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Hi all.

I want to start exploring airbrushing as a painting method. Can anyone recommend good starter kit (I'm based in the UK) I am aware the hardware is quite expensive. Although I am not looking to break the bank I have been in the hobby a long time so unless I find it to be a complete anathema whatever I buy should get used. Would probably not want to spend more than £100 - £150 (yes I know that is still cheap)

Any advice would be welcome.

N

Badger patriot is a great starter airbrush. Get a compressor with a tank

As a bargain entry level set, this isn't bad. I have the same, minus the tank on the compressor. It's fine for base coating and I've done a few nice colour transitions with mine. If you get into it you will probably want to buy a better airbrush though.

FoxHunter KMS Airbrush Kit AS186 AS 186 with Compressor with Tank with 2 x Double Action Airbrushes and Hose https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B004XP7K9W/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_-kLFybZN9JK8F

I started with somthing simlar i got annoyed with the cheap airbrush then got a hs ultra which was so much better now ive just moved up again ,airbrushing is really fun but i found it to be a steep learning curve where the better airbrushes really help once you have got basic undercoating with higlights down

I started with a cheap airbrush kit from amazon. It was ok for priming, but I wouldn't recommend it.

This guy's review of a cheap airbrush explains very well why they're not great for a beginner: https://sites.google.com/site/donsairbrushtips/master-g22

I think the cheapest "brand" starter kit is probably the Neo for Iwata airbrush and compressor kit. It's about £175. This is a big step up in price from the unbranded kits, but you do get a 5 year warranty on the airbrush (1 year only on the compressor).

A cheaper airbrush is really only good for base coats and overall sprays. You do need to invest in a better dual-action brush if you want fine lines, details, etc. That being said, I use my cheap airbrush to spray big areas more often than I ever break out my nice Iwata, though!

This is the closest I could find to the kit I got last July, and it's served me perfectly well since then.

But alongside that, you'll need your cleaning gubbins as well, lest you find yourself with wonky equipment.

As touched on, the compressor tank is a must. It saves on electricity and motor wear (once pressurised, it cuts the motor off until the pressure has sufficiently dropped) and ensures a more constant level of pressure - without it, it's a pain.

Before you start spraying anything though, familiarise yourself with how the spray unit breaks down for cleaning. As well as being able to spot where you might need to focus cleaning efforts, it'll also let you see how it all works.

Eh, it all depends on which cheap airbrush it is, I used my cheap airbrush for over a year before I bought a better one and it didn't improve my ability to airbrush any better with a more expensive brush. Some of the best painters I know swear by their cheap airbrushes.

But not all cheap airbrushes are created equal though, I used an artlogic AC330 which I got for $50AUD (which is cheap by Australian standards, but not the absolute cheapest). I only eventually stopped using the cheap airbrush because the nozzle seem to have got slightly damaged and it's hard to find replacement parts.

Unfortunately you will have to spent 100 to 150 bucks, since cheap brushes are really not that good. I have a 30 USD Iwata knock off known as HS-30 and is giving me headaches since forver. I don't believe I will become better if I grab a 150$ Iwata thou, but at least I will save a lot of trouble with bad trigger and etc. I am still with the Chinese cheapo and I use it for base coat and priming only. I have a lot of problems with regulating the flow, the needle nut is there just to keep the needle not slipping of, spinning it around will do nothing to change the paint outgo. All this prevents me from precise work and making exiting highlights is kind of difficult.

Starting out go cheap (i.e. Chinese), I did and don't regret it.

I searched about a bit looking at a range of equipment but in the end decided as I'm not more than a painting journeyman I'd just take a punt on the commonly found AS range (its the same kit as the review in the post above).

I did mitigate this slightly by getting one off a well know Hobby tool supplier and so got this Compressor and 2x airbrush at RDG tools so could return it under warranty;

http://www.rdgtools.co.uk/acatalog/AIRBRUSH_KITS_AND_SPARES.html

That was about 5 years ago and its still going strong.

I bought a similar kit to those, with the compressor (Model 192 not 186, I think).
The brushes you get with the kit are handy for basecoating, which was enough for me.

Extras I have bought since were:
Replacement hose,
Quick-change adapters (Not much use),
Brush-end moisture trap, handy as a bigger grip,
Cleaning brushes, for shoving down the nozzle,
A holder with bottle, for cleaning by flushing through.

 Skinnereal wrote:
I bought a similar kit to those, with the compressor (Model 192 not 186, I think).
The brushes you get with the kit are handy for basecoating, which was enough for me.

Extras I have bought since were:
Replacement hose,
Quick-change adapters (Not much use),
Brush-end moisture trap, handy as a bigger grip,
Cleaning brushes, for shoving down the nozzle,
A holder with bottle, for cleaning by flushing through.

This (the bottle) is a must have tool. For cleaning brushes I suggest, thou I suggest the tiny Inderdetnal Brushes so you can clean the nozzle accordingly.

Oh, and to save time cleaning? Have your airbrush cleaning fluid to hand, and some common bog or kitchen roll.

Scoosh through the cleaning fluid, then give the nozzle and paint cup a good rub down with the bog/kitchen roll.

Thank you for all the feed back, it seems a pretty even split between folk saying cheap is fine and folk saying to spend a bit more....

TBH if I am having to expend £100 or so on a cheap set I might as well expend another £100 to mean I have something that really lasts. I would be looking to use it for base coating shading and highlighting at the very least.

My father managed to dig this out from the garage. He used it when he was in the film industry, it's about 50 years old but still seems to function. It doesn't have a tank..... or an on/off switch. What do you think, will it do the job?

You'll still need a moisture trap, hoses/adaptors and airbrushes (assuming the pressure is constant and not too high) so I think that you still be spending a bit of money and time to get something going with that.

Probably just easier to get one of the kits linked above that will fit together and hold this in reserve.

 notprop wrote:
You'll still need a moisture trap, hoses/adaptors and airbrushes (assuming the pressure is constant and not too high) so I think that you still be spending a bit of money and time to get something going with that.

Probably just easier to get one of the kits linked above that will fit together and hold this in reserve.

Any compressor should do. He will need a moister trap and transfer/adapter (don't know how you call this in english - nut, loop, screw !?) for the hose. And something that can regulate the outing PSI, i don't see it on this compressor.
The problem with what is displayed on the picture is it takes too much space. It is not comfortableе unless you paint in your garage.

I'll bet that industrial rig is noisy as hell. Probably won't matter if you're airbrushing in the garage, but if you're indoors (i.e. probably at your paint station), you might want something quiet.

Oh, and don't forget to buy lots of airbrush cleaning solution and some flow improver for the miniature paints (unless you have airbrush paints to use).

Thanks guys, thought it was worth a punt