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So I have been convinced i need an airbrush and i want to start with a fairly good kit but not far too expensive. I want it to be able to do detail work as well as for basing models. The kit from the following link, is it more than i need? Not high enough quality?Too expensive for what it is or anything else which makes it un-recommendable? Do you know where i can get this stuff cheaper? (i'm in the UK) http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AIRBRUSH-KIT-AIRBRUSH-COMPRESSOR-AIR-BRUSH-COMPRESSOR-/370268372610?_trksid=p4340.m1982&_trkparms=aid%3D555001%26algo%3DPW.CURRENT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D29%26meid%3D1742626888084602068%26pid%3D100009%26prg%3D1013%26rk%3D1%26#ht_4879wt_1255

Thank You

Oy vey

I would probably recommend looking for a different brush. While I can't speak to the specific quality of that brush - a little Google takes you to the source...

They are a Chinese company who specializes in making pallets, material handling equipment (dollies and pallet jacks) and...airbrushes.

There are some OK brushes that you can find from Chinese (or Taiwanese) companies who actually specialize in making them. You can also get good entry level equipment from various popular brands for fairly cheap. You can also find the generic or off brand versions of those name brand brushes (same item - different box).

A good brush will be with you for a very, very long time. A bad brush won't. I'd save up a few extra pounds and buy one that will last a while, even if it means waiting a few months to get it.

Do I need something like the badger renegade velocity then? I just wasn't thinking of stretching my budget that far. Also what specs should I look for on a compressor?


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Do I need something like the badger renegade velocity then? I just wasn't thinking of stretching my budget that far. Also what specs should I look for on a compressor?

That ebay kit isnt totally awful; the compressor is okay; sure it could do with a tank, but even tankless its going to be great for doing 10-15minutes of work at a time. The two airbrushes you get are pretty cheap, and come up under allsorts of brand names. They will do the job.. but as said wont give years of service like something a little more upmarket should.

I see you are in the Uk, have a look at
http://www.everythingairbrush.com
They stock a fair range of brands and all the parts for any brush they sell. Being able to get replacement needles, seals, orings and anything else on the airbrush replaced goes a long way to making the £100+ airbrushes worth while and last a lifetime.

My Fav's are Harder and Steenbeck.... I love my Evolution Silverline, its only mid range - around £120 similar bracket tot he badger velocity you mentioned. There is an entry level H&S brush for around £70 that looks okay, I'm tempted to get the siphon one to go with my evolution gravity

The china brushes are under the brand 'fine spray' on that site and theyre not entirely awful... untill you feel a nice one and become aware of the difference!
The best way I can think to decide how good one is over another is to check the break down of parts and how they fit together. Industry leaders are innovative with nozzle and trigger systems that honestly make a huge difference to your experience. note; Im not talking about the cut away handles and guide locks that sometimes come on the back of brushes, these are infact 95% useless most of the time a solid handle would be more comfortable to hold.

So from looking around I'm thinking the renegade velocity with the BA1100 compressor, I found I can get them for around £165 through eBay, but I think I will have to wait for chrismas for the airbrush though ;(

I dunno about Harbor Freight overseas. I picked up a airbrush + compressor kit for around $90 US.

Airbrush itself isn't anything fancy pretty standard double action. I believe the needle is .3 so not the smallest but a good average.

I've painted a lot with it, and had no problems. I could probably get finer details if I had a gravity fed airbrush and a compressor regulated down to 30psi or so. However until my skill level gets up there this one will carry me.

HairySticks wrote:
That ebay kit isnt totally awful; the compressor is okay; sure it could do with a tank, but even tankless its going to be great for doing 10-15minutes of work at a time. The two airbrushes you get are pretty cheap, and come up under allsorts of brand names. They will do the job.. but as said wont give years of service like something a little more upmarket should.

I see you are in the Uk, have a look at
http://www.everythingairbrush.com
They stock a fair range of brands and all the parts for any brush they sell. Being able to get replacement needles, seals, orings and anything else on the airbrush replaced goes a long way to making the £100+ airbrushes worth while and last a lifetime.

