Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

I'm interested in picking up a spray gun - would really help with my relatively simple colour schemes and I was wondering what the general opinion/reviews of the Citadel Spray Gun were and if it's poor what suitable alternatives would be?

(http://www.games-workshop.com/gws/catalog/productDetail.jsp?catId=cat1290201&prodId=prod1350028)

Cheers, Dave.

It's cheap for an airbrush... Cheap enough to worry me.

I think I've heard it's really a 'spray gun' (which, in GW's defense, is what it's marketed as!) and only suitable for base coats and such.

The main issue I see is propellant. My girlfriend got an airbrush for fine art use and it's neat, but getting a cheap compressor was important and a problem as otherwise you're using canned propellant which gets expensive quick!

From what I hear the spray gun is okay. However, as Balance has said, running from the propellant guns is difficult - the pressure is inconsistent and they get expensive fast.

It's great for what it is--a cheap spraybrush used to basecoat multiple models and do large amounts of washes(no way in hell am I loading my $390 airbrush with washes that leak out the nozzle and gum up the workings, but GW's spraybrush is intended to actually be able to dispense the washes) at once.

The propellant bit is an issue, since the hose for the spraygun is non-standard and will require some juryrigging to adapt it to a compressor.

i wouldnt buy it. It look cheap and gimmicky. Also its not a dual action brush (air and paint) so i guess it blows at one mix. I suppose it would suit base coating large items, but not for detail work. Have a look in any art store at the badger hobby ranges (they use the propellant cans too). If youre going to use it for lots of spraying i would suggest considering bying a badger and then getting a compressor for it if youre spending to much money on propellant cans.

Have anybody actually used it? Is it comparable to spraying with a primerbox or better? Is it possible to load it with standard GW paints and use it to lay a basecoat?

Used it with Foundations, regulars and washes. Like any reusable spray thingy, it does take appropriate looking after to keep it working, and the one I used was indeed hooked up to a compressor. Didn't connect it myself, but guy who let me have a go seemed to have no bother getting it on there.

Worth a go definitely.

I was thinking of getting one for doing base colours on vehicles , no detailing work obviously.

It will work for that, no problem.

Gives a nice even coverage as well.

Nice, sounds like just the thing I've been looking for, no need to drop 500£ for an airbrush if this does the job I need it for anyways.

Do anybody know if this is a standard item in GW stores? I don't live in England, so I can't order the propellant from their site

I have one. The gun is ok, but the propellant cans blow... in a bad way. So I got a compressor & it gets the job done. Here's a longer discussion:

http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/212732.page

This question seems to come up every week >.<

It always seems that the answer is, its good for base coats and possibly washes but not much else... and getting an air compresser (assuming you plan to use it alot) is a must.

Like ANY hobby supplies GW sells- its over priced for what it is.

On ebay you can find high quality Iwata/Paache knock offs for the same price as the GW spray gun.

If you just want something to do base coats with- and dont need the silly toy flamer handle:

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=47791

Its the same thing- but its only 10$

GW wants you to buy these things for a simple reason- so they can screw you over. Over priced sprayer, over priced propellant, both of which eat through alot of paint- of which only half(or less) generally sticks to your models(theres alot of overspray)- which means theyre also getting to sell you more overpriced paint.

Buttlerthepug wrote:This question seems to come up every week >.<

It always seems that the answer is, its good for base coats and possibly washes but not much else... and getting an air compresser (assuming you plan to use it alot) is a must.

Spraybrush != Airbrush
That's part of the problem we see within these threads(not aimed specifically at you, Buttler). Everyone compares what is clearly marketed as a "spraygun/spraybrush" to an airbrush.
Two different tools, two very different purposes.
An airbrush can be used for basecoating, but it's made for detail work and fine patterns.
A spraybrush is made for just basecoating.

Mistress of minis wrote:GW wants you to buy these things for a simple reason- so they can screw you over. Over priced sprayer, over priced propellant, both of which eat through alot of paint- of which only half(or less) generally sticks to your models(theres alot of overspray)- which means theyre also getting to sell you more overpriced paint.

Bingo , and they probably wouldnt mind calling it an airbrush either if it wasnt for the obvious bad quality of it. "batch shading" lol

Kanluwen wrote:

Buttlerthepug wrote:This question seems to come up every week >.<

It always seems that the answer is, its good for base coats and possibly washes but not much else... and getting an air compresser (assuming you plan to use it alot) is a must.

Spraybrush != Airbrush
That's part of the problem we see within these threads(not aimed specifically at you, Buttler). Everyone compares what is clearly marketed as a "spraygun/spraybrush" to an airbrush.
Two different tools, two very different purposes.
An airbrush can be used for basecoating, but it's made for detail work and fine patterns.
A spraybrush is made for just basecoating.

Bit confused now... The question at hand was on the Citadel Spray Gun, and I gave an answer based on what seemed to be the general consensus of the Citadel Spray Gun and its purpose... While I understand that the comment wasnt necessarily aimed at me, did I even mention Airbrush or Spraybrush?

Please read beyond the bolded part.

Sprayguns/spraybrushes are the same thing.

Buttlerthepug wrote:Bit confused now... The question at hand was on the Citadel Spray Gun, and I gave an answer based on what seemed to be the general consensus of the Citadel Spray Gun and its purpose... While I understand that the comment wasnt necessarily aimed at me, did I even mention Airbrush or Spraybrush?

Dont worry about it pug , the rest of us understood what you meant.

It can be used for quick an easy camo on tanks from what I hear.

I got one the other day to base coat a bunch of new tanks, worked well and certainly a LOT faster than hand painting, even allowing for cleaning out the gun after. I have a small compressor which I will try connecting but suspect may mean getting some kind of adapter. You can vary air pressure (a bit) by screwing in/out the valve on top of the propellant and the needle valve on the gun works fine for varying the paint. Main problem is the varying pressure you get from the propellant. Guy in store said stand can in warm water (not tried it yet) but otherwise a handy tool for basic undercoat.

