Spray cans or cheap airbrush?

I was wondering, since Tamiya etc spray cans are so expensive over here in Australia, if it was worth getting a cheap air brush, something like the link below?

http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXRL11&P=W

I cant really afford a decent air-brush at this point in time and I figure the money ill save on buying spray cans can go towards saving up for a good air brush. I only really want it for spraying large parts such as bodies and interiors so would the finish from one of these be upto scratch? or an I better of staying with the cans?

I have access to a good compressor so that wont be a problem.

Luke

I cannot advise you enough against that airbrush. It's external mix type, not really what you want for painting cars. Get at least internal mix one.

I have a Testor Airbrush, but it's not this cheap thing. I don't use it anymore for bodys.

Don't buy this one. external mix are horrible

this airbrush can do the job for interior painting, but not for bodys !

stick with tamiya Spray can.. you will have way better result

i agree with vric. U should stick with the Tamiya spray cans for the body and stuff. They disperse an even flow, but be careful not to do it to much in one spot or you'll overpaint it.

Don't buy this airbrush, this ones are the worst thing I've ever use, bought a one with internal mix, and If you cannot afford for a good one ( look at hlj or hobbysearch for them) use the spray cans, but be carefull, let the coats get completly dry before trying to apply another one or you'll get a very dissapointing effect, what I do is use the spray can lacquer paint on with the airbrush cause this way I have a better control of the paint and I can also use it for the small wing parts or anything else without wasting a lot of paint :biggrin: And also, if you want spary cans, buy them at hlj, you'll had to wait for some colours but their price worth the effort :wink:

I thought hlj didnt ship spray cans internationaly?

They do :biggrin: so.... place you order! :biggrin2: but as I said the problem is that they have low stock of cans, I've just ordered TS-51 I think, blue mica for the subaru and one from gunze sangyo warship #2 with a lot of paintmarkers that they also ship overseas and a lancia super delta 1/24 only for 58$ shipping cost included

Time for another unpopular opinion.

I'm going with the crowd, DO NOT bother with one of those airbrushes.

However, there is nothing wrong with an external mix airbrush! Perhaps some of you have heard of Mark Gustavson? The guy who writes for the mags, and runs the GSL contest? His main airbrush is a Badger 350 - single action, external mix! Okay, so mine is too.

Don't know about their shipping policy to Oz, but Harbor Freight has a decent copy of the Badger 350 for pretty cheap. I got my 350 from Hobby Lobby for $7.99! It was a fluke, but still:bigthumb: ! Otherwise, look around and see if you can find a Badger 250. The 250 is a much more advanced version of the "paint sprayer". I used one exclusively for clear coats - til my miserable ex-wife ran off with it! She did leave my 350 and my 2 cheap 350 copies, so I can't bitch too much. The 250 cost me $9.99 at Hobby Lobby, and that was no fluke. 250s and 350 copies show up all the time on eBay too.

Do you have access to compressed air? Those cans get mighty expensive after a while. Pick up an air tank, or get something converted at least, then you can fill it as needed.

An airbrush will open up a whole new world of modelling! But, you don't have to spend a buttload of money to get there! Most people who complain about the cheap airbrushes either were expecting a Paasche, or they didn't have any luck the first time they used it and never learned how! Practice, practice, buy Bob Downie's book "How to Use an Airbrush" (published by Kalmbach)! Then, practice some more!

For practice, buy some cheap paint (Plastikote Odds and Ends or enamel tractor paint, here in the states), some thinner, and practice away. However, get some posterboard, and hang it up - anyone can paint a horizontal surface. Work to get a feel for the airbrush and how much the paint needs to be thinned. Then, practice some more! Spray a scrap body from time to time, to see if you're comfortable with the technique too.

But, DO NOT waste your money on one of the cheap Testors airbrushes.

HTH, and hope it makes sense too!

Tim D.

http://modelcartech.com

as I sayd, this airbrush can be ok to make interior and under side of the car. but not the main body.

Originally posted by Vric
as I sayd, this airbrush can be ok to make interior and under side of the car. but not the main body.

