First off Macca with the
airbrush their are decisions to make.
There are different types of
airbrush.
1. Single stage. This you just push down the trigger & the paint comes out generally there is no adjustment to your paint flowing through the
airbrush.
2. Dual or two stage
airbrush. You push down the trigger & all you get is air. Pull back the trigger & paint flows. However you have complete charge of how much paint flows in proportion to the amount the trigger is pulled back.
Some will say start with a Single stage. My advice & I started with single stage go for Dual it takes very little time to acquire the basic skill of using it.
I went for a Harder & Steenbeck dual stage which you can swop needles/nozzle sizes. I use mostly a .2mm needle nozzle that is for so far 1/72 & 1/48 models. This is my experience as I have not used other airbrushes (except a single stage other manufacturers brush horrible) & I am sure that are a number of good airbrushes. Best to search & read others experiences on this one.
Compressors.
I had originally a compressor with an air tank which had a fault & I then bought a compressor with out a tank. The tank ones are about twice the cost of the tankless. If you are going to spend a good part of your day airbrushing you need a tank. If like most model makers you are using the
airbrush intermitently then you do not need a tank. But you need in each case a piston oil less type compressor.
Both types do the same job no difference in finish which I have gained from experience of both. But with the tankless compressor the motor will run all the time you are airbrushing. With the Tank type the motor runs only when it is topping up the tank. If you are using the compressor for long periods the tankless motor will run hot & its life will be shortened. If you are running this type intermittently the motor has time to cool down. If you are building a 1/48 aircraft which I am I doubt that I have used the
airbrush more than one hour during that time if that & that in probably 10 sessions.
Get a compressor with a water trap attached & also a water trap in the feed line to the
airbrush. I am catching water in both of them. Also get a feedline with a quick release for the
airbrush. This facilitates cleaning ie you can take the
airbrush to a sink to give it a good clean. Also you need a comprssor with an adjustable airflow.
Also best to get a liquid
airbrush cleaner by the manufacturer of the paints you are using. Imperative a reamer to clean out the nozzle & a set of brushes & a set of cleaning picks.
Then spend hours practising on empty plastic water bottles.
Laurie I now need a cup of tea !