If you haven’t started air brushing your models yet then you’re missing out on taking your finished kits to the next level. There are a lot of different airbrush models and types and the wide selection can be overwhelming to the first time buyer. The type of finish your looking to accomplish and your budget are your two biggest considerations.
What should I consider when purchasing an air brush?
- What types of airbrushes are there
- How do airbrushes work
- Which airbrush is best for beginners
- How much should I pay for an airbrush
- Which airbrush is best for experienced modelers
- Which airbrush for different applications
Lets dig further into the world of airbrushes.
What Types of Airbrushes Are There?
There are two types of airbrushes: single action and double action. The single-action airbrush kits work on the principle of the spray guns. You just have to press a button that will spray out the paint. The double action airbrush allows you to control the flow of the paint and the pressure of the airflow at the same time.
The single-action airbrush kits work on the principle of the spray guns. You just have to press a button that will spray out the paint, and a knob along with it controls the quantity of the color. This airbrush kit is ideal for use if you are a beginner.
The paint mixes with the air in front of the needle, so this type of mixing is referred to as external mixing, and the airbrush is referred to as an external mixing airbrush.
These do not offer great precision so they should not be used in painting where extensive detailing is needed.
They provide extensive coverage, but it is difficult to draw straight lines with uniform thickness with the needles of single-action airbrush kits.
This type of airbrush kit is ideal if you are a beginner or an intermediate builder. You may find the single action airbrush satisfies all your needs.
The double action airbrush allows you to operate with full control. These airbrush kits allow you to control the flow of the paint and the pressure of the airflow at the same time.
These airbrushes spray a large volume of paint on the surface as a result of pulling the trigger. They work well when you want more coverage as compared to fine details.
Siphon feed and side feed airbrushes are usually used on double action airbrushes so you can change the colors while working.
Double action airbrushes can also use a gravity feed paint cup which is located on the top side of the brush whereas suction cups are located underneath.
For some more detailed airbrush reviews see this post
How Do Airbrushes Work?
The airbrush is connected to a hose which is connected to an air compressor. This air compressor delivers the air to the airbrush. The tip or end of the airbrush has a nozzle that directs the flow of air and paint through a needle onto the area to be painted when you press the button.
The pressure is regulated at the compressor by a pressure valve with a gauge. Located by the pressure regulator you need a water filter system to keep moisture from contaminating your paint.
The tip or end of the airbrush has a nozzle that directs the flow of air and paint through a needle. These nozzles and needles come in different sizes for the application you desire.
These systems can be purchased in kits that will have everything you need to start painting or separately if you rather build your own airbrush system.
How Much Should I Pay For An Airbrush?
The best answer is to buy the most quality airbrush you can afford. Budget airbrushes are okay for people to begin airbrushing as beginners but later you will want to invest in a kit that costs $300 to $500. A good starter kit with paint and accessories is about $150.00 on Amazon.
There are a lot of different airbrushes on the market, from the inexpensive Chinese built airbrushes costing under $30, to the quality built airbrushes that may cost upwards of several hundred dollars.
You need to keep in mind that you always you get what you pay for as some of the less expensive ones will break easy and have clogging issues. Plus you may not be able to find the parts if it isn’t a brand name system.
You can expect to pay about $200 for a good quality beginner airbrush kit. Here is an example of a kit that will work for beginners to intermediate modelers.
Are $100 Airbrush systems good for model kit painting?
Which Airbrush is Best For Beginners?
The single action airbrush is the best to begin learning how to use an airbrush system. Their fairly simple and easy to control the feed and direction of the paint and are also easier to maintain. The least expensive start at about $75 but a good starter kit is about #150.
Your best choice if your budget allows would be to choose a gravity feed, dual action, internal mix airbrush from a name brand manufacturer like Badger, Iwata, or Paasche.
If you only use a one airbrush per color, or one bottle per color setup, opt for the siphon feed instead of the gravity feed.
This Master Airbrush kit is very budget friendly and will work for beginners while they learn how to paint.
Which Airbrush is Best For Experienced Modelers?
The double-action airbrush is somewhat more complex than a single-action, but this gives the user greater control. You push the trigger down to control the airflow, and back to begin the paint flow. Modelers with experience prefer the dual action brushes to give them control of the paint and air.
As you pull the trigger back it results in a larger volume of paint being sprayed which will widen the spray pattern. The air and paint are mixed behind the needle so it is an internal mix airbrush.
Here is an example of a double action airbrush:
What Airbrush is Best For Different Applications?
The best advice would be to buy an airbrush kit that most closely suits your needs. Less expensive airbrushes are good for people to try out airbrushing as beginners before they commit a lot more money into their hobby. If you’re not concerned about the cost I would recommend a good dual action airbrush kit that comes with a lot of accessories.
Here is an example of a top-of-the-line airbrush kit that will last a long time and that will cover all of your needs:
Final Recommendation
You can start with one of the least expensive airbrush systems but the more I looked into it, people just aren’t always happy with the results they get.
If you are an occasional model builder and you are good about cleaning out your airbrush thoroughly after each use, you should probably be fine with a cheaper system.
But I found it to be recommended multiple times to spend as much as your budget will allow if this is a hobby you plan on doing for a long time. To get a real quality paint job you need to be using higher end quality airbrushes.
Happy Modeling!
Related Topics
How do you thin acrylic paints for and airbrush? The general rule of thumb with most acrylic colors is to reduce it with distilled water or airbrush reducer until it flows like milk.
What kind of paint can I use in my airbrush? Typically you use airbrush paints that are labeled for airbrush systems. These are a fluid acrylic paint specially designed for use in an airbrush and are the best choice for beginners.
Why is my airbrush spitting? Paint bubbling back into the color cup instead of spraying out can be caused by a bent needle or a loose fluid nozzle. Replace the needle if it’s bent. Using a bent needle can crack the nozzle. If you have a dual-action airbrush gun, spitting can be caused by not following your paint spray with a burst of air.