That ol Airbrush question

Howdy!

Well, I've been trolling airbrush threads here on the Dark City, and I agree with Evil Space Elves suggestion of setting up a pinned "Airbrush set ups/questions" thread here in the painting and modeling forum.

Until that happens, I am looking for advice from expert airbrushers. I was thinking of buying an Iwata airbrush and compressor. I am looking at these specifically:

Brushes (not sure of the difference between the two):
This:
http://elementgames.co.uk/hobby-and-scenery/airbrushes-and-accessories/iwata-revolution-cr-gravity-airbrush-05mm

Or this:
http://elementgames.co.uk/hobby-and-scenery/airbrushes-and-accessories/iwata-eclipse-cs-airbrush-035mm

Compressor:
http://elementgames.co.uk/hobby-and-scenery/airbrushes-and-accessories/iwata-smart-jet-pro-auto-compressor

Does anyone here have experience with Iwata? I'd be more than happy with the Revolution, but the local supplier I looked at didn't carry the gravity-fed model.

Lacking Iwata users, I would be happy of any advice from expert airbrushers. Specifically, I'm wondering whether you need interchangeable nozzles as I'm not sure if Iwata has them...

THANKS!

For our scale I would definitely go for the Iwata Eclipse (.35 needle) over the other .5mm version. The .35 of the Eclipse is large enough in my experience for what we do as wargamers. A .5mm airbrush is going to be good for basecoating more or less. I used the Eclipse recently along with a Badger Krom and Badger Sotar. I liked the Eclipse, but the paint cup is pretty damned large (Krome is pretty close in size) and the Krome was just easier to clean. The Sotar 20/20 is a damned fine detail brush that can also apply basecoats decently.

I should really set up that Splinter Raid Episode on airbrushes...

Evil Space Elves wrote:

I should really set up that Splinter Raid Episode on airbrushes...

YES! yes you should........


I started (probably like most) painting fantasy armies with brushes and finally got an airbrush when i moved to 40k a few years ago....never looked back. Although i wish there was a lot more information out there for the beginners. DE being vehicle heavy is a brilliant army to airbrush.

Ispa wrote:

DE being vehicle heavy is a brilliant army to airbrush.

This is so true. This army and Tyranids are probably the two that really make owning an airbrush a necessity.

Eclipse HP CS won't let you down. I did my entire DE army with it.

@Evil Space Elves: those just happen to be my only two armies! I'm now looking at the Badger brushes as well.

And in addition to your podcast on the subject, please pin a thread in here about them.

@Woozl that's good news since it was seeing your army that was the straw that broke my camels back in terms of deciding I needed an airbrush! Do you use the 0.35mm nozzle?

@Ispa you're right that there needs to be a better beginner resource! I think my problem with airbrushes is that I false started with a hand me down all-plastic Aztek brush and a Frankensteinian air compressor that my older brother built from scratch. We actually called the thing "the bomb" because that's what it looked like!

I tried using that to paint vast swathes of gaunts, but it was pretty much perma-clogged, so I resolved that airbrushes were horrible things.

I'm now revising my opinion and looking to invest in some reliable kit, so I appreciate all of your help and opinions!

Yep .35. Ice debated getting a smaller one to use, but I dont think my skill level with it is there yet