Why's that? Browse the forum and you'll see a LOT of examples of models that had been airbrushed.

Originally posted by ales


Why's that? Browse the forum and you'll see a LOT of examples of models that had been airbrushed.

Airbrushing is ok to paint the body, but not with economical external mix airbrush! From my personal experience: "Buying a quality internal mixing airbrush is saving money, buying a cheap external mixing airbrush is wasting money!!!"

Check this airbrush out, you can spray 0.3mm lines with it:

http://www.hlj.com/cgi-perl/hljpage.cgi?GNZPS-269

Originally posted by ales


Why's that? Browse the forum and you'll see a LOT of examples of models that had been airbrushed.

I talk about cheap airbrush

Originally posted by mech0t0


Airbrushing is ok to paint the body, but not with economical external mix airbrush! From my personal experience: "Buying a quality internal mixing airbrush is saving money, buying a cheap external mixing airbrush is wasting money!!!"

Check this airbrush out, you can spray 0.3mm lines with it:

http://www.hlj.com/cgi-perl/hljpage.cgi?GNZPS-269

this is a nice airbrush, but quite expensive

Testor (since he show us a Testor) make a good airbrush at about 100$CDN (60$ or 70$US)

Mine was 50$CND... quite cheap, but ok for body.. but since a couple of month, it start to paint junk and make unperfect job, so I use it only for interior now (maybe a bad cleaning)

anyway, for about 60$US, you have something really great that you will be able to get good result for body.. sure it won't make very very thin line, but for painting body it's ok.

but 60$ airbrush, 100$ compressor.. that a lot of tamiya paint !

Originally posted by Vric


this is a nice airbrush, but quite expensive

Testor (since he show us a Testor) make a good airbrush at about 100$CDN (60$ or 70$US)

Mine was 50$CND... quite cheap, but ok for body.. but since a couple of month, it start to paint junk and make unperfect job, so I use it only for interior now (maybe a bad cleaning)

anyway, for about 60$US, you have something really great that you will be able to get good result for body.. sure it won't make very very thin line, but for painting body it's ok.

but 60$ airbrush, 100$ compressor.. that a lot of tamiya paint ! :ylsuper: :iagree: Very true! I brought my first airbrush few years ago. The price was cheap, the preformance was cheap, that airbrush make me felt so cheap! I figured that: what you paid is what you get!

Now, I have this one:http://www.hlj.com/cgi-perl/hljpage.cgi?GNZPS-266 :biggrin:, I find this airbrush can do alot more than what I needed. Maybe a $60USD airbrush is really what I needed:confused: :confused: :confused:

this would be my first airbrush would it be ok?

http://www.hlj.com/cgi-perl/hljpage.cgi?GNZPS-268

Originally posted by magik_ninja_17
this would be my first airbrush would it be ok?

http://www.hlj.com/cgi-perl/hljpage.cgi?GNZPS-268

Personally, I think that while the airbrush seems geenerally OK, for that price you could be able to find something better. Also a 0.4 mm nozzle is too fine for car bodies, in the humblest opinion of mine.

whuts a good one then in or around that price? i am new at this. not at building models i have done a few of them just always used spray can paint(and got some first places). but i wanna try airbrush.

I use spray cans and i think the finishs are WOnderful!!!! not convince? check out the Modelling GOD... P-man's models for example... he use spray cans!!

what do people think about the tamyia spray-work kit?

Originally posted by magik_ninja_17
whuts a good one then in or around that price? i am new at this. not at building models i have done a few of them just always used spray can paint(and got some first places). but i wanna try airbrush.

i also want the airbrush for alcad so i can chrome stuff when i want becouse i have been looking at getting some resin kits and all have non chrom bumpers and things

Not sure what to recommend you as I don't know what's available where you live...

Look through the relevant threads over here (http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/search.php?s=&action=showresults&searchid=213793&sortby=lastpost&sortorder=descending). Hope this helps.

are the PAASCHE VL DUAL ok?

any one?:frown:

i suggest you try a badger 200