Scale Model Basics: 5 considerations when choosing an airbrush 

I love my Harder&Steenbeck Evolution and the Infinity

Harder and Steenbeck just came out with a revised 2024 Ultra. I'm impressed with features of double airbrushing for beginners (I'm not paid, just have used almost all of them, including the Aztec which I enjoyed years ago). I currently use mostly a Badger 105 and a Mr. Hobby brush, both fantastic sprayers. One of the keys, as always, is paint consistency. Features on the H-S that are important (and once you start using the less capable brushes, these come into clear focus). The trigger will not pull back unless the airflow has started. Especially important for acrylic painting and tip dry. The needle chuck has a trumpet shaped end, easier for those who's sight may be hindered to insert the needle without missing. There are 5 preset notches that establish different rates of paint flow by limiting trigger/needle travel. Will make it easier for learning camo patterns, etc. The nozzles/needles are interchangeable with the Infinity and Evolution, you can expand without changing the brush. Triple Chrome Plating - no longer nickel plated. Removable paint cup that is tapered inward at the top to prevent paint spill. It's press fit (not threaded) for easier cleaning. A great video complement for learning. This may help someone else grab a brush with features that will establish good habits right from the start.

A friend of my brother's dad was a really great model builder and when he passed away his son gave me his MEDEA hammerhead shark air compressor! And some of his finest models! So i have a great start on my airbrush learning!

Just what I needed. Been wanting to buy an airbrush and along comes this video. So much information out there and a plethora of videos, it's confusing knowing where to start, like so many aspects of painting techniques in modelling, be it weathering, chipping, etc. Good to know I can start watching some of them having seen this one first.

Excellent overview, Aaron. I also have your Kalmbach book which is first-rate. In addition to very fine airbrushes and more relaxed trigger-airbrushes, I still have a Paasche H and a VS, They are industrial ainrushes and are indestructable and easy to clean.

Gidday Aaron. I started back in scale modelling a few years ago and got an basic double action airbrush (Delta?) with 3 needles/nozzles. I watched your airbrushing videos on the FSM site and others on the net, practiced, made mistakes but it gave really good results (Mr Color, Tamiya paints) compared to brushes/enamels of my youth. Thank you for your help. As long as the airbrush is sturdy/serviceable it's the maintenance that's important. It's been passed on to a friend and I have a Mr Hobby Creos 0.5 trigger (primers) and a 0.3 and 0.2 buttons for lacquers/alcohol and a Tamiya 0.3 trigger for water based paints (Kangaroos in the top paddock?) with a small tank compressor. Still learning each time but having fun. (booth and respirator)👍 On the finger tip fatigue, I get those self adhesive soft EVA feet/pads you put under vases etc to stop scratching/sliding and use a hollow punch to make a disc a bit smaller than the airbrush button. I then peel off the backing and stick it to the airbrush button and it pads and conforms to the finger tip. It seems to reduce the discomfort over longer spraying sessions (for me anyway). Thanks to you and all. Cheers🦘🦘🦘

Great video Aaron and timely as I am conducting an airbrush seminar tomorrow. I still have my first airbrush (a Badger 150 received for Christmas from my wife in 1988), but it is a siphon feed design and I have come to prefer gravity feed airbrushes. I would recommend double action brushes as they will grow with you as you learn new techniques.

Hi Aaron, that was a great review, I have four airbrushes, two Iwata, one Passche, and I have a Tamiya trigger version, but I still believe that the most important issue still comes down to price, I would like a H&S but now I am retired, that is out of the question, best regards from Australia

Love my Aztec airbrush and if I knew they were going out of production would have purchased at least one spare!

You have to change the needle, nozzle AND nozzle cap (also known as air cap in some brands). They’re all matched sizes.

Another consideration is how easy is it tear down, clean and reassemble the air brush.

This is a serious question: I live in a remote part of the country, and there are no hobby stores here to get any models or model supplies. Where is a good place to get the things we need for the hobby? I have the basics, all the tools i can need to make stuff. I just need models, paints, putties, adhesives, ect.

It's always good to get more information on airbrushes. As for me personally, I have a Badger 200 that I bought in 1987. It still works very well, optimum working pressure is at 35 to 40 psi. And a Paache H05580 I got on ebay two years ago. It does a pretty decent paint job. The only gripe I have with it, is that the red part of the grip is plastic. Tends to make it nose heavy. I will be filling that part with ballbearings, to see if that gives it better balance characteristics. And a recent addition is one of the Harbor freight $20 dual action brushes. Since I got a Paache, to Badger hose adaptor, it was not a problem to alter the Paache hose to the cheapy $20 one. A side feed airbrush looks like an interesting item to try, maybe this summer. Thanks for the input.

Moisturizer, Aaron! Just kidding, great video.

I have a question. Why no mention of Badger?

You should honestly look at the new H&S airbrushes. The Ultra and the Evolution 2024 editions are both amazing. H&S are the easiest airbrushes in terms of maintenance and are more beginner friendly than any airbrush out there. Finally just because someone can take a 50 year old single action brush and win awards does not mean that a beginner should pick up that same single action to learn on.

I am a grown man don't tell me how to spend my money! LOL 😆 🤣 just kidding guys! I have two cheap airbrush 's that I struggle with! One day I will get a good one! LOL