Advise for purchasing Tamiya Airbrush

Hey guys,

I'm getting back into car modelling after a year lay off, and I am looking to purchase my first airbrush, and my budget is around $200-250. I am a slow builder and a casual modeller. I use exclusively Tamiya acrylic jar paints for brush painting small to medium size parts, and Tamiya lacquers for larger areas; I wish to replace brush painting with airbrushing. I spray my car bodies and very large areas (such as a chassis) with Tamiya lacquers, therefore I need an airbrush capable of handling everything else. I am a beginner and an out of the box modeller, I will not be spraying anything like alclad etc, just Tamiya acrylics.

Here is what i was considering purchasing from HLJ.com;

- Tamiya Spray-Work Compact Air Compressor.
http://www.hlj.com/product/TAM74533

- Tamiya Spray-Work HG Single Airbrush. (one of the 4 airbrushes Tamiya recommends for use with the compact air compressor)
http://www.hlj.com/product/TAM74519

So I am wondering;

Is this a suitable set up, and will I need to purchase any supplementary parts for it such as a "water trap" etc.?
Is the compact air compressor any good?
I live in Canada, will the AC adapter be compatible with our outlets?
What type of shipping cost will I be looking at?

Thank you very much in advance to any who responds as I realize this is a complex question.

Thanks,
mgt

I can comment on the airbrush as I have had the same one for nearly 5 years. It works well for Tamiya acrylics, in fact it's about all I use in it, or sometimes Vallejo Model Air colours. It can spray a reasonably fine line and by turning the needle out at the back of the brush it will spray wider for larger areas. Simple to use and more importantly, simple to clean. Good quality construction, built to last. Never had any real problems with mine, although it sometimes blocks when unused for long periods of time and I haven't cleaned it out properly after the last spraying session. Usually a good 'deep' clean restores it back to normal service...
The compressor you listed looks a fairly simple affair. 3 Litres per minute air output isn't much.. You may find yourself waiting for the air to build up while you are spraying, as the airbrush will use it faster than the compressor can make it. I made that mistake when I bought my first compressor and whilst it's not bad at first it becomes more and more frustrating as time goes on. In the end I upgraded to a better one with good power and a moisture trap. Best purchase I ever made and it's still going strong after 19 years..!!

I use two Tamiya AB - HG and HG-SF nad can recommend them very, very much. Top quality (like Iwata), easy to use with acrylics, laquers and enamels.

I had single AB as my first one. Good quality but single airbrush is much less versatile than double one.

I have Gunze and Iwata as well I would rate them the same in terms of craftmanship and performance quality.

As for compressor I would buy a piston one with pressure regulator. I use Iwata Power Jet Lite and it was a great choice!

I had single AB as my first one. Good quality but single airbrush is much less versatile than double one.


My first airbrush was dual-action .... the only problem I had was when painting the larger parts such as the body.... I found it difficult to control the flow of paint and started developing hand cramps.

The dual action certainly has its place when it comes to fine detail of course... but for painting larger bodies it doesn't work out too well for me....

I decided to also buy a single action airbrush and found it to be a lot less taxing on my hand, it also helped that the product was always coming out at a constant rate unlike the dual action where my fingers would constantly move.

Anyone else have this issue?

I am suprised with your opinion about single airbrush. I would never go back to single one due to lack of any air control.
Tamiya HG/HG-SF has preset handle which allows to set desired amount of paint sprayed.

I am suprised with your opinion about single airbrush. I would never go back to single one due to lack of any air control.
Tamiya HG/HG-SF has preset handle which allows to set desired amount of paint sprayed.

I agree with Macio... I use the Tamiya HG Wide trigger (double action) as well as my single action and I find it very comfortable to hold in the hand. It does have the facility to set the trigger so that the spray pattern is at a set width, but I never use that feature. I think you just get a 'feel for it...

I am suprised with your opinion about single airbrush. I would never go back to single one due to lack of any air control.
Tamiya HG/HG-SF has preset handle which allows to set desired amount of paint sprayed.

