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.

So I'm thinking of getting an airbrush.

Originally I thought great, I don't have to buy a compressor as my Dad already has one.

The only downside would be that it is too big and loud to lugg upstairs to paint at my paint station. I would have to paint in the garage.

Now I'm questioning if it is suitable for painting models.

It's one of those massive ones that has a handle and rolls around on wheels!

My Dad uses it to paint fences and apply finishes and paint to his woodwork projects. It is a Blackridge BRC 200 If that means anything to you guys.
It's pictured below, it's not the one my Dad has but it's exactly like it same model just a different colour.


So my Question to you guys is;
Can this compressor be used to power an airbrush to paint minis?
I'm thinking it's too big. So does size matter when getting a compressor?


Thanks in advance!

Flying Pooo.

as long as it has a regulator, and you can get the output down to 10-30 PSI range, it should be fine.

You'll just have to make a custom air fitting to get the airbrush hose to connect to it.

Thanks Horst for the very quick answer. That's kinda what I hoped for. Fitting the hoses correctly will probably be the hardest part!

Ive heard of people using those big compressors in the past, long as you can find the connectors and regulators and stand the noise you should be fine

I currently use a general purpose compressor for my airbrush. Since I have my spray booth set up in the garage the noise isn't an issue. Finding the fittings shouldn't be too hard, most airbrush companies have a hose fitting to connect to a full size compressor or tank.

Also with a tank that size, once it's full it will keep you painting for a long time before it kicks on again.

One other thing, make sure you get a moisture/oil filter to use between the tank and airbrush.

I loved the setup I had in my old house, I had a big upright air compressor that I would use with my pneumatic tools...why I simply did was set it up so that I had 2 lines coming out of the compressor, one line stayed in the garage, the other ran up into the attic, down the inside of the wall in my hobby room and out a little valve in the wall. To that was attached a regulator and moisture trap then a line to my airbrush. It was a sweet set up and I wish I still had it. Perhaps your dad will let you do something similar.

Ashton

roge wrote:I currently use a general purpose compressor for my airbrush. Since I have my spray booth set up in the garage the noise isn't an issue. Finding the fittings shouldn't be too hard, most airbrush companies have a hose fitting to connect to a full size compressor or tank.

Also with a tank that size, once it's full it will keep you painting for a long time before it kicks on again.

One other thing, make sure you get a moisture/oil filter to use between the tank and airbrush.

Thanks!
Will I easily be able to buy these fittings at hardware stores and such?
Is a moisture/oil filter mandatory and what exactly does it do? or rather; What happens if I don't have one (as again it might be hard to find the parts)?

Redfinger wrote:I loved the setup I had in my old house, I had a big upright air compressor that I would use with my pneumatic tools...why I simply did was set it up so that I had 2 lines coming out of the compressor, one line stayed in the garage, the other ran up into the attic, down the inside of the wall in my hobby room and out a little valve in the wall. To that was attached a regulator and moisture trap then a line to my airbrush. It was a sweet set up and I wish I still had it. Perhaps your dad will let you do something similar.

Ashton

Cool story bro, that sounds awesome now I want one. Thanks for the idea I will see if I can make it a reality

Sorry for the delay in response, the purpose of the filter is to remove any water and oil that is in the line so the air is clean when it gets to the brush. All of the necessary parts should be available at a hardware store.

^Thanks again man!
Can anyone recommend any mid range, not too expensive airbrushes that do the job well?

You should also thing about the noise a compressor that large will generate. Personally, I would go with an actual airbrush compressor (I use an Iwata smartjet, whisper quiet) and a larger external tank so you can paint without having the compressor running all the time, but not wake everyone up when you need a refill.

As for airbrushes, I started out with an Iwata eclipse HPCS and it has served me quite well in my noob stage. Its very forgiving physically but still very easy to use and well made.

Another noob Airbrush question here; what is the difference between double action and single action, also what is the difference between Gravity feed, Suction feed and side feed Airbrushes. Which ones are the best and what does it mean in terms of performance?

Flying Pooo wrote:Another noob Airbrush question here; what is the difference between double action and single action, also what is the difference between Gravity feed, Suction feed and side feed Airbrushes. Which ones are the best and what does it mean in terms of performance?

Meh, all you need to know is that you should buy a gravity feed dual action airbrush. All others suck for 40k model building.

^ Straight to the point, I like it! Thanks!

Would an airbrush from here be any good? Or should I buy a better quality one?

Agree on the getting a double action gravity fed.

Also, i do use a large compressor too. all those fitting are standard sizes. Get a airbrush hose with an inline water filter, then go to your local hardware store that carries air fittings and i will almost guarantee you will find something that fits. With a tank that large, you should be fine for airbrushing for an hour or so easily before you need to run it on to recharge it. What I do it is take a break every 45 minutes to an hour, fire up the compressor, get something to drink, stretch my legs and by the time I get back, the tank is fully charged again. Yes the compressor is loud, but since you do not have to run it all that often, it is not as bad as everyone is saying. The trick is you have that large tank.

Also, if you can afford it, pick up a cheap ultrasonic cleaner for cleaning your airbrush. You will not be sorry.

Horst sent me this link earlier today.
Boom link right here.

http://www.chicagoairbrushsupply.com/newye2012off.html

I ended up ordering an Iwata eclipse HP CS.

I dont know a ton but I have been looking for weeks now reading reviews and such and Iwata has not gotten a single bad review as far as I have seen.

