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.

Now, its Christmas time and I am looking at a horde of painting that needs to get done. So, taking advantage of the Christmas spirit my family possesses, I am working to get a decent airbrush and compressor. My Tyranids are relatively detailed but that is brushwork rather than airbrush work, so I really need an airbrush only for the bulk painting job of handling the soft body carapaces. So, what would you guys recommend for a good airbrush and more importantly, a compressor? I am looking for one that is relatively inexpensive and quiet. As for brushes, I have been looking at the GW airbrush, as that is a workhorse model and should do nicely for the batch painting my army requires, but I am curious if there are any others. Now, by inexpensive, I am talking within the range of under 150 dollars at the most for the whole thing, because I am also being forced into accepting a new phone this coming holiday season, and that will eat up a chunk of my Christmas budget. Apparently it is illegal to have to the same phone for over 6 years, regardless of the fact that it is undamaged and functions perfectly fine, albeit with several minor losses of service that I would peg down to the provider rather than the phone.

-Unyielding Hunger

Ganked this from a post I made responding to the same question.

I just started ABrushing recently and picked up a Neo by Iwata CN.

http://www.tcpglobal.com/IWA-N4500_2.html?gclid=Cj0KEQjw5syiBRCwxPbE6o_MsK4BEiQAUowjpjEGNgatDSY6MAl3VAphJNJTydKtwQMLxUC-cVBz-94aArJ88P8HAQ#.VGuA6L69-zY

I found one on Ebay for 58$ and went for it. It's my first airbrush, and not the best model out there, but I love it. Gravity fed + dual action makes sure you get the most out of your paints. I have had to replace the nozzle at the end once, but I was able to find a replacement nozzle on ebay for around 12 bucks. I now keep two replacement nozzles at my desk for when the first breaks, I can quick replace and not lose any downtime. Note: this was not factory error, but my own. I screwed on the nozzle too hard once after cleaning it and ruined the interior stripping.

This is the compressor I use.

http://www.usartsupply.com/ABD-TC-20_2.html?gclid=Cj0KEQjw5syiBRCwxPbE6o_MsK4BEiQAUowjpjB0hOX-t9alPgVME25zjvmFbt3pNqhFIkyuPDGOZbsaAtJo8P8HAQ#.VGuA-769-zZ

It's awesome. It has a regulator on it to change the PSI level around and only runs to keep the PSI up - otherwise, it switches to standby. I think the brush can handle up to ~40 PSI (maybe less, but I typically run ~30 - 45 if bigger sprays and 8-15 for more detail work), so this compressor is great for whatever-you-need-it-to-do.

Those + paints are obviously the main things you're going to need. You will definitely want a cleaning station as well as the Medea cleaner.

http://www.dickblick.com/products/iwata-table-top-cleaning-station/?clickTracking=true&wmcp=pla&wmcid=items&wmckw=26978-1002&gclid=Cj0KEQiA-aujBRDqj772vpGfgooBEiQAzWAZUi0cGv3jAw0wcZ1m7OrOGHRUX82VWuuLD2sNvGrR1fUaAl2V8P8HAQ

Others use distilled water, some use windex (although this is not recommended... but I use it sometimes at the end of the session to clean it out), but I prefer buying the 16 oz bottles off ebay for ~6bucks. It's the intended product, and has always done a great job.

The whole kit together was about ~250, which included a set of 16 Vallejo Model Air paints. I had a pretty large acrylic collection already, so I use Liquitex Air Brush Medium to mix paints. Pretty much, as long as you can get the paints down to skim-milk consistency, it should be good.

Oh, also, getting a ultrasonic cleaner is a good idea. I spent 25 and got a cheapo one. I use it for when I need to get absolutely every bit of paint out of the chamber, as even just a small bit of dried paint in the nozzle can create undesired effects (spraying globs of paint, for example).

I have the NEO that citadel recommended as well as a HP-CS. I think the HP-CS is better, but not so much so that the NEO doesn't have it's place. Whatever you do, make sure you get a gravity fed one. My very first brush was the NEO siphon fed. The siphon is good if you're doing a big project like a baneblade, but is a complete waste of paint on anything smaller. After a few uses I found that I was throwing away just as much paint as I was actually putting on the models.