Well I suppose I must be holding the airbrush incorrectly, I get cramp in my hand because my finger is pressing the pin down to release air pressure and then pulling the pin halfway or full depending on how much product I want to go through.

The problem is that I cant keep my hand in this position for long, (cramp) and so my fingers loose control over how far back the trigger/pin is producing uneven paint.

I find dual action perfect for small parts and touchups but that's down to the fact that I don't have to paint those areas for long enough to endure cramp.

I'm determined to practice with it once more since you guys seem to be getting on well with dual action.... I have some parts that need priming so tonight will be the perfect opportunity.

The Tamiya airbrushes are very good and I am sure you can buy with confidence (apparently they are made for Tamiya by Iwata which would explain a lot ;) )

However, I seriously recommend that you give that compressor a miss! I have a Tamiya mini compressor and it's basically ..... sh*t :( not enough pressure by far!

Go for the Iwata Macio suggests of you can afford it or, even better if space and noise is not an issue, get a regular 24 litre workshop compressor similar to this (http://cgi.ebay.com/Craftsman-3gal-Air-Compressor-1-hp-Horizontal-Tank-C90_W0QQitemZ130355284389QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_Def aultDomain_0?hash=item1e59c7c9a5#ht_2805wt_941). Not very practical if you are modeling in your living room but if you have a workshop area then it's a very cool solution.

Well I suppose I must be holding the airbrush incorrectly, I get cramp in my hand because my finger is pressing the pin down to release air pressure and then pulling the pin halfway or full depending on how much product I want to go through.

The problem is that I cant keep my hand in this position for long, (cramp) and so my fingers loose control over how far back the trigger/pin is producing uneven paint.

I find dual action perfect for small parts and touchups but that's down to the fact that I don't have to paint those areas for long enough to endure cramp.

I'm determined to practice with it once more since you guys seem to be getting on well with dual action.... I have some parts that need priming so tonight will be the perfect opportunity.

I understand now your problem. I too don't get on with the normal double action with the button on the top. I find my fingers ache no matter how I hold it. I use the Tamiya HG Wide with the trigger not the button, it's so much more comfortable to use and no aching fingers..!!

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b61/stevenoble/037/tam74523.jpg

Thanks for all the replies and comments thus far!

If I had unlimited funds I would definately want to get the Tamiya HG "Trigger Type" Airbrush as shown by stevenoble, unfortunately it a little to pricey for me as it cost's nearly $200 on HLJ.com vs. the HG single action costing about $75. Also, dual action seems like it would require a fair bit of skill to use whereas a single action would produce a consistant flow/output, which is easy for a beginner like myself.

My main concern is that compact compressor, how weak is 3L/min? In terms of how much painting could I do before I would have to wait for pressure to be built up and how long what it take until I could begin painting again? And do I need the "moisture trap" or any other accessory?

Thanks very much,
mgt

My main concern is that compact compressor, how weak is 3L/min? In terms of how much painting could I do before I would have to wait for pressure to be built up and how long what it take until I could begin painting again? And do I need the "moisture trap" or any other accessory?

Thanks very much,
mgt

To put it into perspective, the one I bought all those years ago puts out about 24L/min. The 'newer' Iwata models produce 34L/min. One I was looking at recently as a replacement for mine when the time comes produces 50L/min...
I've never had to wait for my current one to 'catch up' so to speak, but my previous model that produced 6L/min I was always waiting, which becomes annoying after a while. You don't need all that extra power, but if you can get a good one from the start it will pay for itself long term. A lesser model will suffice for a while but you'll spend money again when you want to upgrade and trust me you will want to upgrade eventually.
Another alternative is to get a large cannister of Oxygen and use that for silent and constant pressure. All you need add is an air hose and regulator so that you can alter the spraying pressure, also a moisture trap as well would be a good idea. It will work out cheaper than a compressor and when it's empty you simply phone them up and they collect the empty one and bring another full one... Worth considering if you're on a budget..???

