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I'm kinda thinking of getting one. I just had a friend use his for primering and base coating some battletech mini's, and I liked the results. The primer went on very thin, very evenly, the base coat paint was just as good. I do own a compressor (its overkill its for automotive power tools). It can be dialed down.

I like the idea of a single action because I'm starting out, but if the finer details are better with a dual action then so be it. Do I necessarily want internal mix? supports different nozzles?

You want dual action gravity fed, I can't imagine why starting with anything else would be easier.

For "cheap but good" my vote is for the Iwata Neo. There are better airbrushes but it's solid, easy to clean and still has the amazing Iwata customer support.

I'd honestly say one of the cheap chinese knockoffs (Normally AB-130 or similar model number) at around £15 is best for learning.

The build quality is pretty poor though, but if you bork it, you've not lost out much and it'll help you learn good cleaning habits.

After that, once you're in the habit of keeping it clean and running without problems, Harder & Steenbeck's Evolution 2-in-1 (0.4 and 0.2mm nozzles and needles included) is probably the best bang for your buck (about £80 ish).

I started with a cheapo no-brandname 0.2 airbrush from Taiwan and I've had no problems with it whatsoever. So I'd agree with Winterdyne and get a cheap one to start so that way you don't mess up your expensive brush.

You can get Iwata at Hobby Lobby, and I believe Badger at Micheal's. Both usually have some coupon once a month for 40% or more off. My brother looked into it and he said airbrushes are not excluded, so would be worth it to use that coupon and get a mid range brush.

I have a Badger Patriot I got at Adepticon for 60$, great beginner brush, and can be upgraded with a detail needle to make it even better.

Honestly, you might as well get something good, I would rather have a good airbrush, that I have to practice with to become better then have a crappy one, that doesn't last long, or frustrates you so much, you don't want to use it. Just my opinion though.

I can thoroughly recommend the Iwata TRN2, it's a trigger action, gravity fed airbrush, I think I got mine for around £100. It's a fantastic little airbrush, very forgiving for mistakes, good for those getting into the technique.

I have the Badger 105 Patriot and it has been a good learning brush for me.
I would look to see the "exploded view" of the brush assembly and see what makes sense or looks less fussy to you.
My only complaint is I think I would want one of the needle/lever stops for setting paint flow at a consistent rate.
All the other needle controls/access I like.
They really are like brushes: very similar but with certain unique features that may appeal to you.

I have two Iwata airbrushes (one very high end one and one mid-level) and of course, I broke the good one by dropping it right onto the nozzle. Replacement nozzle was $70 so I figured I'd just buy another airbrush...

So I bought this and it's bloody amazing. https://www.amazon.ca/Gravity-Dual-Action-Brush-Nozzle-Tattoo/dp/B01608338Q/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1485912086&sr=8-3&keywords=.2mm+airbrush

Cheap as dirt and very effective. It has all the features I need (although the cup is a bit large for my liking/requirements). I would definitely recommend it.

Wait til michaels has a 50% off coupon and buy one.

 Sazzlefrats wrote:
I'm kinda thinking of getting one. I just had a friend use his for primering and base coating some battletech mini's, and I liked the results. The primer went on very thin, very evenly, the base coat paint was just as good. I do own a compressor (its overkill its for automotive power tools). It can be dialed down.

I like the idea of a single action because I'm starting out, but if the finer details are better with a dual action then so be it. Do I necessarily want internal mix? supports different nozzles?

Just want to chime in here with something important: The airbrush is not the only purchase you'll need to make. You'll also want:

Airbrush cleaning pot (for clearing out excess and cleaning the airbrush - good ones also have a holder for the airbrush)
Airbrush cleaning kit (small bottle brushes and the like for getting deep into the tool to clean it). Sometimes you can get 2-in-one sets like this: https://www.amazon.ca/ABEST-Airbrush-Cleaning-Needle-Nozzle/dp/B00XHOFQ3M/ref=pd_bxgy_79_img_2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=JWDC15KC4WEHY605WA0K
Airbrush cleaning solution (water alone doesn't do the job)

Also consider buying Flow Improver, as many hobby paints are too thick to really use well with an airbrush. You can water them down, but a Flow Improver does a better job of it.

I've used a cheap knock-off Iwata and recently replaced it with an Iwata HP C+.

