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So i was looking at getting some can spray paint / primer and it would end up costing me like 50 bux for 2 cans.

i found these on ebay http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dual-action-airbrush-compressor-Complete-kit-for-cake-making-toy-models-AC06K30-/390915574390?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5b04624a76

has anyone had any experience with these cheap compressors / airbrushes?

would i be better off getting the one above or just the compressor and buying the airbrush seperate (from one of the other ebay recommended cheap ones).

heres some other compressors im looking at:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/OPHIR-White-Black-Purple-Adjustable-Speed-Mini-Air-Compressor-for-Nail-Car-Cake-/181306953159?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&var=&hash=item2a36bc8dc7

http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-OPHIR-Airbrush-Mini-Grey-Air-Compressor-Kit-Makeup-Body-Art-Tattoo-Nail-Cake-/181404750825?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&var=&hash=item2a3c90d3e9

not really looking to spend over $100 and cant get off amazon because the wont ship to new zealand

would either of these do the job as a starter compressor?

will probably get something better in a year or so



thanks


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i found these 2, a bit more expensive but probably better?:

http://www.trademe.co.nz/toys-models/models/tools-supplies/auction-770881676.htm

http://www.trademe.co.nz/toys-models/models/tools-supplies/auction-771123511.htm

With having no experience of the first compressors you posted I can only go on what I could find with a Google search.

The first one is extremely cheap and delivers 25psi (which is enough) but I am worried that it will have a problem to deliver consistent pressure and airvolume over time.

The last two are budgetversions of proper compressors and you would be happy with both. The last one with the tank is the one I use. If you do a search for AS-186 you can find alot of bundles including airbrushes.

Now, the airbrushes in these bundles tend to be, not so good. BUT they can be a way to try it out and they will have no problem laying down a primer and a basecoat. Also the last two compressors will work fine with a $200 airbrush aswell.

On set that is asked about and recommended quite often on the forums as a startingkit is this:
http://www.amazon.com/Master-Airbrush-Performance-Multi-purpose-Dual-action/dp/B001TO578Q/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1408875150&sr=8-3&keywords=Master+Airbrush+Brand

I know you said that Amazon will not work but you can pick up names and do searches on other sites.

 granander wrote:
With having no experience of the first compressors you posted I can only go on what I could find with a Google search.

The first one is extremely cheap and delivers 25psi (which is enough) but I am worried that it will have a problem to deliver consistent pressure and airvolume over time.

The last two are budgetversions of proper compressors and you would be happy with both. The last one with the tank is the one I use. If you do a search for AS-186 you can find alot of bundles including airbrushes.

Now, the airbrushes in these bundles tend to be, not so good. BUT they can be a way to try it out and they will have no problem laying down a primer and a basecoat. Also the last two compressors will work fine with a $200 airbrush aswell.

On set that is asked about and recommended quite often on the forums as a startingkit is this:
http://www.amazon.com/Master-Airbrush-Performance-Multi-purpose-Dual-action/dp/B001TO578Q/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1408875150&sr=8-3&keywords=Master+Airbrush+Brand

I know you said that Amazon will not work but you can pick up names and do searches on other sites.

Thanks for your response.

Yeh I think i'm going to go with the first one of the two at the bottom, or would the 3L tank be worth the upgrade?

These don't come with airbrushes so would have to get one seperate, if i get the first one i could probably spend like $50-60 on the airbrush itself

Any recommendations from ebay?

Would the cheap airbrush be good enough for overall shadows/highlights or just priming and basing?





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found this for the same price:

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=769730339

The 22L compressor will probably be loud as h-ll so not something you want next to you while working.

When it comes to recommend a cheap airbrush I leave this to our other forum friends. Masters is a bit of a noname brand that comes up alot, what is important is that you can find replacement needles 'cause you WILL bend the tip and ruin it at sometime.

Talking about what you can do with them:
- Primer and Basecoat is no problem at all
- Do simple shading/highlighting with spraying at an angle from low or high, no problem
- Doing point and egde highlight on say shoulderpads and such, depends on the specific brush and your skill

Whatever way you go, make sure you get good at cleaning it... doesn't have to take too much time but it needs to be done right or the atomizing of paint will not be as smooth and shading/highlighting will hard to get soft and even.

hazzy wrote:
Yeh I think i'm going to go with the first one of the two at the bottom, or would the 3L tank be worth the upgrade?