I understand now your problem. I too don't get on with the normal double action with the button on the top. I find my fingers ache no matter how I hold it. I use the Tamiya HG Wide with the trigger not the button, it's so much more comfortable to use and no aching fingers..!!

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b61/stevenoble/037/tam74523.jpg


Steve - finally someone who understands the problem I have been having!

That airbrush looks great...

I have the following kit:

Iwata CR Airbrush
Iwata SAR Airbrush
Iwata SmartJet Compressor

http://www.artsupply.com/airbrush/iwata/iwata%20images/airbrushes/iwata%20revolution%20CR.jpg

http://cdn.dickblick.com/items/250/54/25054-1040-2-2ww-m.jpg

http://www.colinharbut.com/art-supplies/Iwata-Smart-Jet-Pro-Studio-Compressor.jpg

I have seen some Iwata airbrushes with triggers, I'm guessing it isn't possible to find some sort of attachment.... I guess I could buy the Tamiya one?

There's already an Iwata like what you have with the trigger system. It's not cheap but it's a real beauty. Something I'd look at if the Tamiya breaks, as spare parts are a lot easier to obtain on the Iwata in the UK instead of ordering from Japan...

Iwata Revolution TR2 (https://airbrushes.com/product_info.php?cPath=1_9_46&products_id=1851)

I'm also a happy user of Tamiya HG trigger type for quite some time, and my compressor starts to act up before my finger gets tired. I can use it that long without any problem.

>>mgt
I checked Amazon Japan's reviews, and it seems that the noise is the most common complaint for the Tamiya Compact Compressor, but the performance seems okay (for the size and price). A Japanese blogger says that it's adequate for small parts, but not so for a large surface.

I just used Hobby World Japan's shipping estimator, and it says roughly 3200 (EMS) or 1580 (SAL) yen to send those two items to Houston, TX. I'm sure the estimate will be close for Canada.
HW offers 6% off discount, plus 5% credit (742 yen can be used for your next shopping at HWJapan), so you'll save more than a few hundred yen at HWJapan.

Thanks very much guys! very informative and much appreciated!

I was also thinking of grabbing a new pair of tweezers with this order for masking tight spots, decals, handling small parts etc., and I see there are like 5 types offered on HLJ;

Straight Tweezers - http://www.hlj.com/product/TAM74004
Angled Tweezers - http://www.hlj.com/product/TAM74003
HG Straight Tweezers - http://www.hlj.com/product/TAM74048
HG Angled Tweezers - http://www.hlj.com/product/TAM74047
Tweezers for Decal - http://www.hlj.com/product/TAM74052

Any recommendations/opinions/differences between any of these?

All are excellent tweezers. One pair won't do every job. I'd go for a pair of straight, pair of angled and the decal tweezers are also worth their weight in gold...

So hard to choose, damn budget restraints!

Check http://www.aswexpress.com/ or ebay for good prices. 200$ for Tamiya is far too much.
You can buy trigger type by Gunze as well

If budget is tight I would go for Iwata Revolution which costs about as Tamiya single but I probably be more versatile. It is double with 0.5 mm nozzle.

Painting cars is more about large surfaces than details. I mean that you easily paint tiny detail with large nozzle but painting car body with the narrow one seems more pita :)

I would strongly recommend to buy even a cheapy-cheap Chinese piston type compressor than Tamiya's with membrane.

Stevenoble is right!
Go for HG tweezers - they are great. I use them all the time as well as decal ones.

Check etamiya.com for fair prices.

As for budget: If you buy good quality tools they will last otherwise you will spend more in long time for the replacements.

DO NOT buy a single action airbrush.

Get a dual action gravity feed model.

The Iwata Revolution CR is about as good an airbrush as you can buy for modeling. It is also very affordable. Try shopping at an art supply site instead of a hobby site. I have purchased airbrushes from both Chicago Airbrush (http://www.chicagoairbrushsupply.com/iwrecr.html) and from Dixie Art (http://www.dixieart.com/Iwata_Revolution_Airbrushes.html)- I can recommend both. They are also great places to shop for compressors, and they may offer you free shipping.

