Reviews and Comparisons – Page 3

After putting all the time and effort into creating a wonderful 3D print it would be a shame to leave it bland. We all want beautiful 3D prints but we don't all have the right tools for the job. Old-style paint brushes get the job done, but they just aren't as efficient or exciting as Airbrushes. We've all been there. We put hours of work perfecting our CAD skills and our understanding of our 3D printers to achieve a print that is near perfection. What's holding it back? Well, it's bland. Even if you have a fancy multi-extruder 3D printer it's still difficult to achieve the look you really want. What more do you have to master to achieve the results you want? The answer is painting. We've already written an article about how to paint your PLA and ABS prints. I'm not saying we are Steve jobs, but his desire to place so much emphasis on ensuring that a finished product was not just functional, but also aesthetically pleasing to its users is truly admirable. Without the right tools, painting can be a difficult and painful process. With the right tools; however, painting can become a truly enjoyable endeavor. I know you've been searching for tips on how to create the best end results. I know you've seen some truly spectacular jobs completed by airbrushing. As a beginner choosing the right airbrush can be a daunting challenge. What is the best airbrush for painting 3D models and miniatures for a beginner? For me, hands down, it's the NEO CN Gravity Feed Dual Action Airbrush. I know I'm not you, and there are other options out there. Let me first walk you through some of the things you need to consider before buying an airbrush, and second show you some of the best offerings out there. Understanding the Issues Facing You In order to find the right airbrush for you, you must acquire an understanding of how an airbrush works and what features are most important. Knowing what specs determine how much control you can exercise over your airbrush is critical. Doubly so if you are planning any detail work. An airbrush works by passing a stream of compressed air through a venturi which creates suction. The suction pulls the paint from an interconnected reservoir, forces it down the barrel of the airbrush, and sprays it out the nozzle. Three major factors to consider when purchasing an Airbrush are: Trigger: Using a variable trigger you are able to control the amount of paint the airbrush blows out. There are three types of triggers—dual action, single action and Trigger action—for you to choose from. While there are three to think about, I recommend you start with a dual action to get the best control. Mixing Technique: When choosing an airbrush, you will also have to decide the best mixing technique—internal or external. This determines the way the spray looks when it hits the surface of your 3D model or miniature. Feed Type: Feed type determines how economical you can be with your paint and the responsiveness of your airbrush. So here you have the major issues or parameters you must consider before choosing a particular airbrush. Daunting isn’t it? No worries. That's why I'm here. Not only will I tell you the best airbrushes for beginners, but I will explain the methodology behind my decisions. Our Criteria for Choosing the Best Beginner Airbrushes Now it’s time to take into account the different criteria and create a methodology to judge airbrushes by. Trigger type: Dual Action - Offers the best control. Mix Type: Internal - More consistent and even results. Feed Type: Gravity - Finer detail and more efficient at the cost of a "large" reservoir. Don't forget ease of use. The primary difference between a beginner airbrush and a professional one is the level of control. Most problems you'll have with your airbrush are going to be user error. The best beginner airbrushes, therefore, are more forgiving while still providing high-level results. Below is a spec rundown of some great airbrushes, and the pros and cons for each. I always strive to find both pros and cons because you deserve to know exactly what you are getting into. NOTE: Many of the problems people have run into with their airbrushes are not due to the airbrush. For example, a consistently clogging airbrush might have a bad line design. More likely a user is not regulating the paint mixture/flow appropriately. Keep this in mind as you read reviews to get a true understanding of the quality of an airbrush. The Top 3 Airbrushes for Beginners Painting 3D Models and Miniatures You now have the criteria that powered my search for the best airbrushes. I now welcome you to the main course of the day; the top 3 airbrushes you should consider purchasing. NEO CN Gravity Feed Dual Action Airbrush— kick-starting the list, is a very reliable dual action airbrush which will ease you comfortably into the task of working with your first airbrush. Using the criteria outlined above to review this airbrush from the NEO series, we have: Trigger: as its name aptly suggests, the NEO CN is a dual action airbrush which provides you with the best control and most options. Mix Type: Internal mix—which introduces your paint into the center of the air stream—thereby providing you with a consistent supply of evenly distributed paint. Since you are working on 3D models and miniatures, its’ even spray ensures you do not have to mop up drips from your model. Feed Type: This airbrush makes use of the gravity feed-technique which is the most economical choice you could make. Pros: An easy to use airbrush which gives beginners a real-time feel of how a dual action airbrush works. The NEO is quite affordable and provides you with a low entry point financially into the world of airbrushes. It fits into your hands and feels well-balanced which in turn helps you control it to the best of your abilities. Cons: Airflow problems sometimes occur due to clogging and this affects the quality of its spray. Its nozzle is susceptible to bending if the airbrush isn’t carefully stored. Its parts are susceptible to wearing out if used extensively for approximately 6 months or more. Verdict: Best value for the price. This airbrush has an easy learning curve but will continue to improve alongside your skills. Iwata-medea produced the NEO CN with beginners like you in mind. It is comfortable and economic curtailing waste as you begin your airbrushing career. Master Multi-master Performance Airbrush G233 — The G233 is a versatile multi-purpose airbrush designed for easy use and the painting of just about anything you can get your hands on, including plastic models. It also happens to be one of the best beginner airbrushes as its review will show. Trigger: The Master G233 makes use of the dual action option which provides you with all the necessary tools to paint with precision. The ability to control the air pressure and quantity of paint sprayed means you have power over its coverage area and the level of detail it produces. Mix Type: The internal mix system and the economy it induces in its user make it a good choice for beginners. The Master G233 incorporates