Hi,

What airbrush do you guys favor for modeling? I bought a Testor's Aztek set (the all-metal one) but the brush leaked on the first use. All the thinned paint ran down my arm. I tried to take it back to the shop, but they told me to talk to Testor. I called Testor and they were attitudenal but agreed to ship me a replacement while mine was in transit back to them if I sent them proof of shipment. I did...taking pics of the brush going into the box at the post office, etc. After I sent them the tracking number, they put me in cue for a replacement, which shipped out four days later. It took another week to get to me via UPS ground, and when I opened the box..... tada!

A brand-spankin' old, dirty airbrush! Not the top-of-their-line metal Aztek, but the $20 plastic, external-mix brush. When I called to give them the biz, the message says "Closed for inventory. Leave a message." I was so pissed, I just started laughing!

So... I borrowed an Iata from John Weaver at Discount Hobbies. What do you guys use? The first pic is the one I got back, the second is the one I sent in....

I have a Badger 150, it works very well. Its only limitation is me.

My Opinion... The only Airbrush to buy is an Iwata, gravity feed. They are a bit more expensive than others, but are so much easier to use. I also a Paash, which is ok, good for rougher work and bigger areas, when I don't want to get out my touch up gun, But for fine work, the Iwata is incomparable.

I have used an airbrush for many years at work and at home. I have had Iwata, Pasche, Badger, Aztek airbrush's and recently I bought a Grex brush.

http://www.grexusa.com/grexairbrush/

Have a look and see if you like them. I was very impressed and the first model I used it on was my Tams F-16. Their brush is very comfortable to use and very versatile.
You get what you pay for in airbrush's for sure. The Aztek brush will work for you if you want to do small stuff but I found them to be limited and sensitive to different paints. The Pasche SA H#3L is great work horse but it's a single action model, I used one for years.
I had an awesome Iwata HPSB and sadly it was stolen but that was a great fine line brush.

The new Grex brushes allow you to do it all and what's even better they have made them like a mini touch up gun. I bought the gravity feed model Tritium TG. You can do it all with this model and it has a high enough volume to paint bigger models and then handle the finer detail.

Check them out I was impressed and the quality is like Iwata.

Thanks Chris,
That is the air brush information I was looking for.
Did you buy the Grex online or??
Thanks
Jim

Shaun,

Aztek is by far the most precise airbrush system you will get, but it has it's limitations. I can make magic with it on a 1/144th scale model, but if you start painting r/c jets with it you will run into issues as it is not meant for high flow applications.

BTW the plastic version works as good as the metal one, but their is certainly a price difference.

I'm using Badger now, but I replace it every 2-3 years.

Funny, cause I just bought this same airbrush a couple of weeks ago.

Didn't had the chance to try it yet.

I am all ears

Regards

Nuno

I use an Iwata revolution TR2 for small to medium size areas, and an Iwata RG 3 mini spray gun for medium to large areas. I've tried lots of cheaper brushes, medium price ones like badgers etc., waste of money for our purposes. The Iwatas are really good.

you must have a good gravity feed airbrush in my opinion.

Hi,

I guess I was more asking what model you actually use....

Chris,

Thanks for the information on the Grex TG.

I called Jerry Carter and he was very helpful in explaining the details of the gun. I bought the 3mm size nozzel

Looks like I will be happy.

Stan

Hi Sean,
Aztek airbrushes are the Jet Joe's of the airbrush world, you can make them work, but by the time you're done *&$&(!($ around with them you don't want them anymore. I don't know any artists personally that use the Aztek's with one exception. I have a friend who endorses their product, it's a good business move on his part, but behind the scenes he uses an Iwata. He takes nice pretty pictures with the Aztek, but for the actual work he goes back to his Iwata's.
I was sent the new Metal Iwata, and a Devilbiss Dagger a year or so ago to try out for a shop that wanted to bring the airbrushes in. After spraying about a quarts worth of paint through each (that's a hell of a lot of paint in an airbrush), I asked them if they wanted me to give back the Aztek or just smash it in my shop and save them the trouble. Like yours, it leaked, once I got that sorted out (using needle packing) it would spatter, the fan was never consistent, it was a pain in the ass to clean, and was probably the most uncomfortable airbrush I've ever used. The Dagger was better, but for the price of the Dagger it didn't hold a candle to the Iwata's.
The wood box that the Aztek comes in is the nicest feature of the airbrush!

Paasche makes some good overall airbrushes. The H series airbrushes are external mix single action airbrushes. As a workhorse these are ok, and the prices are cheap, but they have their drawbacks. The external mix nozzles are very prone to clogging. They aren't capable of really fine work, and paint dries on the tip very fast due in part to the external mix tips. However, for roughly $45 they are a good work horse for doing larger area's.
The Paasche VL series airbrushes are better, they are dual action internal mix airbrushes. Prices are good, and the airbrushes are ok, I still find the Paasche to be bulky though and a little front heavy. I've never had huge success with getting fine lines with the VL series airbrushes either unfortunately. While the price is good, I don't think the airbrushes themselves are as good as the Iwata Revolution which is around the same price. I also found the Paasche's to wear prematurely when using paints with high solvent content such as the automotive paints.