Tamiya rebrands Iwata airbrushes. Having used both, I prefer and recommend the Iwata.

Painting cars is more about large surfaces than details. I mean that you easily paint tiny detail with large nozzle but painting car body with the narrow one seems more pita :)

I would strongly recommend to buy even a cheapy-cheap Chinese piston type compressor than Tamiya's with membrane.
Amen!

I was also thinking of grabbing a new pair of tweezers with this order for masking tight spots, decals, handling small parts etc., and I see there are like 5 types offered on HLJ;

Straight Tweezers - http://www.hlj.com/product/TAM74004
Angled Tweezers - http://www.hlj.com/product/TAM74003
HG Straight Tweezers - http://www.hlj.com/product/TAM74048
HG Angled Tweezers - http://www.hlj.com/product/TAM74047
Tweezers for Decal - http://www.hlj.com/product/TAM74052

Any recommendations/opinions/differences between any of these?

I'm sure they are excellent tools but the price is crazy. You can find quality tweezers for half the cost. Look at Squadron or Mascot tools.

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXFP44&P=7

http://www.amazon.com/Mascot-Precision-Tools-Pointed-Tweezers/dp/B0006O998Y/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&s=toys-and-games&qid=1262795002&sr=1-12

Both are as good as Tamiya tweezers but cost less than half. I love Tamiya but sometimes your just paying for the name.

I will throw my two cents into the mix here. I do a fair amont of airbrushing and I have used Badger, astek and Iwata. Think of it as a tool, you can buy cheap tools and qualty tools. Since you will use this for many years go with quality. Quality does not equate to price, but..
I personally like Iwata, excelent quality, but not cheap. You will eventually need more than one, but I would look at a good general gravity fed double action. Go down to your nearest art/ model store and take a look. You could easily drop $500 on an airbrush and comp. On the comp, take a look at the sprint jet from iwata, very nice abd extremely quiet when the pump is going.

Ok you guys have convinced me to go with Iwata! I'm sold on the Iwata Revolution CR, now its just a matter of compressors; I've looked into all the websites suggested and Amazon.com, what do you guys think of this offering from Chicago Airbrush Supply;

- For $194.95, I get any Iwata Revolution airbrush (AR, BCR, BR, or CR) and the new Iwata Ninja Jet compressor (would I need to purchase any other accessories with this setup?); http://www.chicagoairbrushsupply.com/iwnijetco.html

The Sprint Jet looks awesome, but the cheapest I could find it for is $185, if I can get free shipping I might just be able to get it, otherwise it will be to expensive. I'm also looking at the Silver Jet, but I think the Ninja Jet is equally as strong but quieter at the same time judging by the specs provided. Let me know what you guys think, and thanks again for the very thorough responses this has helped me greatly!!

Thanks,
mgt

I might just go with the Sprint Jet, for an extra $50 it offers a world of benefit, such as double the PSI, zero maintenance, etc.

- For $249 I get any Iwata Revolution airbrush (AR, BCR, BR, or CR) and the Sprint Jet; http://www.chicagoairbrushsupply.com/iwre.html

DO NOT buy a single action airbrush.

Get a dual action gravity feed model.

The Iwata Revolution CR is about as good an airbrush as you can buy for modeling. It is also very affordable. Try shopping at an art supply site instead of a hobby site. I have purchased airbrushes from both Chicago Airbrush (http://www.chicagoairbrushsupply.com/iwrecr.html) and from Dixie Art (http://www.dixieart.com/Iwata_Revolution_Airbrushes.html)- I can recommend both. They are also great places to shop for compressors, and they may offer you free shipping.

Tamiya rebrands Iwata airbrushes. Having used both, I prefer and recommend the Iwata.

Have you been able to paint a whole body using the CR without getting cramp? .... its a great airbrush I agree, so much flexibility and control and a great price, I just can't seem to hold it for long.

Have you been able to paint a whole body using the CR without getting cramp?
Yep. Every time. And never got a cramp.