The gravity fed ones hold less paint, but you aren't wasting any and the amount it holds is generally far more than you're going to use anyway. I've taken to thinning my paint while it's in the hopper and that seems to work out just fine. Of course, you're likely better off just buying paints specifically for airbrushing.

For an air compressor I have a TC-20T. http://www.tcpglobal.com/ABD-TC-20T.html#.VGvJhGd0yUk The difference between mine and the one in citadel's link is that mine has an airtank attached to it. This means that the motor runs only long enough to keep the tank filled. It's fairly quiet and you have really good control over the PSI. My first air compressor was the Aztek one - and that thing sucked monkey balls. I paid almost as much as the TC-20T, but it's the pressure output wasn't enough to really drive the NEO AND it didn't have an air tank.

The cleaning station is a big help although it's not required. Honestly I'd say the quick disconnect kit is more important.

Getting a NEO and the TC-20T from tpcglobal should be about $180. That said, I'm pretty sure I only paid $50 for a NEO when it first came out so you might find it cheaper elsewhere.

Whatever airbrush you get, pay attention to how to disassemble and clean it. The first time I took the HP-CS apart I wasn't paying too much attention and it took a bit of searching for youtube videos until I found one that showed exactly how it was supposed to go back together.

This is my blogpost about what to keep in mind when looking for an airbrush
http://airbrushandanalog.blogspot.nl/2014/08/airbrush-101-airbrush.html

A decent airbrush to start with will definitely keep you interested in using it, because the cheap ones (I mean the junk clone models from ebay, etc.) are the definition of 'you get what you pay for'.

So far everyone has mentioned good airbrush models, and if you spend more on a compressor you'll get a quieter or more versatile compressor - so if you have the money to spare get a good brand name compressor with a tank.

I have an 'airbrushing 101' page on my painting blog that will walk anyone through the basics of airbrushing and how to practice, use, clean, etc.: http://www.tinyplasticspacemen.com/airbrushing-101-getting-started/

Good advice in here already, but PLEASE do a search, or just quickly scan the last page or so....this question gets asked VERY frequently, and people took the time to answer in the past.

Here are some good tips (in addition to the others in the thread).

1 - Find someone you know who has an airbrush - they will be helpful.

2 - Do not get a "high end" brush to start - get a decent quality starter brush (I suggest a badger patriot 105 gravity feed). A brush with a small needle size can be VERY frustrating to learn with.

3 - Any problems? Clean your needle. More? Clean it more.

4 - Use high quality paints - airbrush paints are better, but any good quality paint (i.e. with better quality pigments) will work well thinned. Again, see #1 - find a friend, try their paints.

5 - A LOT of airbrush stuff is experiential - a very common question is "how much do I thin, or how much pressure..." There are NO hard and fast answers - its about needle, pressure, paint and what you are painting - practice practice - if something seems like it is not working - change the pressure or the paint thinning - there are almost no hard and fast rules.

Best of luck, using an airbrush is amazing and a ton of fun.

http://www.amazon.com/Master-Airbrush-Performance-Multi-purpose-Compressor-The/dp/B001TO578Q/ref=sr_1_2?s=arts-crafts&ie=UTF8&qid=1416616701&sr=1-2&keywords=airbrush+kit

This. Get this. I never used an airbrush before this year and read a lot on airbrushes and did as much research as I could and found this on Amazon. I have absolutely no regrets about it. The air compressor is quieter than anyone I know has. It does great on vehicles and monstrous creatures and even regular sized infantry. I've used it to paint everything from Forgeworld to Malifaux. It works great and is not at all expensive. I have had occasional clogs, but no more than anyone else who is a beginner. I use Valejo Model air through it and it works great. Could not say enough good about it. I've been using it for almost a year now and its awesome.

Someone did a video review of the Master's Airbrush here on Dakka, and it looked very functional. And it's a sweet deal for $85.

A couple of things, though: I have used cheap airbrushes, entry level airbrushes, and midrange airbrushes. If you like your Masters, you will LOVE your Iwata HP-CS, because it's a world of difference.

Also, if you actually airbrush any great amount, a compressor with a tank is a godsend. it's much more quiet, air output is more consistent, and just more pleasurable to use.