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Background: I'm finally jumping into using an airbrush for priming and base coating only. Paints I'll be using are Citadel and Citadel Air. With all of this in mind I'm going with a large needle (Paasche Size 3). The only thing I can think of not on the list is a respirator. Does everyone use one?

Purchase list:

Purchased:
1/5 hp MASTER AIRBRUSH TANK COMPRESSOR
Master Airbrush Brand, 10-foot Braided Air Hose with 1/8" Fittings on Both Ends

To Purchase:
Paasche TG#2L Double Action Gravity Feed Airbrush, Less Accessories
Paasche Airbrush TG-227-3 Airbrush Spray Head, Size 3
MASTER Brand- ALL Airbrush Hose Adapter Set, Allows Aztek, Badger & Paasche Airbrushes to Iwata & Master hoses
Liquitex Professional Airbrush Effects Medium, 8-oz
Vallejo Grey Primer Acrylic Polyurethane, 200ml
Iwata-Medea Cleaning Station

***Edited to include the cleaning station.

I'm still new to airbrushing. Some of the things I've found helpful. Isoproply Alcohol is helpful for cleaning the tip as you use it. What they call dry tip. I use a old brush to clean off the tip every couple of minutes, so it doesn't clog up on you.

I do use a respirator, better safer then sorry later in life.

If I think of anything else that will help out, I'll post it on here.

You NEED a respirator, yes. Unless you want multi-colored lungs...

If you are getting into airbrushing I would go with 1 cheap airbrush first. You won't notice the difference in the beginning anyway and if you screw up you don't lose too much money.

Klaus von Groehm wrote:
If you are getting into airbrushing I would go with 1 cheap airbrush first. You won't notice the difference in the beginning anyway and if you screw up you don't lose too much money.

I disagree. Learning to drive in a good car is infinitely more pleasurable and less frustrating than doing it in a scrapyard junker.
The same follows for airbrushes. I was taught on good quality brushes after buying Chinese £10 ones, and I ended up ditching those and going mid-market.

Cheap brushes have their place - you can treat them tougher than you would an expensive setup. But I find myself returning to a solid base point of using an old Iwata.

Plus, "screwing up".. There's virtually nothing short of sealing a brush with resins, snapping the needle, or melting the seals that is irreversible. I use an airbrush from the early 70s, and I'm certainly no saint with it.

To answer the OP, use a respirator. Even priming minis you'll wake up blowing paint out your nose. And they're not nearly as efficient a filter as a resp. The rest is getting past.

I also must disagree with going cheap... I have had a few and they frustrated me to the point of loosing interest in airbrushing. Years later I decided to try again with a "proper" airbrush and now I love it.

You don't have to go bananas when it comes to the airbrush, just step up a few notches. The airbrush suggested in the list seems nice, I know nothing about them except that paasche have a good rep. If you can afford it, why not.

I would still say 1 airbrush is enough to start with.

I would put the money in a nice set of vallejo colors e.g. game color starter set. I've not used the Citadel airbrush paints but being able to drop colors directly into the airbrush wins. I have no idea why citadel went with the pots that they used.

Klaus von Groehm wrote:
I would still say 1 airbrush is enough to start with.

I would put the money in a nice set of vallejo colors e.g. game color starter set. I've not used the Citadel airbrush paints but being able to drop colors directly into the airbrush wins. I have no idea why citadel went with the pots that they used.

The OP only listed 1 one airbrush, the Paasche TG, the rest of the list is just accessories.

Most of the stuff the OP listed I don't own.... so I have no idea. In general Paasche are a pretty good brand, I have no idea about that AB specifically though.

In regard to the idea of getting a cheap airbrush first. Some cheap airbrushes are fine, some are a pain in the arse. I hit on a good one, an Artlogic brand one. It worked well for me for a while until some parts got damaged and I can't easily find replacements.

I don't use a respirator myself, but I recommend one. Ventilation is extremely important though and one of my main struggles with airbrushing. On an exceptionally hot or exceptionally cold day people I live with get unhappy if I turn on my exhaust and blow all the airconditioned or heated air out of the house

The cleaning station is not 100% required but gives a good place to blow out, and a stand for the plush without hooking it on the compressor. it's worth the small price for it.

One thing I thought of whilst reading the list again - OP do be aware Vallejo Airbrush primer takes a lot longer to dry and cure than plain old spray or brush on. If you start painting or touching the primer inside an hour, you will pull it off the model in a rubbery skin, especially on tanks.

Took me a little while to realise.

If you're going to buy the Paasche, just buy the Paasche kit that has 3 needles and 3 nozzles. It's cheaper than getting them separately, and you can always use the smallest needle to clean out your airbrush nozzles. It also comes with the hose, but it's an 1/4" NPT.

You should get an adapter for your compressor that goes 1/8 to 1/4 NPT, as most hoses for airbrush are 1/4" NPT. Plus, it's a cheap $1 part, and you can get it with an O-Ring on the compressor side, so that you don't have to tape..

I think Vallejo black primer is an absolute must-have, and I prefer Vallejo AB thinner to Liquitex medium, but that's just my preference.

 Talys wrote:
If you're going to buy the Paasche, just buy the Paasche kit that has 3 needles and 3 nozzles. It's cheaper than getting them separately, and you can always use the smallest needle to clean out your airbrush nozzles. It also comes with the hose, but it's an 1/4" NPT.

You should get an adapter for your compressor that goes 1/8 to 1/4 NPT, as most hoses for airbrush are 1/4" NPT. Plus, it's a cheap $1 part, and you can get it with an O-Ring on the compressor side, so that you don't have to tape..

I think Vallejo black primer is an absolute must-have, and I prefer Vallejo AB thinner to Liquitex medium, but that's just my preference.

Thanks Talys. Your posts on what you use to AB with regular Citadel paints is what led me to the Paasche. Thanks everyone for the review!

I got that Paasche in a kit with all three tips/needles a few months ago and have used for my 28mm WW2 US and German vehicles. I picked up a Paasche D3000R compressor too.

I'm very happy with the purchase.

I picked up this cleaning station: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KS1II96?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_search_detailpage