But hey have a look see there are some good prices.

^Thanks cowpow these all seem to be of better quality, now just to see if free shipping on some of their products includes international shipping. High shipping costs will be a deal breaker for me.

No it doesn't shipping adds around 30-40% of the cost to the order. :(

I get fantastic results with a very cheap airbrush from china (the eBay specials for about £12) and a large compressor designed for tools and spraying larger objects.

I find the most important thing when using an airbrush for modelling is a decent paint mix and technique.


All the advice in this thread is sound - grab an inline moisture/oil trap and regulator and some thinner, you should be great.

Also, get the Imperial Armour Model Masterclass book, it's amazing.

Free shipping is only for the lower 48 states.

Still with the prices they have its a good deal even if you have to pay for the shipping since other sites are more expensive and then have the shipping on top of it all.

I mean I bought a brush and a moisture trap with shipping for the same price as the the brush alone cost on other sites (the other sites didnt even have shipping added in to their price so I found it worth while.

Most places have such high shipping costs unless you get lucky and find a store in your country that has good prices.

Shop around a little and see what prices come to. Dont forget to enter the coupon code when you are in the check out to see what it all comes to.

Flying Pooo wrote:Thanks Horst for the very quick answer. That's kinda what I hoped for. Fitting the hoses correctly will probably be the hardest part!

Nah.

Compressors use standard fittings. You can get a reducing coupler or adaptor for that compressor down to the airbrush size one (usually 1/2" down to 1/4") at most places that sell compressor bits.

The good news is that that one has a tank. Tanked compressors only run the compressor to charge the tank, and your spraying is done from the "bottle".

Moisture traps are quite useful in painting. You get condensation effects (excess water) which will effect your painting through it. A moisture trap will make the water condense somewhere else NOT in your pre-mix air. You bleed them out after you finish.

My compressor was Frankensteined from a tankless, with a spare oxy bottle. It's hell-noisy for the half hour it takes to charge the tank, then I just kill the compressor and flip a lever, switch to tank feed and it's quiet for the next hour or so.

^^I found some of the airbrushes cheaper on Ebay, and they had cheaper shipping. Still shopping around though.

Anyone heard of Master airbrushes? How good are they?

I was looking at the Iwata neo as well, how good is that?

I found a cool mini compressor really cheap at Supercheap Auto for $20!

Hey Flying Pooo,

I did a bunch of research recently, and went with a Master for my first airbrush. I got the G44, it's basically a knock off of the Iwata Micron. I found a few reviews where it was compared side by side with an Iwata Micron and found to work just as well. They also broke it down and looked at the gubbinz, and found it was the 99% same brush (including schematics) and machined very well. I ordered the G444, as it comes with .2 .3 and .5 tips so I can change them out for different purposes, fine hairlines to base coating. I have a recent thread here that I posted some of the information in, though I wished I had saved the TONS of links and youtube videos I looked at to help others with reference Here are a few:

http://airbrushtechnique.com/content/413-airbrush-review-g44.html
http://theairbrushforum.com/equipment-basics/1142-review-iwata-hp-ch-vs-ab180-master-g44.html

^Thanks Dez Saves me a lot of research...which takes longer than I thought.

I'm still doing my research to help me decide with certainty which airbrush I will buy. I keep finding more information saying that some cheaper airbrushes do the same job as the more expensive ones, then I find stuff that says that the cheaper ones are nowhere near as good. I think I'm going for something mid range, as I don't want a bad airbrush and I don't want to pay too much. I thought the Iwata Neo would be great for that, but now this new information gives me something to think about...

I read plenty of reviews on Master airbrushes some were good, some bad and some indifferent, but this information you have brought to light is quite interesting. Now I have another airbrush to consider. This is harder than I thought...

Yes it is, I've been researching it on and off for a couple years, and dove into things (read: about 4 hours of research a day) the past few weeks.

^I have done like 2 hours research each day since I've put this thread, surprisingly more than I expected to do. I still haven't decided.

I know the feeling I had been seriously looking into which airbrush for over 2 weeks since I dont want to get into airbrushing on a bad note.

this is a good idea of a starter kit on the lower end

http://www.amazon.com/Airbrushing-Performance-Multi-Purpose-Dual-Action-Airbrush/dp/B001TO578Q/ref=wl_it_dp_o_npd?ie=UTF8&coliid=I29XUHAPDY9OZM&colid=1SS54OG8XB4WN

I've got two airbrushes.

One is a Paasche VL and the other a TG.
The TG came from a pro-modelmaker mate who replaced his (tax time) with a newer model. My first ever was a Badger siphon feed with aircan.

Both fit my compressor.

Of course, I've only had power outside the house for two months now, and the weather's been crap for most of it, so I haven't been able to blow the dust out of them (haven't use them in a few years now, but they do get inspected every few months - and there's a model shop in town where I can get spares).

Thanks for all of your opinions and helpful comments. I think I have decided to get this which I have been told are pretty good. I'll use it just until I have enough money to buy a good quality Iwata, I was thinking an eclipse which I have heard really good things about. With the money I have saved I shall buy paints, airbrush thinner and cleaner instead. I'll will have had some practice with the other airbrush before I get an Iwata.

What do you all think?

I have heard that some of those work and dont but for their price and you can usually return it if it does break and if worse comes to worse your only out 50 but ya.

Do it and write up a review.

Will Do. I am buying it today. The airbrushes sound alright from all the comments and reviews I saw.