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.

I know a few of us employ them to varying degrees. I am curious to what each of you use.

I bought a basic Master brush (it sucks) to get started and just recently bought an Iwata Eclipse HP-BS in the hope I can do better work.

I started with a Harbor Freight cheap ass airbrush. I used it to do base coats and decide if I could even work an airbrush to my liking.

I then moved to an Iwata Neos from Hobby Lobby (love the %40 coupon) and I use it for base coating, and some shading/zenithal highlighting work. It's a decent gravity feed beginners AB.

I managed to score a Bager Sotar 20/20 off Amazon for a great deal. It is my detail brush. I don't have the skill to put it to it's full potential, but I do use it for more detailed work than the Neo can handle. Edge and muscular highlights, small zone coloring etc.

It takes practice, and time. I don't get enough of either to use my brushes to their fullest. But, they do help immensely to speed up a traditional paint job just by their ability to lay down a fast even base coat and zenithal highlighting.

I'm working on my blending and multiple color usage. Painting up some Antipodes now, and hope they turn out well.

This should probably be in the Painting and Modelling subforum as the topic is not actually on Infinity.

That said, I have a Badger Patriot and a Starmax compressor. Neither have seen much use yet.

 Casey's Law wrote:
This should probably be in the Painting and Modelling subforum as the topic is not actually on Infinity.

That said, I have a Badger Patriot and a Starmax compressor. Neither have seen much use yet.

Ahh Jerk your the one that got it moved

Well it was there cause I was curious as to what the other Infinity painters used.

I just took my first dive into airbrushing. Got me an HP-CS and a Badger AS180-12 compressor.

The Iwata HP series tends to be the most highly recommended for beginners. My Vallejo Game Air paints are in the mail. Anxiously awaiting their arrival!

My workhorse brushes are Iwata HP C Plus and HP CS. The HP-CS is so easy to clean; I just love it.

I have a HP BH (just got it!), for detail, but I have hardly used it.

I also have two Paasche Talon (Gravity) and all of the needle sizes from 0.20mm to the 0.55mm (or whatever the size 3 is). I don't use these a lot, but they are handy if I need an extra airbrush color.

My only Siphon airbrush is a Paasche (I think V series?) which I never use. I also have a no-name brand gravity fed airbrush, my very first, which is about as useful as a an army of terminators -- it'll work, but there are just better options.

$100 compressor with tank + 3x 120mm Scythe SlipStream on an old PC power supply (i.e. never gets hot ever)

And an iwata HP-CS.

I've primed most of my army with the chinese airbrush which was stolen from me, and I primed the rest and did base colors and zenithal / vehicle highlighting using the HP-CS.

Started with an amazon budget brush and had zero luck with it. Replaced it with a Harder & Steenbeck Ultra (entry level brush from this company) which is infinitely better though I have had to replace the cap when it split (probably due to me being too rough with the cleaning).

I use a Badger Renegade Krome and Badger SOTAR 20/20. Both are fantastic brushes that I plan to use for the foreseeable future.

However, I would pick to pick up a H&S Infinity at some point.

My workhorse is presently a Harder & Steenbeck Evolutiuon Silverline, it's pretty darn fantastic. I know there are others that are equal in quality but I doubt if any is as easy to clean

Paired with my favorite airbrush is the Sparmax TC-620X compressor... My old noname was good but this one is outstanding.

All of my guns run off of a cheap Harbor Freight airbrush compressor - 1/5 HP, single piston, oilless, tankless. Far from fancy, but it gets the job done. As for brushes:

I have a Masters G44, which I use as a cautionary tale for those considering a budget airbrush.

I have a Harbor Freight siphon feed (with original large bottle, but a replacement color cup from Badger) that I use for high volume spray jobs and as an example of those rare cases of actually getting more than you paid for.

I have a Sotar 20/20 that I do the majority of my spraying with, since it's by far the best brush I own. Even the fine needle can spray a wide enough pattern that, working on 28mm and smaller scale models, it's all I really need.

