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I am looking into trying my hand at airbrushing and was wondering if anyone had any suggestions for airbrush kits, preferably with the gun/hose/compressor all together, but I'm not opposed to them being separate. I am an absolute beginner...never touched an airbrush before, but I am very interested in it and would like to start out with something that is decent enough for an amateur but not something that's going to break on me a few months from now. Can anyone suggest any equipment in the sub-$200 price range, or not much higher, that would fit the bill? Thanks!

I would get an Iwata hp-cs from Hobby Lobby with the always-available 40% off discount, and then buy an inexpensive compressor/tank combo off ebay. That plus the couple accessories you'll want (cleaning tools, quick disconnect for airbrush) will land you right around $200-225ish and be probably the best bang for your buck.

I went with a cheapo airbrush and compressor combo for like $80 or $90 and I wish I'd just bought the Iwata to begin with. You can always buy an extra cheapo $20 airbrush for spraying primer. Or, buy what I said before AND the crap $20 brush and practice with the junker until you get comfortable with taking it apart and cleaning it properly. Airbrushes are great but it takes practice to figure out getting your paint to the right viscosity and keeping your brush clean so it won't clog/splatter/etc.

Of course, I would also advise you to set up some kind of airbrush booth and pick up some masks as well.

Quasistellar wrote:
I would get an Iwata hp-cs from Hobby Lobby with the always-available 40% off discount, and then buy an inexpensive compressor/tank combo off ebay. That plus the couple accessories you'll want (cleaning tools, quick disconnect for airbrush) will land you right around $200-225ish and be probably the best bang for your buck.

I went with a cheapo airbrush and compressor combo for like $80 or $90 and I wish I'd just bought the Iwata to begin with. You can always buy an extra cheapo $20 airbrush for spraying primer. Or, buy what I said before AND the crap $20 brush and practice with the junker until you get comfortable with taking it apart and cleaning it properly. Airbrushes are great but it takes practice to figure out getting your paint to the right viscosity and keeping your brush clean so it won't clog/splatter/etc.

Of course, I would also advise you to set up some kind of airbrush booth and pick up some masks as well.

Good advice! I didn't think about the Hobby Lobby coupon. I had a rebate card from getting a new cellphone for $150. I ended up using that to get a bunch of equipment...I got a tank/compressor/gun combo, a half facemask, an 18x24 self healing hobby mat, Xacto knife, masking tape, paint thinner, alligator clips, and a few other things for right under $170. When I get a little more money I will probably go ahead and pick up an Iwata like you mentioned. I planned on maybe buying a pack of plastic spoons from Walmart and practicing on those before moving on to some models.

Another piece of advice I'll give that's at least worked for me is to use flow improver instead of thinner in your airbrush. It does what it says, and also should help keep your paint from drying on the needle.

Here you go, here is a "Getting started list" this includes everything you need to get up and running with airbrushing. The badger 105 is an absolute work horse and will work for basing anything and works great for vehicles.

http://a.co/6LEOASF

As for thinner i like to use just rubbing alcohol and water. Mixed 1:10 of 90% alcohol to water, then thing my paints around 1:1 mix when using reaper.

Another word of advice, i always understand the need for a budget and spending wisely, but a airbrush is really one of those things of, you get what you put into it. If you get a cheap airbrush, your going to get cheap results.

I am glad that I started with a cheap clone airbrush. It let me strip it down for cleaning, mess about with thicknesses and scrub it down afterwards, etc. I moved on to a Badger when I thought I was ready for a real brush.
It also meant I could afford to get a better compressor when I started.

Great advice everyone and thank you. I will keep that post bookmarked as well with the supplies. I did get some of that but I will need to get some pipe cleaners and some of the other materials as well. I should have the kit I ordered here today so I will be trying it out soon.

No NOT use metal core pipe cleaners on your airbrush at all, don't even use the badger cleaning brushes. Almost all airbrushes and all badger ones for sure work by having metal on metal seals as there are no rubber gaskets to seal the parts together. Because of this very small margin of error in parts, any little scratch from pipe cleaners can break the seal, this will cause brushes to clog easier and not work properly. Only clean the brushes with cotton swabs or the above linked micro applicators, and paper towels. Run water through the brush each paint change and alcohol when you are done.

 Skinnereal wrote:
I am glad that I started with a cheap clone airbrush. It let me strip it down for cleaning, mess about with thicknesses and scrub it down afterwards, etc. I moved on to a Badger when I thought I was ready for a real brush.
It also meant I could afford to get a better compressor when I started.

This is absolutely the way to go.
I got a super cheapo from China direct,
40bux with cleaning brush kit, extra pieces, air dryer, pump/compressor, everything.
I have been using that for a year or so off and on.
It has given me time to experiment, see if an airbrush is something thatI have time to work further on developing skills for, and so on.
Plus, I got a few models painted too.

I learned that airbrushing is not easy, but building your own filtered fan-driven and lighted airbrush hood IS very easy.
I learned that airbrushing is not going to be saving much time, at least not a beginner's time like mine, but it is very convenient for basing, blocking colors, adding some effects.
And, I learned that, for now anyways, this airbrush is all that I really need.
It works, works well and reliably, and does what it is supposed to do, and cost 40bux complete after shipping.
Someday, I would like a more professional setup, which will deliver better results, but for me this is OK for now.
Anyways, I recommend that you get into something similar at first, to play with and make your mistakes with, and to use for basing and so on later after you get your dream kit later on...

I may try to use the airbrush on some of my minis on areas that may benefit, like capes or large pieces of armor. The main reason I got it was because I also like to build Gundam models and while hand painting those can be done, airbrushing looks a whole lot better as a finished product. The pump I got with this kit is the AS-186 which, from asking around, isn't a bad pump. Not Badger quality I'm sure but something to mess about with while beginning.

This is a good, low end airbrush to learn on and the compressor is decent and can still be used when you decide to upgrade your brush.

https://www.amazon.com/Master-Airbrush-Multi-purpose-Dual-action-Compressor/dp/B001TO578Q/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1525630861&sr=8-4&keywords=masters+airbrush+kit+compressor

 Todosi wrote:
This is a good, low end airbrush to learn on and the compressor is decent and can still be used when you decide to upgrade your brush.

https://www.amazon.com/Master-Airbrush-Multi-purpose-Dual-action-Compressor/dp/B001TO578Q/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1525630861&sr=8-4&keywords=masters+airbrush+kit+compressor

Hey man, thanks for the suggestion. I did end up getting a similar kit. It has the same brush, but a compressor with an air tank on it as well. It was about $30 more but the pump doesn't have to run quite as often due to having the reserve of air. So far I've enjoyed it, but only done a small amount.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00EKT30JK/ref=s9_acsd_zwish_hd_bw_bs7Cv_c_x_w?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=merchandised-search-5&pf_rd_r=FR33BH26QMN0Z7H7GEQ1&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=20564675-a743-5b79-bcc0-c9fce6b22195&pf_rd_i=12897421

This is what I have. You can spend the extra money on some Vallejo FLOW IMPROVER, A MUST have. If you are just starting out you will need to practice. Once you get the feel for it then you can always go get your iwata or whatever you decide.