Testing The Iwata Eclipse HP-CS - Is This The Best All Around Airbrush For Model Building?? 

Yea, great and instructive review, Rex. I’m 73 and just returned to modelling after decades of absence. Decided to treat myself to this Eclipse to kick-start things. Im delighted with it and your review is a real encouragement. :)

I'm a 72 year old Military Veteran. I wish to Thank You for the great Review of the IWATA Eclipse HP-CS. My wife and I have watched many, many of your RU-vid Video's on Airbrushing. They are great and we both compliment you in all your great airbrushing reviews. In fact you might say we both are hooked on you and your review videos, bar none. In Retirement I dabble with airbrushing as a hobby in order to have something to do in my old age. I have been wanting to upgrade my airbrush to a higher quality airbrush. So far all I've ever had and been able to afford have been the cheaper airbrushes. The last one I purchased was a cheap Master airbrush. Even that one I have not been happy with. So I've been looking at reviews of different higher priced airbrushes. A lot of different airbrush artists seem to praise the IWATA Eclipse HP-CS in their reviews. Well that praise now includes you and your own review as well. Yes, after watching many reviews of all the different air brushes available upon the market by different airbrush artists I've now chosen to purchase the IWATA Eclipse HP-CS as my next airbrush as nothing else will do. But unfortunately, it will again have to wait a few years as a low-income retirement pay just doesn't go very far after the bills are paid and other necessary household items have been purchased. As they always say, "Bills and necessary expenses first, luxury items and hobby equipment maybe eventually". So with that said and unless a miracle occurrs and/or I win the lottery it will be an almost impossiblity to save up enough funds to purchase an IWATA Eclipse HP-CS even from our local Hobby Lobby store. But I can at least dream on. Oh well, so much for dreams, aren't they great even if they very seldom ever come true. May all of your own dreams come true, and GOD Bless You in all your endeavors thoughout your life. Anyway Rex, Thank You for your wonderful great review of the IWATA Eclipse HP-CS as well as for all of your other wonderful great reviews of other airbrush paint and equipment. Again, my wife and I both Thank You Sir for a job well done on all your review video's.

Thanks for the review Rex. As I watch I will say I've been happy with my HP-CS. User friendly and easy to clean. Easy to bump up to a .50 needle/nozzle setup too.

Thanks for the informative review. I've got the HP-CS also, and it's been a good airbrush to learn with. It's hard to make a mistake that's not just a simple rookie mistake when the airbrush is just so easy to use. It's definitely good to see someone with some experience put it through the paces and get good consistent results.

Cool!!!! Great review!!! You go through everything step by step & make it easier to understand!!!! Thank you!!!! Can not wait for your next one!!!!!👍💯😎

Keep up the great work Mr Barbados! Cant wait to see your next review .

I have this same airbrush. No complaints after 5 models worth of spraying. I find the control button/lever very comfortable. Feels and performs like a quality made tool.

Thanks for the informative review. I have had a Paasche H that I just was about to start using that I had purchased over 15 years ago, and wife surprised me with a Bday gift of the hp-cs after she saw me watching your review. So really thank you, and her 😀.

Thanks for the review, that's the one I'm using and I couldn't be happier, it's a great air brush.

Honestly despite the Iwata being expensive it is probably the best airbrush you can get. The amount of control and the quality it just can't be matched

Just bought one. Perfect timing for this video. Cant wait to run some paint through it this weekend

The Eclipse was my first airbrush 7 or 8 years ago. I bought that same package at Hobby Lobby with a 40% off coupon, so I figured it was a pretty good deal. I'm happy i started with a quality brush and didn't need to fight issues with the airbrush as I was learning to use it. One thing to note is that the needle packing is farther back behind the cup than I think the Badgers have it, so it helps to get a pipe cleaner in behind the cup when cleaning it out. Those interdental brushes don't reach far enough. I do that after every painting session and haven't had a problem with it.

Absolutely awesome content. Thanks so much for doing this!

Have an unopened HP-CS that I haven't got to using yet. Totally agree about the 105 and thanks for the explaining the coloured needles. Have all 3 sizes as well but only ever used the blue. My 105 came in a production bundle with an Anthem 155 and the detail set - both are needle/nozzle compatible.

Phenomenal review as always. Thanks for sharing

Great video. Nicely put together and I learned a few things. That was worth the subscription.

Just ordered this set. Can't wait!!!

