Airbrush Recommendations

[Tim Mixon]

I don?t mean to open a can of worms but I need some advice. I?m looking to buy an airbrush for very fine detail painting. I work pretty much exclusively in 1/72 WWI aircraft.
I?ve been using a Grex Tritium with the 0.2 needle. I just can?t get the fine lines I?m looking for. Plus I?ve replaced the nozzle three times in as many years. Gets expensive at $40 a pop.
I don?t need to cover large surfaces, just fine detail work. I?m not going to say price is no object but I?m willing to spend a little more for the right solution. Also ease of cleanup is a bonus!
Thanks,
Tim

[gedmundson]

Hi Tim, I have a Harder & Steenbeck Infinity 2 in 1 which I bought for those very reasons back in 2012. Ended up using the 0.44mm needle most of the time, but if you need finer there's a 0.25mm needle & nozzle combo too. I know they are expensive but it's my only airbrush and has been worth the outlay after all of these years. Well built and easy to clean with parts available locally to me (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada)
Good luck with your hunt, and cheers!

[hiddeous1973]

There are several very good aibrushes out there, I went with the Badger Veliciy Jet.
A very fine airbrush, robust as all Badgers are and with a nozzle that does't use a treaded connecting so there is nothing that can get dammaged.
Easy to clean and spare parts are afordable, (altough not that easy to find in Europe) it works great and spays very fine indeed.
It may not be as super fine as the really high end airbrushes, but then again I am not that good anyway!!!

[WD]

Tim,
      I'm thinking of getting a H&S airbrush to do fine line work myself. I can unreservedly recommend Dr. John Miller, aka "Dr. Strangebrush" at https://modelpaintsol.com/ . Give him a shout, I know of times someone has gone there to buy an airbrush, and based on their conversations, he's talked them out of buying his. How wonderfully ethical is that? He's a retired chemistry professor, and has been airbrushing for years. I've written him, and he's actually taken time out of his day to call me to discuss my airbrushing issues in order to help me be successful. Like I said, not only am I a satisfied customer of his products, but I'm a fan boy because of his ethical approach to running his business.

I honestly think it'll be well worth your time.

https://modelpaintsol.com/

HTH, FWIW YMMV,

Warren D

[bobs_buckles]

Tim,
 I have many airbrushes.

A couple stand out. Badger Sotar 20/20. Great for fine work, but will still allow you to block-in colour.
Creos (Mr Hobby)  Procon boy PS270. As above for fine work and does larger work with ease. The overall finish is better than the Sotar, but if I had to pick one for the Desert Island scenario it would be the Sotar. Love it!

Other brushes in my collection are. Iwata Custom Micron, Harder and Steinbeck Colani, Badger 200G Gravity single action. Creos PS290 for painting the side of a barn door. A couple of cheap, but capable Fengda airbrushes from Amazon. I use those for primer and metallics.

Good luck with your search.
Cheers,
Spray-Job Bob   

[drdave]

I like sparmaxx brushes which are iwatas Taiwanese cousin. You wouldn?t know the difference. I use a maxx3 and the Sp35 which I love and it?s great for detail
?55 delivered iirc.