In theory the knock-off was a copy of a higher spec Iwata but the HP C+ knocks the socks off the competition in terms of precision and performance. I can do much more precise painting with the genuine Iwata.

Having said that, the HP C+ was expensive and I really think the copy was a great airbrush to dip my toe in and practice. I would recommend starting with a £15-20 job from eBay. Mine is still getting use laying down primer and basecoats.

 anticitizen013 wrote:
I have two Iwata airbrushes (one very high end one and one mid-level) and of course, I broke the good one by dropping it right onto the nozzle. Replacement nozzle was $70 so I figured I'd just buy another airbrush...

So I bought this and it's bloody amazing. https://www.amazon.ca/Gravity-Dual-Action-Brush-Nozzle-Tattoo/dp/B01608338Q/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1485912086&sr=8-3&keywords=.2mm+airbrush

Cheap as dirt and very effective. It has all the features I need (although the cup is a bit large for my liking/requirements). I would definitely recommend it.

I was looking around ebay, I thought I saw the same thing you just linked, but now I'm noticing differences.. what do you think of this. (Looks too cheap to be)

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Airbrush-Kit-Dual-Action-Needle-Spray-Gun-9cc-Paint-Art-Tattoo-Tool-Simple-/122307387373?var=&hash=item1c7a169fed:m:mvAKhk0zAu5lxXj9zSqZnvg

 anticitizen013 wrote:
I have two Iwata airbrushes (one very high end one and one mid-level) and of course, I broke the good one by dropping it right onto the nozzle. Replacement nozzle was $70 so I figured I'd just buy another airbrush...
So I bought this and it's bloody amazing. https://www.amazon.ca/Gravity-Dual-Action-Brush-Nozzle-Tattoo/dp/B01608338Q/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1485912086&sr=8-3&keywords=.2mm+airbrush
Cheap as dirt and very effective. It has all the features I need (although the cup is a bit large for my liking/requirements). I would definitely recommend it.

Just looking at that brush
I think I like it.

Is that opening in front of the trigger to get at the needle seal before the paint reservoir?
Looks good since that is the one seal that is a pain to clean / fix.

Under the cup, is that an air flow control valve?
I usually get one just before the port going into the brush: it would be nice to have it built-in.

I see also the paint flow "stop" I mentioned that would be helpful to maintain a consistent flow rate for larger projects.

Nice metal cap too, not the cheap plastic one I got (that I hardly use anyway).

Looks nice, many features you want to use as experience is gained.

Correct on all accounts. Soon I will post a plog with pictures of what I have been working on with it. Having the air flow control on hand is great for fine adjustments and the trigger stop (no idea what it's actually called but the little bit at the end to prevent the trigger from going back all the way) is easily adjustable so you don't overspray all the time. It's quite good and comes with a .3mm needle and nozzle in addition to the .2mm one.

The one downside I would have to say is the nozzle cap (the fluted piece at the business end) is kinda junk and I found, depending on the paint being used, it clogs up relatively easily. I just remove it when I am painting which also allows easier access to the needle should I need to give that a quick wipe.

 Sazzlefrats wrote:

 anticitizen013 wrote:
I have two Iwata airbrushes (one very high end one and one mid-level) and of course, I broke the good one by dropping it right onto the nozzle. Replacement nozzle was $70 so I figured I'd just buy another airbrush...

So I bought this and it's bloody amazing. https://www.amazon.ca/Gravity-Dual-Action-Brush-Nozzle-Tattoo/dp/B01608338Q/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1485912086&sr=8-3&keywords=.2mm+airbrush

Cheap as dirt and very effective. It has all the features I need (although the cup is a bit large for my liking/requirements). I would definitely recommend it.

I was looking around ebay, I thought I saw the same thing you just linked, but now I'm noticing differences.. what do you think of this. (Looks too cheap to be)

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Airbrush-Kit-Dual-Action-Needle-Spray-Gun-9cc-Paint-Art-Tattoo-Tool-Simple-/122307387373?var=&hash=item1c7a169fed:m:mvAKhk0zAu5lxXj9zSqZnvg

I bought a cheap compressor (which is actually very good) that came with three airbrushes. The airbrushes are rubbish. But then I decided to risk buying another cheap one, the one you linked to on EBay, and the difference is incredible, it's a dream to use, and easy to keep clean. I had started to wonder if airbrushing just wasn't for me, but that brush changed my mind.