My Fav's are Harder and Steenbeck.... I love my Evolution Silverline, its only mid range - around £120 similar bracket tot he badger velocity you mentioned. There is an entry level H&S brush for around £70 that looks okay, I'm tempted to get the siphon one to go with my evolution gravity

The china brushes are under the brand 'fine spray' on that site and theyre not entirely awful... untill you feel a nice one and become aware of the difference!
The best way I can think to decide how good one is over another is to check the break down of parts and how they fit together. Industry leaders are innovative with nozzle and trigger systems that honestly make a huge difference to your experience. note; Im not talking about the cut away handles and guide locks that sometimes come on the back of brushes, these are infact 95% useless most of the time a solid handle would be more comfortable to hold.

The funny thing is the airbrushes in the OP are the same as Everything Airbrush package up with quality brushes to keep the kit cost down.

OP I have a kit from RDG (who look like the the ebayer but have a great we store for hobby tools), they are all known in hobbying and have been attending many shows for quite some years so I have no quality issues. While they at not ever going to be a match for a £100+airbrush they more that suit the needs for a beginner particularly if we are talking undercoating and base coating. It's good basic kit.

If you have a look about you should be able to find a 5% off at RDG voucher for use on their site. I called when I ordered my kit and they were very helpful upgrading the kit to my specifications too.

I bought a tanked compressor kit of them a few years ago and it and the brushes are still going strong.

 notprop wrote:


The funny thing is the airbrushes in the OP are the same as Everything Airbrush package up with quality brushes to keep the kit cost down.

OP I have a kit from RDG (who look like the the ebayer but have a great we store for hobby tools), they are all known in hobbying and have been attending many shows for quite some years so I have no quality issues. While they at not ever going to be a match for a £100+airbrush they more that suit the needs for a beginner particularly if we are talking undercoating and base coating. It's good basic kit.

If you have a look about you should be able to find a 5% off at RDG voucher for use on their site. I called when I ordered my kit and they were very helpful upgrading the kit to my specifications too.

I bought a tanked compressor kit of them a few years ago and it and the brushes are still going strong.

. Being able to get replacement needles, seals, orings and anything else on the airbrush replaced goes a long way to making the £100+ airbrushes worth while and last a lifetime.

Sure, you can get replacement needles and nozzles for the finespray brushes...at everythingairbrush......not RDG tools, and you do not know what setup the RDG brushes have, an airbrush contain quite a lot of very small parts. Some even require specialist tools to replace correctly. everythignairbrush sell those too.

These cheap chinese made airbrushes you say are exactly the same as the ones everything airbrush sell.. well yes, they are shipped from china too, but theyre honestly not very good. Ive had 2 different models (one siphon and one gravity) the gravity lasted about 5 uses before the riddiculously small thread for the nozzle snapped this thread didnt need to exist in the first place, please look at Harder and Steenbeck parts break down if you dont beleive me. So I've got to say the cheap china airbrushes are built for failure from day one.
Would heavily reccomend getting literally any reputable brands entry model instead of a china special, e.g I promise a £70 H&S Ultra would outlast 5 £30 China brushes. And thus be better value long run; This culture of consumable throw away items being better value is false and we are destroying the planet by creating millions of shoddy products with the intention of selling the customer a few more when it breaks, its false economy.

Well I only talk from my own experience and that is 3 differant airbrushes that are nearly 3 years old without problem.

No special tools used outside of a set of fine brushes and a tiny tiny spanner that came wih each AB.

I'm not a particularly delicate soul (ham fisted oaf would be more accurate) but the airbrushes I have aren't disposable nor are they treated as such and continue to operate fine.

They are copies that would be an accurate complaint, as might be a lesser degree of accuracy of to the top end but I'm not too bothered by that so I continue to find them pretty damn good for general modelling.

That airbrush and compressor is nearly the exact copy of the model I started on many years ago!

The compressor is fairly loud, vibrates like crazy (the suction feet do not help) and has trouble maintaining pressure. It can overheat quickly if you have a lot of miniatures to do. If you're just priming or base coating it might not be so bad.

I quickly realized that I needed a reservoir and made the jump to a better compressor with a tank. Less work for the compressor and all you hear is the air from the brush. Well, at least until the res needs to be filled up again.

I've further upgraded to an Iwata system at present. It can be expensive, but well worth it if you paint alot and want quality as well.