If I ever get deeper into airbrushing and start saving my pennies, it'll likely be for an H&S of some description.

My first airbrush was a Badger... 250 I think. Of course that was some time around 1979-80. I've also owned a Testors Aztec (hated it), Paasche VL and H (nothing to write home about but get the job done), Grex T3 (nice!) and a variety of Iwatas. My current workhose is the Iwata HP-CS. I think it's the best all-around airbrush out there. Of course, I spent about 15 years using nothing but the HP-BCS as I was doing larger models (like the 18' Rodger Young and such) and fell in love with the Eclipse line at that point. I keep a Custom Micron B around for the super-fine work, though.

 oadie wrote:

I have a Sotar 20/20 that I do the majority of my spraying with, since it's by far the best brush I own. Even the fine needle can spray a wide enough pattern that, working on 28mm and smaller scale models, it's all I really need.

Yep, I too have had no problem painting large models with my Sotar 20/20 and a fine needle... I've done a Land Raider (inside and out) and other scale models with absolutely no problems.

You must do better work.

I got myself into a Grex Tritium (TG3 I think?). I prefer the trigger action just because it seems more controllable to me, plus Grex makes excellent stuff.

I have a Badger Patriot 105 and it is my workhorse / Jack if all trades airbrush. I also have a Badger Kromefor detail work. They are both really good brushes. I use the Patriot about 95% of the time though.

Talys wrote:
I also have a no-name brand gravity fed airbrush, my very first, which is about as useful as a an army of terminators..

Funny, I'm using a no name airbrush to paint an army of terminators!

I went for a cheap Artlogic AC330, been working for me for the past year, I might upgrade at some point.

Nyoom wrote:

Talys wrote:
I also have a no-name brand gravity fed airbrush, my very first, which is about as useful as a an army of terminators..

Funny, I'm using a no name airbrush to paint an army of terminators!

hahaha

I shouldn't be too harsh on it. It is reasonably functional, and would be ok for primer and basecoat. The only problem is, my Iwata HP-CS is so damn easy to clean in comparison, that my cheapie makes no sense. for basecoat/primer. It literally takes me a quarter of the time to clean my HP-CS to pristine condition, compared to my no-name (or even my Paasche); and I can do a quick rinse very, very quickly if I think I'll be using it later in the session.

wtnind wrote:
Started with an amazon budget brush and had zero luck with it. Replaced it with a Harder & Steenbeck Ultra (entry level brush from this company) which is infinitely better though I have had to replace the cap when it split (probably due to me being too rough with the cleaning).

Where did you get the replacement from out of interest? I have pretty much the same issue at the moment.

 SilverMK2 wrote:

wtnind wrote:
Started with an amazon budget brush and had zero luck with it. Replaced it with a Harder & Steenbeck Ultra (entry level brush from this company) which is infinitely better though I have had to replace the cap when it split (probably due to me being too rough with the cleaning).

Where did you get the replacement from out of interest? I have pretty much the same issue at the moment.

I think Chicago Airbrush Supply has the replacement parts.

Still rolling the Badger renegade krome and the cheapy harbor freight AB compressor with moisture trap.

Still works fine though i might needa add another trap. still getting water in the lines :/

 NuclearMessiah wrote:

 Casey's Law wrote:
This should probably be in the Painting and Modelling subforum as the topic is not actually on Infinity.

That said, I have a Badger Patriot and a Starmax compressor. Neither have seen much use yet.

Ahh Jerk your the one that got it moved

Well it was there cause I was curious as to what the other Infinity painters used.

Sorry about that, reflex, someone would have moved it eventually though. If you want to put up a thread like this in the Infinity section I'd recommend having the topic clearly aimed at Infinity players. 'What are your experiences using an Airbrush to paint Infinity miniatures and what kit do you use?' would be a good opening sentence.

On topic, the small amount of use my Patriot and Starmax have seen has been very good. I put a lot of research into the purchase and got loads of advice on it, I'm glad I did because this feels like a great kit, lots of fun to use.