I have little experience with Badger as they have always been expensive for what they are, difficult to find parts for (around here) and the little experience I did get with them I didn't like the feel, the triggers were never smooth, and the quality just felt lower, but that is mostly opinion as I say, I haven't got that much experience with them.

My personal choice is Iwata. I have no experience with the Grex (haven't even heard of them actually) so I don't know what they are like, I might take a chance and try one, though my opinion is pretty swayed towards what's always worked for me

In the Iwata line, for overall modeling use, you simply cannot beat the Revolution HP-CR. It will do fairly large area's, as well as relatively fine detail work. It atomizes the paint very finely, is easy to clean, and like all of the Iwata airbrushes, there are no plastic parts in them, they last forever even when using high solvent paints. The Revolution overall is a workhorse, it's not as refined as their other airbrushes, but for most people it is the only airbrush they'll ever need. At $75 you will not find a better airbrush for the money.

If you want to go a step further than the Revolution the Iwata the Eclipse series is a further refinement of the Revolutions. Moving into the HP series will give you further options like smaller tip sizes, air micrometers, needle stops etc.
The bottom line with Iwata is, with each step higher in price, the value increases greatly. My main airbrush is the custom micron, it's an expensive airbrush, and honestly it's not much use for overall modeling, but for detail work there is nothing better.

One of the best parts with Iwata is parts are readily available. I have never actually had to replace a part on any of my Iwata's unless I damaged or lost it myself. I have sprayed gallons of paint through my Iwata's and outside of self inflicted issues they have never given me any trouble.

www.coastairbrush.com is probably the best source for airbrushes I've ever found, their pricing is great, I've never run into an out of stock situation with them for Iwata airbrushes or my Sata guns.

I would personally definitely recommend an Iwata.

I just got a Badger 175. It works great but after reading this thread I kinda wish I would have waited and bought a gravity fed one instead. Looks like its a better setup than the side cup. Oh well, I have what I have now. Already used it so can't take it back.

Andy

Just got off the Iwata sight. Check out the weathering color kit: Im new to airbrushing and I'm sure you guys with more experience have better colors, but this is a good way for a new person to start in weathering I guess.

http://www.iwata-medea.com/index.php...weathering_kit

Iwata Revolution gravity feed, awesome airbrush!! Thinking about getting a Grex too.

For what application are you talking about? I've been using Aztek for ages and for 1/48th scale models they work really good.
After all, that's what their meant for right?

I also used it to paint an Israeli camouflage on an 1/8th YA F-16, and it worked ok, but can end up costly in terms of nozzle replacements.....but again, that is not the intended use either. I would not use it again.

Assuming that we are talking about use for R/C.......no use in comparing to Jet Joe as it is clear the application for both is incorrect.

I have see the Grex in action at the AMAshow, and it sprays well!!!!! Very user friendly and will spray fine or large with the press of a finger. Quick and simple! The price at the show was $200 for the gun and about $400 for the gun and their spray compressor setup. Very nice, but pricy. We can go in on one together. It'll be like both ours, but we'll just keep it down at my house..............

Andy, you're wasting your money. Sure you can buy the IWATA weathering kit, or you can just use what's around you. Here's your choices:

Photo 1 - IWATA weathering kit, 10 colors, about $50

OR

DIY Weathering Kit - $0 - FREE!!!!
Photo 2 - Rust - This is an excellent source for Dark Rust, Light Rust, and Opaque Raw Sienna pigments. Surely you or one of your redneck buddies has one in the front yard.
Photo 3 - Oil - The residue inside these makes really great oil stains. There's probably some of them next to the car in the front yard.
Photo 4 - Smoke - Whenever I go flying with you or Rich, I always take a sample from your "landing area". The Blue-Grey Smoke and Smoke residue is very realistic.
Photo 5 - Light Dust - These bad boys crop up all over he place. Just bring a jar and capture one.
Photo 6 - Soft Dirt - Look down. 'Nuff said.
Photo 7 - Fertile Soil - Johnnie has a garden, doesn't she?
Photo 8 - Opaque white - I know you've got a lot of sources for this.

Colors are all around you, man; close your wallet and open your eyes!!!

Jim

Iwata brushes are the best. If you want the best paint job you send it here:

http://www.onfiregrafxairbrushing.com/


They guy is an amazing RC pilot and modeller too.

lol, you're too funny Jimbo.

Thanks, Ian. Do you have any pics of weathering you've done with yours? That's pretty much all I do with an airbrush...that and camo.

I have a Grex as well. Got thier little compressor too. My version is the trigger style as I never had much luck with the traditional airbrush type finger triggers. I love mine and this unit makes me appear much more skilled than I actually am.

You've been at that peyote again Jim

Marty

Hey,

I just did this with the borrowed Iata. I'm not the best at weathering.... [] The good thing is that the customer requested "heavy" weathering on this jet...

I don't think I have any pictures but I did all the weathering on my F-15 and A-4 and also did some of the camo on my F-15 with it. I use it mostly for weathering and small jobs like trim or secondary colors. I also did all the touch ups on Dantely's F-16 with it and I painted the trim colors on my F/A-18F with it. Easy to clean, not expensive and sprays very well!

Actually found some pics of my F-15