nearly £4 a can but shifts everything. Even the stubborn stuff.
I don't know if you've used them before, but the halfords spray cans are very good. I always use their grey or white plastic primer for my resin kits. It drys to a nice even coat, and is pretty tough,..a great base to put the top colours onto.
Hope that helps a bit
Cheers
Phil
Hi Eagle, I use a Revel profi, about £50 I think it was..I've had it a while... I'm sure it's not the best thing out there by any means, but it does well enough for me.
It's a double action brush which means that you have much more control over the amount of paint sprayed.
When you press the button on the lever down, the air starts to pass through, and as you pull the lever back, the paint comes out. The futher you pull it back the more paint you get.
With a little practice you can spray a large area, or do precise shading and blast marks all with the same airbrush, at the same time if you like. I believe it's much more flexible than a single action brush.
I've never used one, but I've heard that a compressor with a diaphram gives a very unpredictable airflow with the pulsing you mention.
My compressor has a tank that stores the compressed air, this way you can regulate the air flow, it's much more consistent, with no pulsing.
As for the suction or gravity feed, I'm not sure.....I don't know enough about that to say what difference it makes, but I'm sure someone here will be able to help you with that.
You can use any paint really, enamel or acrylic, providing you thin it enough to go through the airbrush. I always use the thinner that goes with the brand of paint I'm using...don't want any nasty reactions later on with the finish.
I try not to mix enamels and acrylics on the same model either. I'm sure people have done with no problems, but I worry they might react with each other over time.
Some recommend to thin paint to the consistency of milk, I think that's about right. It's difficult to be exact with ratios really 'cos the thickness of the paint always varies from the jar...depending on if it's a new or used jar...different brands and what have you...
To clean it I use badger airbrush cleaner in an aerosol. It's nearly £4 a can but shifts everything. Even the stubborn stuff.
I don't know if you've used them before, but the halfords spray cans are very good. I always use their grey or white plastic primer for my resin kits. It drys to a nice even coat, and is pretty tough,..a great base to put the top colours onto.
Hope that helps a bit
Cheers
Phil
HouseAtreides
Well-Known Member
Re: Airbrush & Compressor Combo
I have used the badger stuff, very old now, but works great. You can pick up a deal on eBay, typically. The Iwata is fine, though the Aztek and the deal on accessories might be too good to pass up!
Rick Sternbach did a talk many years ago and he used a scuba tank that he got filled for free at scuba shops (when I checked last year they wanted $2.50 for a fill.)
You would need an adapter (not sure which one) but the tanks are not bad in price and consistent in flow and silent! An aluminum 80 tank goes for anywhere from $50 on eBay to $175 brand new. Sporting good stores and dive shops have deals on them all the time.
I have used the badger stuff, very old now, but works great. You can pick up a deal on eBay, typically. The Iwata is fine, though the Aztek and the deal on accessories might be too good to pass up!
Rick Sternbach did a talk many years ago and he used a scuba tank that he got filled for free at scuba shops (when I checked last year they wanted $2.50 for a fill.)
You would need an adapter (not sure which one) but the tanks are not bad in price and consistent in flow and silent! An aluminum 80 tank goes for anywhere from $50 on eBay to $175 brand new. Sporting good stores and dive shops have deals on them all the time.
Re: Airbrush & Compressor Combo
There is a great thread in the archives that has a ton of useful info:
http://therpf.com/showthread.php?t=635&highlight=airbrush
Sean
There is a great thread in the archives that has a ton of useful info:
http://therpf.com/showthread.php?t=635&highlight=airbrush
Sean
Eagle
Sr Member
Re: Airbrush & Compressor Combo
^ Yeah - that option's looking increasingly attractive (like me, the more I get older! :lol).
Meanwhile, I've been advised on these as workable 'cheapies'... any good?
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/_W0QQitemZ380001080323
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/_W0QQitemZ260215954583
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/_W0QQitemZ260212745737
I like the idea of auto shut-off.
^ Yeah - that option's looking increasingly attractive (like me, the more I get older! :lol).
Meanwhile, I've been advised on these as workable 'cheapies'... any good?
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/_W0QQitemZ380001080323
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/_W0QQitemZ260215954583
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/_W0QQitemZ260212745737
I like the idea of auto shut-off.
Re: Airbrush & Compressor Combo
I'd personally go with the mini with tank, item#260215954583 . You won't have it kicking in immediatly when you press the trigger. It's a little more money but I think it's worth it. Also comes with the water trap. A key piece of equipment thats often overlooked. Glad to see you are going with the Iwata Eclipse. You will get many years of use out of it. It's easy to maintain and very user friendly and versitile.
Cheers, Kevin
I'd personally go with the mini with tank, item#260215954583 . You won't have it kicking in immediatly when you press the trigger. It's a little more money but I think it's worth it. Also comes with the water trap. A key piece of equipment thats often overlooked. Glad to see you are going with the Iwata Eclipse. You will get many years of use out of it. It's easy to maintain and very user friendly and versitile.
Cheers, Kevin
Re: Airbrush & Compressor Combo
I use Tamiya acrylics thinned with Tamiya acrylic thinners (in a pinch you can thin with water) but the "real" thinner is alcohol so it dries much quicker. If you can buy clear isopropyl alcohol off the shelf in a hardware store in the UK that should work as a thinner for Tamiya acrylics as well. I'd also recommend Tamiya laquer spray primer as a basecoat on resin.
It also doesn't hurt to have some lacquer thinners (or acetone) on standby for when you discover you didn't clean your airbrush properly last time you used it
PS Don't try tamiya acrylic thinners with Vallejo acrylic paints though.
I use Tamiya acrylics thinned with Tamiya acrylic thinners (in a pinch you can thin with water) but the "real" thinner is alcohol so it dries much quicker. If you can buy clear isopropyl alcohol off the shelf in a hardware store in the UK that should work as a thinner for Tamiya acrylics as well. I'd also recommend Tamiya laquer spray primer as a basecoat on resin.
It also doesn't hurt to have some lacquer thinners (or acetone) on standby for when you discover you didn't clean your airbrush properly last time you used it
PS Don't try tamiya acrylic thinners with Vallejo acrylic paints though.
Thanks so far!
What paints do people recommend? Acrylics? Which brand? Is the Vallejo Model Air any good?
Gigatron
Sr Member
Either Tamiya acrylics (thinned with Tamiya thinner) or Model Master acrylics. It's best to thin with Tamiya's thinner because it contains a retarder, keeping the paint from drying too soon. Paint that dries too soon leaves a gritty finish and will lead to "dry-tip" on your airbrush (basically, a clog).
Both of these acrylics clean up easily with windex (with amonia). No need for mineral spirits, like with enamels.
For a primer, especially something the size of a star destroyer, I'd say use light coats of krylon (or duplicolor) primer. If it were a smaller piece, I'd recommend Floquil light grey undercoat.
-Fred
Both of these acrylics clean up easily with windex (with amonia). No need for mineral spirits, like with enamels.
For a primer, especially something the size of a star destroyer, I'd say use light coats of krylon (or duplicolor) primer. If it were a smaller piece, I'd recommend Floquil light grey undercoat.
-Fred
Hey Eagle, I had the same Dilema as you about 6 months ago & came up with the same stuff, I got an Iwata Eclipse duel action & an A189 compressor from a guy on ebay in birmingham. Had no problems what so ever & I'd never done anything like this before, the cheapest Iwata I found was on ebay.com a company in Canada, I'll try & dig out what the seller names where later. You wont go wrong I promise.
a
a
