Airbrushing

dankenman

Hunter
I am a total novice to airbrushing. I had a chance to play around with one about 10 years ago, but that's it. I saw some old threads about this topic but didn't get many answers, so here it goes:
What kind/style of airbrush is recommended for Fett type projects, that isn't a beginner model, but not the most expensive? I am willing to spend a bit extra for quality if necessary.
What are the components/equipment needed for a full set up? gun, compressor etc...
Are there any recommendations of reputable companies that sell this equipment?
I appreciate any info on this...
 
I know that years ago Testors had their own line of airbrushes that, from what I understand, were fairly decent and weren't going to break the bank either. I don't know if they still make them or if they are or were all that good but it might be worth checking out though. There's also a brand called Pasche, I believe that they make good airbrushes and they offer a whole line of them from beginners to experts.

What you might want to do is to do a general search for airbrushes and take down names and model numbers of airbrushes that look appealing to you. Once you've done that do a search for reviews on those airbrushes and see what you come up with, that should help you narrow down your choices.
 
Thanks for the tip Riceball. I did start searching that way as well. I also would like to get feedback from TDHers that use them on their armor/helmets and what is liked and disliked, also what works best for Fett type applications and techniques.
 
I have one of those Testors/Aztek airbrushes. I like it a lot. It wasn't very expensive (maybe around $80 or $90 if I recall) and it's very easy to use. It has interchangeable nozzles so it's easy to clean, especially if you're shooting acrylics.
It's also a double action brush, which makes controlling both paint and air flow a breeze.
Up until about 5 months ago I had been using those cans of compressed air, but those get expensive after a while, so I got a nice little compressor from the Bear Air website.
So the total for my setup is under $200. Yes, the initial outlay is significantly more than just buying some spray paints. But your color options are practically unlimited with an airbrush, and with regular use on multiple projects, it pays for itself pretty quickly.
 
They are sort of loud, louder than most power tools, but they are only loud when they are compressing the air. I don't know about smaller air compressors, I've only had experience with large ones.
 
The one I have is pretty quiet. It's noticeable when you're spraying, but it doesn't require ear plugs or anything like that. :)
 
How loud are the compressors?

Depends on which one you get. The Paasch compressors shake the floor practically. If you go with a company like Iwata and get a Smart Jet air compressor, they are really quiet, compact, and have all the guages, moisture traps, air tanks, regulators that you would possibly need. I'm really happy with mine. It was expensive but worth it.
 
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