this thereby tempering your exuberance to paint with some practicality. Its nozzle size ranges from 0.2, 0.3 to 0.5 mm. For small models and miniatures, I recommend the 0.2/0.3 mm nozzle. Feed Type: Gravity fed. As stated earlier, the use of gravity as a means to drive paint to the airbrush’s nozzle provides beginners with more management skills. And the Master G233 makes use of this feed technique to eliminate waste. Pros: A versatile airbrush that gives you your first feel of using one The G233 is easy to clean as long as you follow the provided instructions on handling its protection covers and using the right solvents. At approximately $26, you will be getting a bargain airbrush to carry out a test run of the multiple settings that are needed to achieve the results you desire. Cons: The G233 airbrush clogs quite frequently due to the thickness of your paint. Therefore, working with thinner mixtures is advised. The tip protection cover must be handled with care if not you could end up with a broken airbrush within a few weeks. It is susceptible to wear and tear because affordability trumped material quality in production. Verdict: Solid entry level brush that will get you started right. The Master airbrush G233 is obviously a good choice for beginners due to the versatility it provides and its affordability but might wear out faster than it's counterparts. GotHobby 0.3mm Airbrush —here we have a reasonable airbrush for beginners who are interested in dipping their toe into airbrushing but aren't sure if it's the right direction yet. Using our Criteria to review this we have: Trigger: This is a dual action airbrush that gives you absolute control of both the paint sprayed and the air pressure needed to determine its spray pattern. Mix Type: The GotHobby makes use of the internal mix process and a 0.3 mm nozzle which ensures some practicality when you use it as a first-timer. Feed Type: It is a gravity feed airbrush which liberates you in terms of managing the amount of paint you have Pros: Here again, we have a functional airbrush, good for beginners looking to learn how to use one on a budget. It handles both acrylic and lacquer paints really well once you get the right mix of water that ensures your paint is not too thick. Cons: The thinness of its nozzle means it is susceptible to breaks. It also gets clogged with paint which means you will need to clean it out on a regular basis. Verdict: Buying this brush is an affordability price. Does it do the job? Yes. Will it blow your mind? Unlikely. It's on the list because not everybody is sure they want to really dive into airbrushing. If you are on the fence this gives you a good feel for the results you can get without breaking your bank. Seeing Any Patterns? Now that you've gone through our list of the best airbrushes I know you've noticed a pattern. We already talked about it in the methodology section, but I think it bears repeating. This pattern obviously highlights the fact that the best options for beginners are airbrushes that combine; an internal mixing process with a dual action trigger and a gravity feeding technique for accessing paint. They are also pocket-friendly tools to get you started with using an airbrush. Therefore, choosing one of the above allows you paint in fine details as well as accelerate your airbrushing abilities. The first two options are the most likely to grow with you as an artist. What Else Should I Consider? It is also worth noting that having all the necessary tools at hand when working on any project simplifies the entire process. Having a complete airbrush kit can be compared to having a full toolbox set for mechanics or a complete LEGO set for builders and is therefore recommended for both beginners as well as professional airbrush users. The Top Airbrush Kits for Beginners The aim of every beginner is to become a master or at least quite proficient in whatever discipline. Having all the right tools is the first step to getting there. Here is where we start considering kits. You need to consider a kit for two simple reasons: It opens up your options. You get amazing versatility using the airbrushes we recommend above, but sometimes you achieve the best results with specialized equipment. Buying a kit lets you know the individual pieces you buy will work well together. To start your workstation right; consider these two amazing kits. Master Airbrush KIT-SP19 Art Airbrushing System — the KIT-SP19 produced by Master Airbrush is a complete system that comes with 11 of the most important items every painter will need when using an airbrush. The important items that would be a delight to have are: The Master Airbrush Model G22: this is also a dual action airbrush that uses a gravity feed and a 0.3mm nozzle which is attuned for carrying out very detailed work. It is a great alternative for beginners. Master Airbrush S68 Model: included in the kit, is a multi-purpose dual action airbrush that functions with a siphon feed-technique. It sports a slightly larger nozzle size –0.35 mm. Master Airbrush E91: the E91 is a single action, external mix airbrush that works with a siphon feed designed for painting larger surfaces as can be seen from its 0.8mm nozzle. Master Airbrush Air Compressor Model TC-20: Very importantly the kit comes with an air compressor, which most painters end up purchasing as a standalone unit as their skills progress. The compressor provides you with more pressurizing capacity and works with all three airbrushes included in the kit. Also added as further incentives to purchase the kit are a 4-inch mixing wheel, Art supplies—airbrush cleaner, paints etc.—air hose and other practical items. PointZero Airbrush Kit —The PointZero Kit also takes into consideration all your future airbrushing needs by providing the necessary tools to cater to them. This kit equips you well with 3 airbrushes, a professional grade compressor and a scattering of items for your workstation. Analysing these items, we have: A PointZero Dual Action Airbrush—in terms of features this airbrush closely mirrors those of the Master and NEO G series. It is a dual action, internal mix, gravity airbrush with a 0.33mm nozzle which makes it perfect for beginners. A PointZero 0.2 Airbrush—this is also a dual action, internal mix, gravity airbrush with a 0.2mm nozzle dedicated to handling really fine details. Broad Coverage Airbrush—the broad coverage airbrush is a single action, external mix, siphon jar airbrush with a 0.8mm nozzle for broad spraying tasks. Professional grade compressor, a paint kit and other items round out the PointZero airbrush kit. Conclusion Did my guide help you? I hope so. After reading all that you should have a pretty good idea of what airbrush is right for you. You are now one step closer to creating true masterworks with your 3D printer setup. Keep in mind I monetize through affiliate links. If you appreciated the content above please use the links I've provided and go purchase yourself a sweet airbrush. If you didn't... Don't. Once you've purchased your airbrush all you need to do is master it. Simple right?