I have seen everything on Amazon, Ebay and Hobby Lobby. Sure the $200 gun is probably the best but, don't have that kind of money. What would you get for your first one? Kit with compressor or buy everything separate

I use airbrushes for scale modeling.

 

I'm really impressed with my Master G23 - get the G233 kit and you get 3 different needle/nozzle sizes with it. I also have a Paasche single-action, suction feed with 3 needles/nozzles, but I mainly use side cups with it. There's also an old (40+years) Badger 200.

 

The G233 kit is around $40 from Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002KJDXHQ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

For air - I use my shop 3-gallon pancake compressor with a dedicated regulator/filter/water-trap mounted to the home-built spray booth. To use the compressor with my shop tools, I just unplug it from the airbrush regulator...it's also got a filter/water-trap on it.

 

 

I would buy the compressor separately. Most

compressors that are bundled with an airbrush aren’t very strong. I suggest looking at the Master G233 airbrush for $39 and the Master  compressor TC-320 for $89. Both are on Amazon. Hope this helps

Hobby lobby carries iwata neo. Its a decent brush for $70. Do not get the kit with the compressor. The compressor is not powerful enough or offer enough adjustment. I bout a $70 compressor off amazon that has worked pretty well for me so far.

2 minutes ago, Bdnoble84 said:

Hobby lobby carries iwata neo. Its a decent brush for $70. Do not get the kit with the compressor. The compressor is not powerful enough or offer enough adjustment. I bout a $70 compressor off amazon that has worked pretty well for me so far.

One guy I follow for my modeling tested this compressor from Amazon that goes for $90...he was impressed.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07VT2F5N9?psc=1&linkCode=sl1&tag=barbatosrex-20&linkId=f4ee9fd6516ac3a0bc5767afa2790678&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl

 

Hey Ken, what kind of scale modeling?

1 minute ago, detroit1 said:

Hey Ken, what kind of scale modeling?

Mostly Sci-Fi and X-Planes (SR-71/YF-12, XB-70, etc) Though I have done some warships and WW-II aircraft.

Yeah, i figured sci-fi but posted before i remembered. Show us your work if you want. ?

8 minutes ago, detroit1 said:

Yeah, i figured sci-fi but posted before i remembered. Show us your work if you want. ?

Ask and ye shall receive.

 

P-38J

 

BAC TSR-2 (British bomber from the 60s) - superimposed over a Google-Earth shot

 

Mini Romulan - this is the 2500 scale, about 4" across the wings...had to scratch-build the Plasma launcher on the nose...superimposed over a nebula shot from Hubble.

6 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

I use airbrushes for scale modeling.

 

I'm really impressed with my Master G23 - get the G233 kit and you get 3 different needle/nozzle sizes with it. I also have a Paasche single-action, suction feed with 3 needles/nozzles, but I mainly use side cups with it. There's also an old (40+years) Badger 200.

 

The G233 kit is around $40 from Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002KJDXHQ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

 

 

 

So I have some $150 airbrushes and some $20 ones as well. For most of what I do I really like some of the cheap brushes. No they cannot do the quality of detail but nothing I paint requires it? I am painting basic patterns and if I want gills, craw lines, etc I use a stencil. Look into the brush MN Fisher posted above and a Harbor Freight airbrush compressor. Wicked brand paints over regular Createx for less problems. Pearl paints are the hardest for me to mix and shoot well. Just throwing some lessons I have learned through frustration and airbrush tossing.

 

Allen

thanks to all the info and links. This forum is awesome. And Ken, that's some great stuff. Thank you. 

Great air brush kit suggestions ! ... Where art , science and the love of custom colored hard bait bass lures come together !