Airbrush?

[Nefaro]

Been debating picking up an airbrush because using a rattle can to prime a bunch of minis, in one go, is not always an option where I'm at.  I also have so many to paint that priming with a brush takes up too much time.

Couple questions for those who already do so:

1)  Does it save you a lot of time over doing it manually, including clean-up of the airbrush after every session?  Or just a little?

2) Which airbrush do you consider the best price-to-performance value? 


I've eyed the Ikawas and a Paasche.  At the moment I'm leaning more toward the Paasche because it seems to be a good price for the value (around $83 right now), and the mid-level Ikawa is around $100.  Anyone have experience with either of these?

[bbmike]

Watching with interest. I've been eyeing the Iwata-Medea NEO TRN 1 Trigger Airbrush for over a year now.

[Ubercat]

In my limited experience priming by airbrush is pretty fast and efficient. The need to clean the equipment afterwards is a PitA, but increasingly mitigated by greater volumes of minis requiring priming.

The airbrush is my best option in the winter as I can do it indoors without the fumes. Otherwise I generally use a can in the garage.

[Silent Disapproval Robot]

I ended up buying an airbrush last year.  I got one of the detail brushes (Harder & Steenbeck 0.2mm) and it's really handy for some things but I just don't have the skill to use it to its fullest.  I find it saves me a lot of time for painting things like 15mm armour and 1:300 scale ships but for doing things like 28mm figures, I don't get much use out of it.

If you're mainly going to use it for priming, it doesn't save a lot of time but it does give you a much better coat. It's also great for adding zenithal highlights which lessens the need for shading.

Make sure you get one with a larger needle (0.4mm or more) as the fine ones (0.2mm or less) won't give you the coverage you need for quick priming. 

[JudgeDredd]

Watching with interest. I've been eyeing the Iwata-Medea NEO TRN 1 Trigger Airbrush for over a year now.

Just get it. It's a fantastic airbrush and gives you fantastic control.

[Nefaro]

I ended up buying an airbrush last year.  I got one of the detail brushes (Harder & Steenbeck 0.2mm) and it's really handy for some things but I just don't have the skill to use it to its fullest.  I find it saves me a lot of time for painting things like 15mm armour and 1:300 scale ships but for doing things like 28mm figures, I don't get much use out of it.

If you're mainly going to use it for priming, it doesn't save a lot of time but it does give you a much better coat. It's also great for adding zenithal highlights which lessens the need for shading.

Make sure you get one with a larger needle (0.4mm or more) as the fine ones (0.2mm or less) won't give you the coverage you need for quick priming.

The Paasche Talon I've been grokking comes with a 0.38mm, which appears to be a good middle-road size for doing primer, base coats, and zenithal highlights.

I'd still rather use brushes for the rest, so hopefully that would be good enough.

Although there's another kit, for that same airbrush, which also includes two more needles both smaller and larger than that (0.2 and 0.5 ?).  I suppose I can just buy a larger needle, individually, if I ever need to put paint on something larger.

[Nefaro]

Watching with interest. I've been eyeing the Iwata-Medea NEO TRN 1 Trigger Airbrush for over a year now.

Just get it. It's a fantastic airbrush and gives you fantastic control.

Is the "Medea" version made by Iwata?

Because I read that their NEO line is actually manufactured by some Chinese manufacturer, and not Ikawa.  Although people say the NEO is a decent inexpensive starter brush.

[Nefaro]

Also:

Will probably get one of those portable airbrush spray booths which suck the paint fumes out through a hose which can be put in a cracked window.

I don't have a garage anymore and don't want fine colored mist lingering around my game room.

Thought about building my own, but between buying the needed materials and time spent, the little booth is priced comparably on Ebay stores.

[Silent Disapproval Robot]

If you stick to acrylics, you don't need a fume booth.

[Ubercat]

You should still be concerned with inhaling paint particles, though. I wear a mask along with using the booth.

[JudgeDredd]

If you stick to acrylics, you don't need a fume booth.

I would disagree. There may not be alot in the way of fumes, but acrylics have lots of particles that aren't very good for you. I too also wear a mask.

Regarding your question on the Neo - I don't know. All I know is I've had the Neo for a few years now and it's bloody good. I also bought a .5mm conversion kit so I could prime with it

I've got one of those spray booths. It makes a huge difference I can tell you. I used to spray without one and I noticed the "particles" flying around - not to mention fumes from cleaners and the occasional dabble in Xtreme paints which require a horrible cleaner.

This is my setup

[bbmike]

That's a beautiful setup.
Which .5mm conversion kit did you get?

[JudgeDredd]

That's a beautiful setup.
Which .5mm conversion kit did you get?

Thanks...it took a while (and a few paint spots on the carpet) to covince the wife why i needed a modelling and painting station.

It was for the Iwata Neo Trn1. I do't think it came as a kit, I needed a new nozzle cap, headbase and needle.


tbh though, I seldom use it. I ended up taking a leaf out of Andy's Hobby Headquarters book and just priming with NATO Black. And if I do prime, I find the tins perfectly adequate with most (all) over sprays levelling out. But it is an expensive way to prime.

[bbmike]

Thanks for the info. 

[Nefaro]

If you stick to acrylics, you don't need a fume booth.

You should still be concerned with inhaling paint particles, though. I wear a mask along with using the booth.

I do expect to only use acrylic paints.

My main concerns driving me toward a small paint booth is the paint particles floating around my desk area.  I have shelves full of board games sitting nearby and wouldn't want a slow multi-colored buildup on their box ends.  They're out of arm's reach, but not by much.

Inhaling the paint & primer is also another concern.  Although, perhaps, less so by just wearing a respirator mask.