You do know it's OK to stop airflow during the painting process while you turn the model around etc.? The only important thing is to not stop/start paintflow over the part.

This is only a guestimate on my part, but I'd say I rarely have the trigger fully depressed and drawn back for more than 60 or so seconds at any one time.

DO NOT buy a single action airbrush.

Get a dual action gravity feed model.

The Iwata Revolution CR is about as good an airbrush as you can buy for modeling. It is also very affordable. Try shopping at an art supply site instead of a hobby site. I have purchased airbrushes from both Chicago Airbrush (http://www.chicagoairbrushsupply.com/iwrecr.html) and from Dixie Art (http://www.dixieart.com/Iwata_Revolution_Airbrushes.html)- I can recommend both. They are also great places to shop for compressors, and they may offer you free shipping.

Tamiya rebrands Iwata airbrushes. Having used both, I prefer and recommend the Iwata.

I've used Dixie Art too and thoroughly recommend them. Very professional people with fast & cheap delivery to Europe.

If you don't get cramp when spaying, then someone else must be doing it for you :-)

I think hand cramp is just one of those things that goes along with life. Like chips and dip. Personally I have seen and heard the Sprint Jet and was very impressed.

I was also thinking of grabbing a new pair of tweezers with this order for masking tight spots, decals, handling small parts etc., and I see there are like 5 types offered on HLJ;

Straight Tweezers - http://www.hlj.com/product/TAM74004
Angled Tweezers - http://www.hlj.com/product/TAM74003
HG Straight Tweezers - http://www.hlj.com/product/TAM74048
HG Angled Tweezers - http://www.hlj.com/product/TAM74047
Tweezers for Decal - http://www.hlj.com/product/TAM74052

Any recommendations/opinions/differences between any of these?
My favorite is a pelco mini flat tweezer (see link below) which is perfect for all the tasks mentioned above, especially decals. It is thin enough that you can actually lift a decal off the model (if it has not dried yet) and reposition it if necessary.

http://www.tedpella.com/tweezers-pelco_html/twzr-pelco-mini.htm

here's a picture comparing it to other tweezers I have which don't get much use since I bought the pelco.
http://i920.photobucket.com/albums/ad43/naka99/DSC00860.jpg

Those tweezers look great, pricey though, nearly 20 bucks each + shipping, although I really need something to replace the tweezers I pulled out of my swiss army knife!

If you don't get cramp when spaying, then someone else must be doing it for you :-)


Ok so its normal?

I'll just have to wait for an Iwata Trigger airbrush then.

Ok guys so I finally made my purchase yesterday from Chicago Airbrush Supply!
Here's what I ended up getting (the guy managed to up-sell me on some cleaning supplies though haha):

1. Iwata Revolution CR Airbrush + Sprint Jet Compressor: http://www.chicagoairbrushsupply.com/iwre.html

2. Mack Airbrush Cleaning Kit: http://www.chicagoairbrushsupply.com/maaiclkit.html

3. 32oz bottle of Createx OR Medea Airbrush Cleaner solution (not sure which they are sending me, the guy on the phone suggested I add "cleaning solution" to my package, and these are the two they offer on the website): http://www.chicagoairbrushsupply.com/craicl.html
OR
http://www.chicagoairbrushsupply.com/meaicl.html

Im going to call and find out which solution they are sending, which one should I go with?

Instead of the cleaning kit, I would recommend you get a cleaning station (http://www.chicagoairbrushsupply.com/iwtaclst.html). Having a container to spray cleaning solution into is fantastic.

To clean my airbrushes, I use spray bottles of cleaner and Qtips. I think they would do as well as the cleaning kit.

I believe the cleaning solution they are selling is intended for the inks that many graphics artists use in airbrushes. It may not work well with hobby paint. If you will be spraying hobby acrylics (Tamiya or MM Acryl), a spray bottle of household cleaner like Windex or Simple Green is fantastic. if you're going to be using lacquer, any cleaning solution other than lacquer thinner will be useless. So I'm not sure that a liter of cleaning solution would be worth ordering.