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.

Currently I own a .3mm airbrush needle.

For Ships engines and such, I want to work on lighting effects. Like the blue glow to white, etc.

Would .2 be the way to go? (Using 28mm stuff to 10mm stuff)

Trying to find a spray difference and I am coming up short. I don't want to invest the 30$ on it if I don't need to but looking for advice.

A .2mm need is well worth the $30. Buy it, you won't be disappointed.

I'd say you cansave $30 and still get the effect you are looking for with a 0.3mm needle if you know how to do it. You can get a smaller spray radius by reducing paint flow and getting the airbrush closer to the engine.

That said, if you don't mind parting with the money a 0.2mm needle will definitely have it's uses for that sort of role.

How fine you can spray is less dependent on nozzle size and more dependent on the taper of the needle and shape of the air cap. When a company sells smaller nozzle sizes it typically means the needle taper is more gradual as well, but it's not always the case.

The downside to a smaller nozzle (and assuming it has a longer taper on the needle) is you'll get paint drying on the needle more easily, so whether the smaller nozzle actually lets you paint finer detail depends whether you can still get paint through it at low pressure.

That's going to depend on your specific airbrush though. The 0.2mm option for my airbrush has such a gradual taper you can spray fine lines but paint just builds up so fast at low pressure that I can't practically use it for fine detail work. I find I do better painting fine details with my 0.3.

 ScootyPuffJunior wrote:
A .2mm need is well worth the $30. Buy it, you won't be disappointed.

Depends on your airbrush. I have a 0.2, 0.3, 0.5 and 0.7mm nozzles for my airbrush and the 0.2 is the only one I never use. 0.3 for general detail work, 0.5 for base coats, 0.7 for heavier paints and primers.