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I'm currently looking into airbrushes in order to buy my first one. I don't wanna buy a beginners one and then end up throwing it into the garbage but neither a professional one that costs 600 bucks with the compressor. I'm looking for something mid-range that won't screw up my miniatures (I can do that by myself), and that I can use later on for priming or big airbrushing if I end up buying a professional one in the future.

Tips: I would prefer something that I could buy in the EU, I currently live in Switzerland and customs could be a pain.

Thanks a lot!

EDIT: Ok, seems like the IWATA HP-CS is the standard recommendation, I'll surely go with that one, what about compressors? Which one is a good and affordable option? I've seen hundreds of different ones and it's starting to get crazy which one I gotta choose. Also, should I buy a couple of different size needles?]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/694351/8725331.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/694351/8725331.page GMT CS is a really nice airbrush that is very popular with people learning airbrushing and is a workhorse that will last you. One of my friends has it and swears by it.

I use an Iwata HP-C Plus, which is a little more expensive than that Eclipse but is a very nice airbrush. I got mine from Element Games in the UK with a good compressor for just under £340 (it was a discount at Salute).
Iwata are also widely available thorughout Europe.

Badger are another good make but I'm not too sure on how easily available they are as they are based in the US.

Harder and Steenbeck get excellent reviews are are (iirc) a German company so again are readily available in Europe, I wouldn't know which model to recommend though.

Hope this is useful!!]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/694351/8725343.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/694351/8725343.page GMT HP-CS from Iwata is my standard recommendation. Versatile, bulletproof, pleasant to control. Easy to clean.
Cheap (under £100 if you shop around) and will take most paints if thinned.
Mine handled my learning, putting everything from gesso to undiluted paint through.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/694351/8725344.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/694351/8725344.page GMT HP-CS

Beautiful brush, solid as hell, easy to clean, survives rookie punishment easily. I've dropped this thing, left paint in it for days, soaked it in all kinds of stuff, and haven't even needed to change a washer on it (of which I bought 2 spares).]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/694351/8725356.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/694351/8725356.page GMT HP-CS ...but in my opinion there is no 'beginner airbrush'. There are cheap airbrushes but they still come with a hefty learning curve and will in most cases be able to do the same stuff.

I tend to favor the cheap airbrushes now-a-days simply because I'm lazy and at least the Masters, Harbor Freight, and cheaper Iwata (Neo with the delicious Pistol-grip) are easier to clean, simply because they have less removable parts and I really don't care as much haha.

I started out using the cheapies just for Metallics and Varnishes but now I can't be bothered to fully take apart my HP-CS when cleaning so I just use the cheap ones all the time.

As for the compressor, get one with a separate Tank, a moisture trap, and an automatic shut-off - Paasche makes a fairly cheap one that is suitable.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/694351/8725703.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/694351/8725703.page GMT