I got into airbrushing about a year ago and I love it. Much nicer finish and faster than I could achieve with a brush!
Like many others, I started with the Paasche VLS workhorse. I finally started to get the hang of things but I’ve noticed I’m limited by the Paasche smallest needle size being .55 mm. This is fine for things like black basing and post shading, but I’ve struggled to get nice tight lines on thin camo patterns. That being said, I’m looking to get a second airbrush. My Paasche will be used for the majority of painting, so I am looking for something I’ll break out for finer work.
That being said my only stipulations are that it must have a small enough needle for fine work in 1/35 for armor and 1/48 for aircraft and can’t break the bank too much, since it won’t get a ton of work
Iwata Custom Micron B, go buy the Samurai katana of airbrushes to match the Paasche VLwakizashi for the full daisho
Yes, it cost too much but ultimately for photo retouch grade effects its the best I’ve seen.
Harder and Steenbeck makes some nice less expensive airbrushes that many love. Iwata liked them well enough to buy the company so they are doing something right
Honestly, I’m less than impressed with HS, and end up using the old Paasche VL #1 tip or for the fine stuff going straight to the Iwata Custom Micron B with the 0.18 mm needle & tip.
I just got a Badger Patriot. It’s also my first upgrade from an ancient Badger 350 single action siphon feed. For me it seemed the best break between cost and quality.
I’m still getting the hang of it, but I’ve already noticed a massive improvement in spray quality and I lay down some reasonably fine lines, especially if I’m good about thinning my paints and keeping pressure low. It’s still a 0.5 needle though, but they make a 0.35 kit for it.
I think @Panzer_modeler and a couple others bought a Master set of Amazon a while ago that had 3 needle sizes. I know Ezra was happy with it. I chickened out because of some poor reviews on the needle quality and lack of replacement parts availability.
I don’t think I have as I needed the larger needle to help me with spraying primer as the .3 wasn’t working for me and I haven’t needed the super detail as of yet.
Yeah that’s good point, little risk. I’m by no means an airbrush expert either but I have kits in my stash that require mottling and this type of scheme:
So I am not sold on needing the smaller needle. I saw something similar earlier but these shows a technique that should help with what your trying to do.
I use the Iwata HP-CS; had a Paasche when I got back into modeling but switched when Hobby Lobby still allowed the 40% off coupon on them.
I do only German armor so I have several of those thin-line schemes to pull off as well, but you’ll find that small needle size is only part of it. If you thin the paint down and lower your pressure you can build up then lines like that even with a bigger needle and avoid too much overspray, but it does take more time and effort to do so.
First, as said above getting closer to the subject and using the correct combination of pressure and dilution, you can do pretty thin lines with a 0.5 airbrush. In fact, it is just half a milimetre when it leaves the nozzle!
And second, what paint are you using? Personally, I do not like acrylics below 0,3mm because it clogs too much.
If you are using Tamiya or Real Color it should be fine with smaller ones.
@Mead93, do you strain the paint through a strainer before using?
FWIW - The old VL is rated to do a 1/32 of an inch line with fine tip & needle. The VL will do 1/64 of an inch lines if one fiddles with air pressure & thinning ratio with a hand polished needle etc.
The Iwata Custom Micron B can literally go fine as a human hair.