Debatable. Compressors with tanks do have advantages: The compressor itself only runs to initially fill the tank, then sporadically to top it off once a sufficient amount of air has been used. This allows all of the "worky bits" to rest frequently, reducing heat buildup and wear (especially important on oilless compressors). The tank also acts as a massive (comparatively) baffle, reducing any pulsation in pressure from the movement of the single compressor piston. Finally, it functions as a big moisture trap (don't forget to drain it, every now and again - a rusted tank is, after enough time and use, a busted tank).

That said, for occasional hobby use I've found a tankless compressor to be perfectly sufficient. Conditions in my spraying area are generally cool/dry enough and my usage sufficiently light that there's rarely anything to drain from the moisture trap and the heat sink has never gotten uncomfortably hot. With enough hose (especially with a secondary, in-line moisture trap, which acts as another baffle) - 10' has been enough for my level of detail spraying - pulsation is largely mitigated, as well. If you think you'll be doing a lot of spraying, though, getting the better compressor now will save you money, in the long run. The upgrade cost is a pittance compared to buying a whole new compressor (or the time/effort/part cost of rigging a tank up, yourself) when you find that you want a tank.

As for brushes, a number of models generally crop up as starter recommendations - a quick search should net you the list. I would just add a personal warning against Masters brushes. I picked up a G44, based on numerous positive (but severely dated, as I later noticed) reviews, and simply cannot use it. The crude machining and design makes operation a bit rough and thorough cleaning troublesome, but I could have forgiven that, based on the cost. The killer is a misalignment in the body that throws the needle and nozzle out of whack. Regardless of which set is used (I picked up a smaller size when I got it) and what is being sprayed, it's simply not possible to get a decent spray pattern. I can't tell you how much time I wasted trying to troubleshoot when the only solution was to buy another gun - rather discouraging, for a newcomer to the airbrushing world. Now, you aren't guaranteed to have the same issues - as mentioned, there are plenty of middling to positive reviews on their products out there. Just be wary, if your vendor doesn't have a generous return policy.

i ended up getting this cause it was in new zealand and seemed a reasonable price (roughly 25 USD with 3 needles and a hose):

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=769106528

if i find i absolutely love airbrushing, i will probably get a brand name one down the track

i just thought the 3L tank was small? all the things ive read say you need 50L + or something

Large tanks are not really important on a hobbyscale of airbrushing. If the compressor can deliver higher volume of air than you use it doesn't matter, most airbrush compressors do. The benefits are other things like cooling of air, no pulsing and such.


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Baaah, I think I will resign as advicegiver on compressors... :(

I left mine running by mistake and since I have atleast one microleak it has to start from time to time and refill. Anyways, when I got home it was running but sounding very strange. When I reached down to shut it of it was scolding hot. So I think my AS-186 is dead now. Have tried it now when it is cooler but still doesn't work. I haven't tried to dismantle it since I don't know anything about the inside of a compressor. If it doesn't wake up tomorrow I need to get a new one.

SO, my tip is... when buying a noname compressor... don't trust that all electronics and whatnot is top notch... :(

I am currently looking at a Sparmax TC-620X... but that doesn't really have anything to do with this thread.

Despite with what happened to yours i decided to get the one with the 3L tank anyway as the supplier im purchasing from has a 1 year warranty so it should be covered.

Thanks heaps for your help guys.

I will post some pics of some painted minis when it arrives!



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ugh this is ending up not on the cheap side of things at all haha

instead of buying vallejo cleaner and a vallejo thinner can i just get the cleaner and use it to thin my game colour paints? or would i be better off getting both?






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also: it seems like quite alot of paint is wasted with the airbrush compared to traditional painting with a wet pallete. is there any tips that would help minimise paint wastage?

so my airbrush arrived last week been playing around with it i absolutely love it! incase anyones interested here are the results:

I bought a set like this and even though the airbrushes are "cheap" they far out performed my Neo.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-Airbrush-1-6hp-Compressor-2-Dual-Action-Air-Brush-Guns-Kit-Hose-Needles-Set-/200973737237?pt=UK_Crafts_DrawingSupplies_EH&hash=item2ecaf7dd15