Air-Brush – Advice Needed

You can get air brushes cheaper and some are okay. My first airbrush was £45. However I killed it spraying cellulose paint as it melted the rubber seals.
Better quality air brushes use ceramic seals.
If you have a compressor already and is suitable that will remove a lot of the cost. Compressors are typically £40 – £100 to buy (pro ones £300+).

When I first started airbrushing I was a little disappointed as my initial attempts were worse than hairy stick painting.
There’s also the time to mask everything for spraying, then re-masking, then re-spraying, re-masking etc.
You’ll need a mask, maybe a spray booth to extract all the overspray and fumes.
The extra effort is definitely worth it though.

Thanks for the advice so far; a bit more to think about than I had imagined, and a lot more expensive!

I’ve sprayed bits of cars before, usually the repaired bits of recently damaged rally cars, so nothing to showroom condition; not sure that’s going to be of any use at all! Got a compressor though.

btw this is the brush I use
https://www.air-craft.net/acatalog/Iwata-Silver-Jet-Airbrush-Compressor.html?utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=teclan%2520SC%2520Main%2520(Bing)&utm_term=1104000206711&utm_content=Main%2520Brands
and here are some of the results
(will post later)

Things to understand about Airbrushes.
1) It’s not a magic tool for perfect paint jobs. Expect to spend one, maybe two years mastering it.
You have to learn about thinning paint, spray pressure and application not to mention actually operating the thing.
2) Skill with a hairy stick can be just as effective as an airbrush if the paint is thinned correctly.
Cheaper too.
To answer your question it depends on your budget but both Badger and Iwata are good airbrushes.
You’ll need the brush (I would go for a dual action brush), a moisture trap, and either canned air or a compressor (with a pressure regulator and gauge).
Expect to pay £80 to £200.
Personally I would go for Iwata (Iwata Silver Jet is good).

p.s. You could just spray it with rattle cans of course. Some use this method and get good results.
Humbrol and Car Paints are good. Just remember car paints are `hot` and will melt model kit plastic so remember to prime first.

I don’t think anyone does come here anymore! Probably why I hang out at the Britmodeller and LSP forums!

Just a quick question…have you used an airbrush before and what sort of budget are you looking at?

Best regards;
Steve