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I just started watching the tutorials on airbrushing. Against my better judgement, I listened to the advice of some friends and they recommended I start with the Citadel Paint Gun and "see if I like it" before I go for a full-on airbrush set. Well, sure enough, I liked it, but that paint gun sucks. I'm thinking of getting an airbrush setup:

Paasche D3000R - Compressor
Iwata HP-CS - Airbrush

At $300, it comes in with a hefty price tag. But do you think that is the way to go? I'm concerned both about the cost and the usability of it. I paint mostly space marines, so I think it'd be great for all my base coats, power weapons, cool fades/etc. Let me know what you think.

I have the exact same setup; I love it.

I recently bought an Iwata HP-B+ as a second airbrush, for details.

check out my blog for samples of some of the work I've done with them. You can do pretty much everything you can do with the B+ with the CS, but the smaller spray pattern off the B+ makes it a bit easier for ham handed morons like me to use

I have like zero artistic talent, and I'm still putting out pretty good results. Not to mention the ability to pump out FOUR razorbacks to what I consider above table-top quality from sprue to finished in 12 hours.

But yea.... its a great starter setup. Just be sure to use Vallejo Paints with it. Vallejo Thinner Medium + any of the Vallejo colors works very well with the CS.

edit - $300 isn't going big. Its a starter kit basically

The REAL expensive setups are like $1000+

I also have the same setup most likely due to Horst here. I have had it 3-4 weeks and man it is awesome I haven't had any problems whatsoever and it is easy to use I totally recommend it.

That's a good setup, expensive tho. Really think about if you need one, I look at your pics and I saw no vehicles, so unless you're painting 3+ vehicle sized models a week spend 100 on some paint models and paint brushes and 200 on someone special

I listened to Horst and bought an HP-CS I have never used an airbrush befor and that thing is great. I almost feel bad it's so easy to use and fun.

I went with a hardware store compressor with a 2 gal tank. Yes it is noisier than an airbrush compressor but it was a lot cheaper, as well as it's not running all the time. I also do get quite a lot done on one tank of air so I don't mind at all.

I did notice that Iwata has their own crazy thread sizes so if you don't know ( like me) then also order and iwata air hose. The hose is not ver expensive and is quite nice.

So thanks to Horst's advice I am now painting my models, it's faster and more fun too so win win.
Hope that helps

cowpow16 wrote:I listened to Horst and bought an HP-CS I have never used an airbrush befor and that thing is great. I almost feel bad it's so easy to use and fun.

I went with a hardware store compressor with a 2 gal tank. Yes it is noisier than an airbrush compressor but it was a lot cheaper, as well as it's not running all the time. I also do get quite a lot done on one tank of air so I don't mind at all.

I did notice that Iwata has their own crazy thread sizes so if you don't know ( like me) then also order and iwata air hose. The hose is not ver expensive and is quite nice.

So thanks to Horst's advice I am now painting my models, it's faster and more fun too so win win.
Hope that helps

If you've spent a long time brush painting, getting an airbrush feels like enabling god mode.

(Iwata isn't the only company that uses 1/8" threads. You just need a 1/4" to 1/8" adapter to use it).

Also it's surprisingly easy to take apart clean and reasemble.

IMO it's worth it, this thing is great.


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Yes that is how it feels Horst.

Seriously you get amazing looking blending and just smooth and it makes you almost feel bad because those effects would take hours with a brush and you can get em done done in minutes, even as a begginer.

If you can afford that setup then its a great choice and you wont suffer from upgradeitis anytime soon.

Just remember to budget for cleaner, thinner, cleaning kit and possibly some airbrush paints of colours you use a lot.

That is a good point those add up too. I have found white to be really useful as well as black.
You may also want eye droppers I have found those to be quite convenient.

Can I pick you fellow airbrush users minds a bit?

After using a cheapo no name airbrush for a while, I went and picked up a Grex TS airbrush. Single biggest expense I've had for my hobby, but I know I'll get good use out of it, and a lot of time savings.

Previously, I got by with this cheap airbrush and crappy compressor (random salon air brand) only by basically not handling the settings much at all, and usually getting results that were little different than using a spray can.

Now that I have this better quality brush, I'm noticing problems in my technique is very flawed and I think I've been mostly wasting my airbrush.

First, I'd read that I want to use the airbrush at around 20 psi, is that correct? I've still got a cheap compressor so I honestly don't know what 20psi feels like.

When you guys spray, how does the paint come out for you? Does it dry almost immediately after touching the mini? How much paint is coming out, for example, after about 2 seconds of spraying how much does the color change on the target spot?

For a while, I when I sprayed the paint seemed to take forever to dry and eventually ran, pretty clear sign I was overdoing it. The color would change quickly, but I think I have the PSI too high and also spraying too much paint. And this was just trying to lay down a base coat, not doing any sort of detail work. I've got a Flames of War panzer 4 that has had most of its tiny detail sprayed over.

I did some adjusting and found a setting where it takes a while for the color to build up, but it dries tacky as soon as it hits the model, still smooth. But, it takes a while for the color to build up. Is this what I should expect?

Also, I'm currently using vallejo paint, including vallejo model air. I've noticed that the model air seemed a bit thick so I used some thinner. Anyone else thin model air, or have used it straight with no problems? I've also heard good things about tamiya paint, but I'd prefer to use vallejo's set colors.

Oh, what thinners are people using? Already mentioned was vallejo thinner. I've been using an old bottle of liquitex airbrush medium, but it might be a bit thick.

Anyone have any video links to share? With stuff like this, doing it right is often a matter of getting the right feel, and video is the best for that. I've got one or two miniature mentor videos involving airbrushing, but nothing covering the basics of settings and usage.