Different newb....same newb question.

[Thade]

Well met all,

I've been lurking around for a couple weeks reading different posts. I've been looking at buying an airbrush and think I have come down to a decision between two. I read alot of the reviews in the airbrush products section.
I think I am going to either get an Iwata CP-BH or an Iwata CP-CH.
To start, my main application for the airbrush will be for painting miniatures for tabletop games like Warhammer 40K and Warmachine.
Any suggestions as to which of these airbrushes would be better for this application? I like the gravity fed models over the syphon fed, and these got the highest ratings.

On another note...has anyone used any of the airbrush paints made by Vallejo? They are called Vallejo Model Air.

Thanks for any help.

Thade

[Goldbrush]

Originally Posted by Thade

Well met all,

I've been lurking around for a couple weeks reading different posts. I've been looking at buying an airbrush and think I have come down to a decision between two. I read alot of the reviews in the airbrush products section.
I think I am going to either get an Iwata CP-BH or an Iwata CP-CH.
To start, my main application for the airbrush will be for painting miniatures for tabletop games like Warhammer 40K and Warmachine.
Any suggestions as to which of these airbrushes would be better for this application? I like the gravity fed models over the syphon fed, and these got the highest ratings.

On another note...has anyone used any of the airbrush paints made by Vallejo? They are called Vallejo Model Air.

Thanks for any help.

Thade

Hey Thade,

I'm pretty much a newbie myself but thought I'd offer a few words. The
Reviews section (one of the tabs at the top of the page down left of the
Forums tab) has a good place to check out all airbrushes. I have a cheapy
Paasche (bought for a few bucks years ago) that I don't use, and two
Iwatas. My favorite of the two is my Iwata HP C+ and from what I'm told
here can do just about anything as far as detail down to a fine line. I
was going to order the Micron B which does super fine lines and detail work,
but will have to wait and save up some dollars.

I'm sure someone else will pipe in here soon. GB

[Thade]

Yeah I saw the C+. The Reviews section gave the HP-BH and HP-CH a 10.0. The HP-C+ got a little lower review. I'm not looking to spend 400 dollars on my first brush, but I also don't want something "low end". I've done some pricing and the BH and CH are fine on price if they are superior brushes to, say, a HP-C+. The work I want to do will take VERY little paint on the most part. Thus the reason for wanting a gravity fed over siphon airbrush. Though if I like AB enough I'll end up getting a siphon to hold my primer mix, as it is a pretty constant color/mix and having a jar of it handy might be a good idea. If the jar with the siphon color can be put aside with a closed lid and kept? For the majority though, the less i have to "waste" the better. And there will be alot of custom mixing of the colors so..... gravity fed is difinitely a better option for my application. I think at least. I could be full of crap completely.

[don johnson]

check out the Iwata HP-CS

[Thade]

Hmmmm, very interesting. I just found an Iwata Eclipse HP CS at Hobby Lobby. With a coupon I found it would only be about 115ish. I am going to pick it up tomorrow. Thank you for the suggestion!!
Now....for the hard part. a compressor. They have an Iwata Smart Jet which got decent reviews in your review section. They also have a "Silver Jet", which I don't even see listed. I'm guessing it is either new or so craptastic that it doesn't even merit mentioning. Has anyone used the Silver Jet or even heard anything about it? I am thinking I am just going to go ahead and get the Smart Jet if no one gives the silver jet a thumbs up. It looks smaller than the smart jet and is quite a bit less expensive, does not seem to have the moisture trap, and just doesn't give me a warm fuzzy after looking at the uber smart jet rig.
Any suggestions or experience?

Thanks for the help

Dave

[fyrefight]

Originally Posted by Thade

Hmmmm, very interesting. I just found an Iwata Eclipse HP CS at Hobby Lobby. With a coupon I found it would only be about 115ish. I am going to pick it up tomorrow. Thank you for the suggestion!!
Now....for the hard part. a compressor. They have an Iwata Smart Jet which got decent reviews in your review section. They also have a "Silver Jet", which I don't even see listed. I'm guessing it is either new or so craptastic that it doesn't even merit mentioning. Has anyone used the Silver Jet or even heard anything about it? I am thinking I am just going to go ahead and get the Smart Jet if no one gives the silver jet a thumbs up. It looks smaller than the smart jet and is quite a bit less expensive, does not seem to have the moisture trap, and just doesn't give me a warm fuzzy after looking at the uber smart jet rig.
Any suggestions or experience?

Thanks for the help



Dave

Just my two cents on the compressor. I have a 1 HP 3 gallon unit I got from Sears that I use for T-shirts n such, and it works great. They have em on sale often for about $99. It even comes with an accessory kit (not that ya need any of it for AB) and one of those plastic coil type hoses. I use the hose between the compressor and moisture filter to let the air cool a bit. Works great for me.

Just my 2 cents...

[Thade]

I had thought about getting one of the general purpose air compressors for it. Then I read where several people started with them and went with a quieter more airbrush specific type of compressor. Are there any drawbacks to using the general purpose type of compressor like you get at sears or Lowes? Other than the noise problem and things like that?

[redneck]

not if both compressors are about the same size, the bigger com. are harder to move but cost a lot less