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Could anyone help me in deciding which would be the best starter kit (or combination of compressors, airbrush and other gubbins needed like hoses etc) to fit a £300 budget, preferably from here:

http://www.everythingairbrush.com/acatalog/Airbrushing.html

(Note: I've heard Gravity fed double action are the best you can get, or at least really good, so could you please include that, no single action or bottom fed one please)

Thanks, as I really don't know where to start looking

Thinking about this one (Harder and Steenbeck kit)AB-AS-186 Airbrushing Kit With Infinity Solo Airbrush on EverythingAirbrush, though I can't see it mentioned anywhere that the airbrush is double action

RayvenQ wrote:Could anyone help me in deciding which would be the best starter kit (or combination of compressors, airbrush and other gubbins needed like hoses etc) to fit a £300 budget, preferably from here:

http://www.everythingairbrush.com/acatalog/Airbrushing.html

(Note: I've heard Gravity fed double action are the best you can get, or at least really good, so could you please include that, no single action or bottom fed one please)

Thanks, as I really don't know where to start looking

Thinking about this one (Harder and Steenbeck kit)AB-AS-186 Airbrushing Kit With Infinity Solo Airbrush on EverythingAirbrush, though I can't see it mentioned anywhere that the airbrush is double action

Yeah the AB-AS-186, 189, and 196 all look like good compressors for our needs. The H&S airbrushes are really top of the line, they are gravity-feed and double-action. I have the Infinity two-in-one, which is the same as the solo, but with the extra parts to change needle/nozzle/cup sizes. If you are willing to spend the money you can't wrong with that...

Is the double action really neccesary, does the bigger nozzle help when covering larger areas, for say vehicles and bigger models etc, i presume it would, but don't have a real idea.

More info on the infinity 2-1, especially operational usage info would be greatly appreciated!

Now thinking of the 2 in one with the AB-AS-189, slightly more than my budget, but i could increase i if its really worth getting.

Yeah you definitely want double-action. Otherwise it's just like a can of aerosol... you can't control how much paint you get, therefore you cannot layer or blend etc...

The 2-in-1 is exactly what the title implies. You can switch the nozzle/needle/cup for larger jobs like priming/base-coating tanks and terrain or keep small for more detailed work and blending.

You could also buy the solo, and then later buy the parts for the larger arrangement... they are exactly the same; but the 2-in-1 makes it easy and worst case, if you damage one needle/nozzle you have one ready to go.

The startup cost is big haha... then you will need to buy a cleaning kit (check out the 'Mack' cleaning kit), and the proper airbrush mediums (liquitex or golden) and alcohol to clean it etc...

I would say any of those compressors would be fine honestly, if the 186 is cheaper that'l do...

Oh wait i meant double nozzle, partdon me.

But yeah it does sound good.

As for paints, I'll probably stick with vallejo air, at least initially, although can get liquitex for not very much.

Thanks a lot, has really helped me.

Would like to know as well, how it handles minatures wise, its strengths, possible weaknesses etc.

I take it this part about the 189 doesnt really matter much does it? "In position 1,once it has reached an output pressure of 57 PSI it shuts off automatically and restarts when required. In position 2, the compressor will run continuously and reach a maximum pressure of 87 PSI."

about reaching 87psi, compared to the 186;'s maximum of 57psi

(on EverythingAirbrush, i think they aren't doing the 186's anymore sine all the 186 ones have been replaced with the 189)

The vallejo air paints are ok, but you still need to thin them a bit, especially with the smaller nozzle/needle on the infinity. Alcohol or windex don't play/react well with the vallejo air paints... liquitex or golden is the way to go, but the vallejo thinner will also work - it's just more expensive.

You don't really need to be concerned with that other stuff, whatever it takes to fill the tank I don't know - it doesnt matter, but you will be operating at a much lower PSI with the H&S brush... probably around 15-PSI, max 20-PSI, which you will have to dial down on your regulator.

It will work great for minis!

by dial down you mean what exactly, adjust something on the compressor to limit it to 20psi max? or would i have to buy a seperare regulator to plug into it or something?

Thanks a lot for all the info, it really does help.

in that 2 in one 186 kit, with the moisture filter, where would that go, between the compressor and the hose or the hose and the airbrush itself?

RayvenQ wrote:by dial down you mean what exactly, adjust something on the compressor to limit it to 20psi max? or would i have to buy a seperare regulator to plug into it or something?

Thanks a lot for all the info, it really does help.

All that stuff in the description is just talking about how it fills the tank... all you need to worry about it is how much PSI is coming out, into your airbrush. You can control that with the dial, already attached to each of those compressors... it's the top part of the moisture trap and there is also a gauge sticking out of it to show you how much PSI is flowing...

For the H&S Infinity the manufacturer recommends 15 PSI for best results... but up-to 20 would be ok.

For airbrush suggestions, I got a ps900, can't recommend it more. 60$ and its really good quality.

I've got an Iwata Eclipse HP CS myself, really nice airbrush for the price.

Hah - classic... I have all 3 brushes listed!

The Iwata HP CS was my first... good quality AB.
The Infinity I got for really fine details...
And the PS900, now made by Masters, I got for spraying metallics.

Anyway this might help clear up things:

Thanks Gunz, you've been really helpful, more than that infact.