Just ordered one Rex. Thanks for the review

Just got one myself, it's amazing, it doesn't even compare with my previous cheap airbrush.

I got my Iwata hp-cs last week and honestly its been the best purchase for awhile

really appreciate these reviews. :)

Recently purchased an Iwata Neo. So far, I have no complaints about it.

Hey thanks for another great video. I'll be patiently waiting for any Badger that comes my way! lol

This is my go to. I have two with different setups. I have other brushes but I stay with these mostly.

My model club uses Eclipses to teach kids how to airbrush. Easy to clean and can stand up to abuse. Damn near bullet proof. I love my Eclipse!

Thanks for the review 😎👍🏼

Been using eclipse for the past 3 years so far the best all around airbrush I’ve owned.

Great video mate

really nice review. thank you for the info

I've got a Badger Omni 4000 that does great for fine lines and detail work, but I'm thinking of adding the HP-CS to get more coverage on larger areas. Thanks for the review.

Thanks for the review and demo! Very well done. My son is into making fishing lures and ready to move up from my entry level Badger I bought when I was in college - he wants a gravity-feed vs siphon feed like my Badger is. This is the one he thinks he's decided on - great tips here for cleaning so I'll have to make sure he watches this. Glad to see all the comments here as well from people who have had this same airbrush for quite some time and that it's a good one.

Thanks for the video, just ordered mine from hobby lobby in mass. Excited to give her a rip

these vids are so relaxing and very helpful! I wouldn't know how to use the air brush if it weren't for you..thx:)

Just ordered one of these. Was looking for one that had a bigger paint cup. I like my Badger 360 but find I only really use it as gravity feed and it has a very small cup. Thanks for the review.

I use the hp-cs it’s a great all around airbrush it works for models art shoes basically whatever you want except for extreme fine detail like hair

Great review always my friend, I simply adore my Eclipse. It's been my go to for years now. Side note, your mic was picking up some crazy audio with this brush.

I have a gravity feed HP-C Plus and a bottle feed HP-BCS. Let me tell you they are the best bar none. I used to own cheap Paasche and Badger - they sucked. They needed wax for the nozzle and they spitted and hard to clean. The two Iwatas I abuse by spraying all kinds of harsh stuff like lacquer and acrylics. Rarely need to lubricate the air trigger, never had a seal failed, I bent the needle tip once and just bent it right back and sprayed like new. Top quality material and after twenty years still look like new.

I'm pretty happy with the HP-CS. I also really like the patriot. But the Iwata is my go to.

I love the eclipse. I have a HP-CS converted to .5. a Takumi Eclipse with the .3, and a I just recently splurged on a Takumi Custom Micron.

Interesting that there's a recommended pressure range on the airbrush box. I feel like I'd still go with the paint mfr recommendations. For example, I usually see Vallejo recommend 15 to 20psi for airbrushing their colors. Iwata is an industry standard name, I can't say I'm surprised that it performed well. At the same time, I am still happy to see you had a good experience with it 👍

Thanks for the video informative

Great and accurate review. I’ve just come out of a “few year” break from modelling, made sure, as always, my HP-CS was clean when I finished with it, but basically walked out of the man cave and didn’t walk back in until the last few days. Fired up the HP-CS for the first time, in about 4 years, yesterday and it sprayed perfectly, well as perfect as my ability allows. It was like putting on an old sock. I started out with a cheap China airbrush, didn’t persist with that very long before I got the Iwata. It was like stepping out of a Hyundai into a Ferrari. I would recommend this brush to anyone thinking of upgrading from cheap China. It’ll make your day.

Great review👍

That n97 super glue in the background is probably the best damn ca flue I’ve ever used! It stays upright and the little needle attachments let you get into anywhere yet don’t get easily clogged.

I bought the GSI Creos Mr. Procon Boy WA .3mm based on your recommendation and absolutely love it.

I've had my HP-BS (small cup version) for at least 20 years. It still works like new even though some of the chrome has worn off the inside of the paint cup. If I would've bought the larger paint cup CS version back in the day, it would probably still be my main airbrush. I just didn't know at the time how limiting the smaller cup would be, and it was cheaper... but anyway, I have a Revolution when I need a larger needle, and i've recently started using a Procon Boy 289 as my main airbrush, and it does feel kinda similar, but the trigger doesn't feel as nice as the Eclipse. If it weren't for the mac valve on the Procon Boy, I probably would've just gotten an HP-CS to replace the BS, but I wanted that extra adjustability built in to the brush.

