Some Things to Think About When Buying An Airbrush

Buying an Airbrush – Model Making’s Revolution

The big phenomenon in modelling over the last three or four years has been the huge growth in people buying an airbrush and using them in their day-to-day modelling, as well as the range of paints and materials available. We are regularly asked which are the best to buy, and the truth is that there is no single “right” answer, it depends on what you want to do, your budget and what you are comfortable with using to get the best for your personal technique. But there are a few pointers I can give you;

  • Buy the best quality equipment you can afford – something like an Iwata is likely to be better engineered, more reliable, last longer, and be far less frustrating to use than a cheap Chinese copy.
  • Start basic and upgrade when you need to – it’s easy to spend a lot on airbrush equipment, but the reality is that if you have quality kit, getting good results is 90% technique and practice, and only 10% about having equipment with all the bells and whistles.
  • Pay as much attention to buying the right compressor as you do to getting the right airbrush (and only use compressed air canisters if you really, really have to !)
  • A smaller nozzle size doesn’t mean you can do more detailed work. Select your nozzle based on the thickness of the paint you’ll be using; for most modelling purposes, a 0.3 to 0.4mm nozzle is ideal, smaller sizes are vulnerable to clogging. Detail comes from getting up close. You may need to turn your air pressure down to avoid flooding the items being sprayed.
  • Consider spares availability. It’s no secret that we focus heavily on Iwata airbrushes at SnM Stuff, and one of the key factors is that we can get spares easily; we aim to keep needles and nozzles on hand for the models we stock, and can almost always get any other parts for Iwata and many Badger models within 3-4 working days.
  • If you can, have a permanent set-up. We regularly hear from people who have bought airbrushes but haven’t got around to using them, and the reason is almost always down to two barriers; the hassle of setting it all up, and lack of confidence. Lack of confidence is simply solved; just pick it up and practice on something that doesn’t matter ! Having a permanent set-up makes this massively easier, from a psychological perspective as well as a practical one, and as long as you have a corner with good lighting and ventilation isn’t as daunting as it sounds.
  • Brand-matching thinners and cleaners to the paint you use will help you get more predictable results, and flow improver is your friend !
  • Accept that not every job can be accomplished with an airbrush. No matter how skilled you are, there will still come a time when a good old-fashioned paint brush will be the right tool for the job !

If you’re thinking about buying an airbrush, come and visit us.  We’ve got a good variety in stock, can easily order others, and can give you a chance to handle them and see if they feel “right” in your hand. If you ask nicely, we even have a couple you can try before you buy !