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Hi all,
I just asked my mum, who is an artist/illustrator, if she had an airbrush. I had vague memories of seeing her using one as a kid, before photoshop etc. removed the need for illustrators to use them. She dug out a couple of Devilbiss/Aerograph airbrushes that look pretty classy - A 'sprite' dual action gravity fed one, and a 'super 63' model A. From what I can glean from my Google-fu, these are really high quality airbrushes. I found this to be the most useful site: http://www.restorationsupplies.co.uk/acatalog/Aerograph_Super_63_A___E_Airbrushes.html
Questions I have:
Do you think I'll have to replace bits like diaphragms or washers before they'll be usable?
Will these brushes be compatible with newer compressors, and what sort will I need?
Any idea where I can find out more about them?
Are they suitable for modelling with acrylics, varnish etc?
Any info would be very helpful,
Cheers

Aerograph should still be in business, so I'd try and find a dealer (maybe contact those guys in the link) and see if you can order parts.

You won't have any diaphrams in the airbrush itself, what you will have is springs, needles and tips that may need replacing, otherwise it'll be down to corrosion and cleaning.

They will definitely be compatible with modern compressors, though you may need to find some air hose adapters etc. Compressors are a huge topic but has been covered in the past on Dakka, a quick search should find you what you need. I myself use a cheapo tank compressor I got at Home Depot and a few adapters. make sure it has a regulator and moisture trap.

there are literally MILLIONS of sites with airbrush tips, google is your friend.

all airbrushes are suitable for acrylics, varnishes or whatever, since they are all metal. some may have rubber seals etc that you'll need to check, but generally I've shot everything through mine without problem (i use a Paasche VL)

hope that helps.

Thanks for the info. I'll see if they can put together a set of all the washers for these brushes for me and have a go at replacing them.
I'll see what I can find compressor wise. I'm aware that I want oil free, with a reg and moisture trap, it was more the pressure that I was interested in - I got the impression that older brushes need higher pressures (40-50psi).

I'm no expert and am actually looking to buy my first airbrush at the moment.

What I can say from my research is that you shouldn't have any problems achieving that sort of pressure [if you require it?] from even cheap compressor/tank combo's.

For example this is the cheapest on the market that I have found [inc airbrush & kit - £100 delivered!] and runs at around 50-57psi.


http://www.airbrushcompressorshop.co.uk/products/compressor-kits/aibrush-compressor-kit-ii-studio/

They have cheaper compressor only deals as well.

I would ask someone that has greater knowledge than me to say whether this is a good compressor/airbrush or not as allot of the advice that you see on professional airbrushing sites would indicate that you get what you pay for with airbrushes; nit sure if this applies to compressors or not though?

Here are a couple of other good value sites which sell more well known brands.

http://www.simple2trade.com/special_detail.asp?prod_id=235&grpid=235&#prod_anchor
http://www.everythingairbrush.com/acatalog/Airbrush_Kits.html

I run my airbrush off a big perminantly mounted 80 gallon compressor thats in our garage. You dont need to buy a "airbrush specific" compressor to run your airbrush you just need any compressor that you can regulate down to about 30 psi.

In my experiance an aircompressor with a tank is a must, as it reduces the pulsation of your air supply.

As for the air brush that you have...If it aint broke, dont fix it. Try the airbrush out and see if it works before you go replaceing things, the worst that will happen is you get paint all over your hands. If it is broken chances are it just needs to be cleaned or needs a rubber o-ring replaced. You can get an appropriate o-ring at any good hardware store.

Yeah, but the thing is I think it was bought in the mid 80s, and hasn't been used for at least ten years now, so the rubber O rings have probably perished

You'd be supprised, plus it doesnt really hurt to try and who knows it might end up saving you a few bucks on not haveing to fix something that wasnt broken.

Well the sprite looked to be in better condition, and from what i've read is more user-friendly, so I took it apart today. Internals all look in amazingly good nick. One question for you airbrushers out there: what hose fitting is this brush likely to have?
http://www.restorationsupplies.co.uk/acatalog/Aerograph_Sprite_Spares.html

Righto, i'm looking for a compressor now.

I looked at the Clarke Wiz from Machine Mart, which is the cheapest compact compressor I could find. Problem is, I don't think it has a tank, so would pulse.

The one posted in the picture above is what a compressor with a tank looks like far as I can tell.

I'm looking at these on eBay
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180501583938&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT
A more industrial type one:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120563013784&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT
Anyone got any advice?

Ive been airbrushing for a few years, first thing NEVER use a diaphragm compressor, their just overpriced and do not supply a constant airflow, they dance across the floor, you cannot set the pressure (it defaults to around 30psi normally) and after 20-30 solid minutes of painting the presuure just drops to about 10 psi.
i bought a 125 psi 1 horse power compressor for a hundred bucks and it has never served me wrong (just throw a moisture trap on it.) just remeber the golden rule, you can't buy a compressor that's to big, but you can buy one that's to small.

as far as airbrushing goes it takes a ton of practice to do minis i use an Iwata HP-CS+ (around 160 bucks and worth every penny plus its weight in gold.), and i use house of kolor urethane paint (it flows really well which is essential when working with really tight details.)

i thin the paint down with the reducer that comes with it about 7 parts of reducer to 1 part of paint, it allows very even flow but you have to be patient and layer the paint on rather than throwing all the paint down at once, it also creates alot of neat gradients. i generally run the pressure around 15-20 psi, the best part of airbrushing is playing with different kinds of paint and methods to find what works best for you though. by the way be sure to wear a respirator if you end up using urethanes, they're pretty toxic

Hope that helps.

Edit: if i recall the hose will be 1/4 inch.

I find Createx acrylics to be great for the indoors. uro's work the best but will kill you and your pets if you don't have adequate ventilation.

The Createx Wickeds are awesome and very reasonably priced.

I was looking at vallejo model air, heard good things about them.

More compressors:
http://www.simple2trade.com/prod5.asp?ID=259&offset=&prod_id=81&grpid=81&#prod_anchor
http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.simple2trade.com/graphics/CPS1006_400X400_small.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.simple2trade.com/prod5.asp%3FID%3D259%26offset%3D%26prod_id%3D730&usg=__LKSGQxmmelIZYSVOenkRGH8zG90=&h=100&w=100&sz=6&hl=en&start=12&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=tpSpmQvMZndztM:&tbnh=82&tbnw=82&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dportable%2Bpiston%2Bair%2Bcompressor%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26cr%3DcountryUK%257CcountryGB%26safe%3Doff%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-GBfficial%26channel%3Ds%26tbs%3Disch:1
I can't wait to get started with this

Alot of your links are blocked to me at work, but from what I can gather I would still recommend a larger compressor. It may be louder but it will run less, it will also last longer and be more reliable. As a general rule I try and stay away from "hobby specific" tools and it hasnt let me down yet.

Well I've only had one compressor. The Iwata Smart-Jet, and I really like it. The first one you listed, this one:
http://www.simple2trade.com/prod5.asp?ID=259&offset=&prod_id=81&grpid=81&#prod_anchor

Seems the most like mine. Or at least offers the same basic features. The auto-shutoff is nice too. IMO that would be the way to go. The second one, though I have no personal experience here, looks like the type that folks complain will 'pulse' as the air is given.

How about...
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Portable-Oil-Free-Compressor-8-Bar-230v-2Hp-1-5Kw-/280501224044?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Air_Tools_and_Compressors&hash=item414f2d026c