Good review Rex. Thank you! Are the iwata o-rings solvent proof?

I've got 3, and I can't complain about it at all.

I love my hp-cs, I have it Ryno coated from coast airbrush

Thanks Rex

Another fantastic video! If you have to choose between HP-CS and PS-289 who would you pick as an all around airbrush ?

One day, I will try one, most folks like to love them, very few bad reviews on it!

Thanks for another great review. I love my CS. The E3 is a 0.35 needle and the air brush can be converted to use a 0.5 needle. I ended up getting a Revolution with a 0.5 needle so I can cover all my needs with out switching parts. I've been using about 20 psi for Acrylics and Lacquers but you can go up to 55 psi with it. I've not tried enamels yet.

I have been using a HP/BCS .5mm needle with siphon bottle, .. up graded with an adjustable tail piece from the Super Micron series. I have looking for the past few years to add another brush with a .3mm needle for detail work. I won't need the volume capacity of paint on the detail brush, so a top cup will be OK. After looking at SO many others, I think I will end up buying another Iwata like this one you are reviewing, in .3mm and once again, buying the adjustable preset tailpiece from the Super Micron series. I like having the tailpiece to adjust exactly how much paint flow there is, rather than reliance of constant stable finger pull on the trigger. This feature is important when applying weathering and 'dirt' to railroad models, where we need minimal paint flow to lightly mist. My current Iwata with the .5mm does indeed dial down to very small area and very low paint flow, but it is really set up for large area painting of O scale model trains where a top cup is just too small.

Thanks for the review, I recently purchased an Iwata Eclipse HP-CS and I am very satisfied with the performance. I am one of those people who like to paint with acrylics only, and I would like your recommendation for the best acrylic chrome.

Yea .35 needle. Great review. Santa just brought me one, must have been a good boy

Bought an Iwata Neo the other day and immediately exchanged it after watching this video. Stoked to try out the Eclipse! 😁

Thanks for great vids I was going to try 2k and wondering what respirator cartridges to use ? Do you use a half or full face mask ? Thank you.

Fuck yeah our boi Barbo Rex is at it again!!

Very nice exhibition.

What do you use as the black cap to back flush the Iwata Eclipse? Your videos are very clear and helpful. This was particularly beneficial because you sprayed solvent and water-based paints. Thank you.

I have this and the Patriot 105. Love both for painting AoS and 40k models. As to you wondering if it's used on cars most of the top car painters in the world use either the CS or HP-C. HP-C is a small upgrade to CS. Basically a more advanced nozzle system. I'd say the Iwata Microns can go toe to toe with H&S. Both are around the same price. Love the shout out to Spray Gunner. It's the only place I get my big name paints.

Love the videos! I have learned so much from watching. I just got back to into customizing Hot Wheel last year after a 10 year hiatus and graduated from rattle cans to airbrushing! Every video is like going to class! Where did you get that cool airbrush holder? It looks like it probably came with an airbrush, but can you buy they separately?

That’s one of the best line of air brushes made bar none

I have all this great equipment thanks to your videos love the work you do but sadly no paint I can’t find any of the paint I need in stock anywhere :(

Great review, is this better than the H&S Evolution CR + Two in One airbrush? Im looking at purchasing either one!

That PSI recommendation is for their own specific “Madea” line of paints Their airbrush paints are made for other substrates. Canvas and cotton shirts and stuff. It works fine for plastic but not going to be as strong as dedicated hobby paints.

Rex, Your review has just put the Eclipse to the top of my want list. You know...put the female half of the quick release on the top of the filter, then all your brushes would benefit from it...just an idea

I see you have a small estes alpha rocket on the table. How would airbrushed work if you wanted to paint it. Also, what would be the largest rocket you'd try to paint with airbrush? I have a 2.5" diameter rocket I want to paint with airbrush, . Am I pushing it? Thanks.

That iwata air squeal reminds me of a star wars ty fighter, very distinct noise. Very good review . I'm currently debating on sotar 20-20 for some fine detail... there's a review for you to do,haha

I have an Iwata Revolution 0.5 needle, mostly just spray base colors.

What do you thing is a hood compressor to use on this

I'm thinking about getting a GSI Procon boy pistol grip airbrush. Are any needle kist interchangeable, or where do I get different needle and cone???

hey barbatos where do you get the airbrush stand

Good review. Don't use the Iwata lube it gums up. If you ever have trouble pushing stynylrez warm the bottle in warm water and shake the heck out of it.