Boss 'eadbreaka wrote:It can be used for quick an easy camo on tanks from what I hear.

Yes, that is what GW constantly use it for. However, as said earlier, it takes up lots of paint.

The concensus seems to be the GW spraygun is okay if all you want to use it for is painting vehicles in one colour/basic patterns. As thats all I want to use it for and I'm yet to find another spraygun in the uk for under 30 quid I think I might take the plunge, worse case scenario I've lost £18 plus some propellant.

Smillie wrote:The concensus seems to be the GW spraygun is okay if all you want to use it for is painting vehicles in one colour/basic patterns. As thats all I want to use it for and I'm yet to find another spraygun in the uk for under 30 quid I think I might take the plunge, worse case scenario I've lost £18 plus some propellant.

http://shop.ebay.com/i.html?LH_PrefLoc=0&_trkparms=65%253A12%257C66%253A2%257C39%253A1%257C72%253A2688&_nkw=air+brush+kit&_dmd=1&_fsct=&_in_kw=1&_ipg=50&_oexkw=&_okw=air+brush+kit&_sticky=1&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_udhi=&_udlo=&_sop=15&_sc=1
Or $3 is fine too for same quality?

Tim the Biovore wrote:

Boss 'eadbreaka wrote:It can be used for quick an easy camo on tanks from what I hear.

Yes, that is what GW constantly use it for. However, as said earlier, it takes up lots of paint.

Any spraygun/spraybrush/airbrush will require quite a bit of paint to get the ratios correct so it doesn't gum up the workings. The advantage of the GW spraybrush/spraygun is that it's idiotproof. You don't need to have multiple types of acrylic thinners and storage jars to mix paints up to use in it--you just add 25% water to 75% of a GW paint or 50% water to 50% of a wash and you're set to go. It's, like any other "advanced modeler" tool that GW gets made to sell perfect for beginners or people who've not worked with airbrushes or spraybrushes/sprayguns before and it's readily available at their shop without having to hunt up your local Harbor Freight/train shop that stocks airbrushes equivalent.

Kanluwen wrote:

Tim the Biovore wrote:

Boss 'eadbreaka wrote:It can be used for quick an easy camo on tanks from what I hear.

Yes, that is what GW constantly use it for. However, as said earlier, it takes up lots of paint.

Any spraygun/spraybrush/airbrush will require quite a bit of paint to get the ratios correct so it doesn't gum up the workings. The advantage of the GW spraybrush/spraygun is that it's idiotproof. You don't need to have multiple types of acrylic thinners and storage jars to mix paints up to use in it--you just add 25% water to 75% of a GW paint or 50% water to 50% of a wash and you're set to go. It's, like any other "advanced modeler" tool that GW gets made to sell perfect for beginners or people who've not worked with airbrushes or spraybrushes/sprayguns before and it's readily available at their shop without having to hunt up your local Harbor Freight/train shop that stocks airbrushes equivalent.

Doesnt change the fact theyre charging a 25$ premium for a pistol grip, and a jar with measuring lines.

And no airbrush is idiotproof. If someone is so simple they cant find a better deal at a Hobby shop, or discount tool store- they probly dont need an air brush of any sort.

Once again:
They overcharge due to a brand name and "convenience". Not everyone wants to hunt for a discount tool store, and GW has been aiming to be a one stop shop for beginners.
Also, again:
Airbrush !=Spraygun/Spraybrush.

I really don't understand how difficult it is to use the correct terms.

I use the citadel spraygun a fair bit, and i get what i expect from it.
A quick and simple way to apply a basecoat and washes to a model without much effort.
Sure enough, like all things it requires cleaning to keep it working.

In the long run: Great for a quick way to get a basic job done, but as said, prop. for it costs a fortune after a while.



Also, its a good thing to use if you want to get into using an air brush.
May be alot less fine, but it gives you a nice grip on how it works and different methods of using it.

Kanluwen wrote:Once again:
They overcharge due to a brand name and "convenience". Not everyone wants to hunt for a discount tool store, and GW has been aiming to be a one stop shop for beginners.
Also, again:
Airbrush !=Spraygun/Spraybrush.

I really don't understand how difficult it is to use the correct terms.

Its obvious you dont understand how difficult it is, since you arent using the right terms yourself.

The GW toy IS an airbrush, look at the nozzle set up. Single action siphon feed airbrush, the design has been around for years. They stuck a gimick handle on it and call it a gun. But its still an airbrush. A cheapo pistol grip doesnt change what it is.

Sprayguns are what they use to paint houses, cars and all sorts of big stuff in the world that needs paint.

Wikipedia Airbrush article wrote:An airbrush is a small, air-operated tool that sprays various media including ink and dye, but most often paint by a process of nebulization. Spray guns developed from the airbrush and are still considered a type of airbrush.

We're both wrong, actually.

Either way, they market it as a "spray gun" and not an "airbrush" for a good reason. It's intended for nothing but basecoating and large models. Anyone wanting to do detail work with it is deluded.

Unless you are going to do insane numbers of models, you are probably better off with normal spray can paint than a cheapo airbrush/spray gun.

It comes in massive varieties of colours, needs no mixing, cleaning or extra propellant, and can even do texture effects.

You can get some amount of detailing like basic camo patterns by using stencils and masks.

The main thing is you need to spray before you assemble infantry type figures, to get into the underarms and stuff.

I did my Tyranid army with three colours in a day. 18 medium size models, 12 teenies and a Trygon. It was a 1,000 point list. I used up maybe half a can each of four different sprays including the primer.