I've recently been shopping for airbrushs. I noticed that there's several different models of eclipse airbrushs. What are the differences in the models ?

Quick QuestionRobert Did you use all the paints with no mix?

So is there any difference between the Iwata Eclypse Hp-Cd and the All-Star version ?

I was about to buy an Iwata until I saw your recent positive review of the Neoeco AB, the obvious choice for best value overall. Are there any significant functional benefits to the Iwata (at roughly 3X greater price)? Thanks

Feels like this brush is an ideal upgrade when you've gotten comfortable using that Badger Patriot 105

@Barbatos Rex - could you go into your experiences in-depth on types of paints, like Acrylic vs Enamel etc. And maybe another video going deep on different kinds of glues, maybe some examples on plastics and why some melt with certain glues and such. I have read some things on both but have a hard time of it all sinking in, if I watched somebody like yourself really dig into those two things it would really be a help to me, and I'm sure many other folks!! Anyway, I've been enjoying your videos for a long time now under my old youtube name, cheers.

I have their moisture trap/filter set up in my air line with a QD on the outlet so that it can go on my other brush too. Besides my Iwata, I use an ancient early 1950s Thayer and Chandler AA. Sadly, its pretty much end of life after decades of use... and the new parts made for it are just too crappy. Back to the filter... I was thinking about putting about a foot or so of air line after it, then having the QD connector. That would take the bulkiness of the filter off the airbrush... It may or may not work well in practice, just an idea to try at this point.

I hope you do a review on the iwata neo

almost 43k subs!! crazy

This factory airbrush comes with the 0.35mm needle, are you using this but paint in this session ?. By pure chance you know what parts or accessories must be purchased to upgrade to the 0.5 mm needle. Good Job this aerografo. Tanks

What was the primer you love to use? I did not get the name. I will order that. Thx

Thanks for the video! I have been on the fence between this brush and the badger and this video helped me make a decision (thinking badger). Been using the Gocheer mini airbrush kit off Amazon (on sale for $60 right now). Comes with a .2 .3 and .5 needle all interchangable. In case anyone sees this comment it's a fantastic starter brush to get you into the hobby just to see if it's something you'd like to continue, but the included compressor leaves a lot to be desired. Just think it's time for me to move onto something better. Would love to see a review of the Gocheer for fun to get more people into the hobby.

Do you tend to use the Iwata Eclipse recommended 25-35 PSI or do you tend to go with the recommended PSI depending on the brand of paint? I'm still learning lots through trial/error with my Eclipse. Sometimes so many unknown factors (PSI/distance/paint type/recommended thinner/etc) it gets a bit overwhelming. Painted 2 kits so far. Been on the spectrum of having orange peel textures and the opposite spectrum of sandy/grainy textures. Getting the hang of it though.😶

I really enjoy your videos 👍

I like how simple this airbrush looks in comparison to the badgers and the GSI creos

That was my first double action air brush it lasted me 20 years without changing the needle

I have an idea for you it will be interesting to show us how to maintain a healthy compressor. eg. how to drain out the dusty water completely from the compressor.

I have a question for ya. I've started using some newer rattle can products. Stained glass and frosted/sea glass paint. I've looked all around trying to find a paint to be used in a sprayer for various projects. Any resources you can think of?

Thank’s for the review. 👍 Quest - Did you weigh the airbrush with it’s associated in-line water trap; and did you happen to Polish the needle to see what was the resulting effects (if any?). Just ask’n.😳

Rex, the needle is a 0.35mm on the Iwata Eclipse.

Anyone getting sticky trigger with this brush? I've had mine for like 15 years... I take very good care of it, but even after rebuilding the entire trigger assembly with brand new parts it gets sticky. I'm using Hoppes #9 to lube it.

Have you tried the iwata neo cn version?

I know this is a decent airbrush as I have one. Just to let you know, maybe set the camera off to your left side just a bit when showing how it paints. When your up close all we see is the back of your hand and the finished product when you show it. I just borrowed mine from a friend as I just started painting and already I am doing much better lines and more even coatings even with the cheapest of budget paints to waste practicing with.

I got a neo from hobby lobby and I have zero complaints, fantastic airbrush

Do you prefer this Iwata HP-CS or the Harder & Steenbeck Evolution?