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HArder & Steenbeck Air Brushe recommendations


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I have Badger 150 which I mainly use, but I also have a H&S Evolution for my finer work. I'm still getting to know it, but it is a nice airbrush. It's solidly built, with a big needle so it doesn't bend easily, has a small cup (5ml) and is availiable with an adjustable needle so you never spray to much. On the down side, it's a bit fiddly to clean.

Go here for more info.

Hope this helps.

David.

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I have both the H&S Evolution Silverline and the Infinity. Both brushes share needles and color cups, the Evolution tips will also fit the Infinity. I find both to be easier to clean then the Iwata HP-C I was using before. No special tools are required for disassembly, the needle can be pulled out from the front.

I would recommend either of these if you are looking for a H&S brush. I would also suggest you look into the 2-in-1 combos that can include different sized color cups and needle/tip combinations. A larger cup and 0.4mm needle/tip will work for general larger area painting and the smaller cup with a 0.2mm needle/tip will work for finer stuff. If you want to freehand 1/72 Luftwaffe mottle camouflage, then the 0.15 needle tip works well, but it is too small for anything more than detail work.

I disagree with Mossieramm with regards to the needle. Both the 0.2mm and 0.15mm needles have extremely fine tapers at the tip and are very easy to damage if you aren't careful. The 0.4mm needle has less taper and is more robust.

If you are in the USA, a good source is: http://precisiongermanairbrush.com/ shipping may get more complicated going to Canada.

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I didn't mean the taper, this is indeed very fine on the 0.15mm and are easily damaged if you are not careful.

I have the 0.15mm needle in the Evolution and was it comparing to the needle I have in my Badger and found the H&S needle is more robust.

David.

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Can I do Fine work with thier .4mm tips. I am mainly a 1/48 modeler. I want to be able to do Luftwaffe mottling and squiggles, TPS touch ups on modern fast jets as well as pre-shading and post shading on 1/48 and 1/72. Or should I get a .4 mm tipped AB?

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Can I do Fine work with thier .4mm tips. I am mainly a 1/48 modeler. I want to be able to do Luftwaffe mottling and squiggles, TPS touch ups on modern fast jets as well as pre-shading and post shading on 1/48 and 1/72. Or should I get a .4 mm tipped AB?

Get a 2-in-1 with 0.4mm and 0.2mm needle/tips. You would probably be disappointed if you only got the 0.4mm set-up. I know I could not do any fine work in 1/72 with it. Likewise, if you were doing a 1/48 sized model, trying to do an overall color with the 0.2mm tip would take forever (or at least seem like it).

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I normally reccomend either the Ecolution fPc two in one or the Infinity for details work.

Both have the fine 0.15mm needle/nozzle/head and 2ml paint cup.

The larger 0.2mm will go down to about 1mm width, the 0.15mm to hairline.

The Evo fPc also has the H&S fPc valve (AKA MAC valve or secondary air regulator), on the valve stem and a manual needle stop that is useful in detailed work.

It also has the larger 5ml paint cup and 0.4mm needle/nozzle/head set for larger areas.

The Infinity Solo has an upgraded needle stop. Unlike the manual screw threaded stops the internal mechinism can be pushed forwards to stop the needle, the retracted when not needed, but keeping the stop setting for future use. It also has a different head than the Evo which is supposed to have a better atomisation. It does not have an fPc valve as standard (H&S tell me there is no demand for it), but this can be fitted as a combo quick release/mac valve for a small price.

Both of these brushes are in the same price band, for a little more the other one worth looking at is the Infinity two in one which is the solo, plus the 5ml paint cup and the 0.4mm needle/nozzle and head. So like the Evo fPc can tackle fine detail and general work.

For finer detail work a lot of people buy the H&S micro cup. This is a small paint cup that replaces the 2ml cup. It allows about 0.5ml of paint and gives a good view of the end of the head.

They are available from any H&S dealer, I have the full specs listed in my airbrush & compressor catalogue: little-cars.co.uk/airbrushes

Paul

little-cars.com

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Thanks Guys.

I might add that I am happy with my Crescendo for general work. I am just looking for something to use for the finer stuff. Having looked at the sets online, there isnt much of a price difference stepping up to the 2 in 1 sets.

If you are looking just for a fine detail only brush the Infinity Solo would be the route I'd go down.

If you decide to use it for everything later on, you can always buy the larger paint cup and needle/nozzle/head set, there is space in the case for them.

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If you are looking just for a fine detail only brush the Infinity Solo would be the route I'd go down.

If you decide to use it for everything later on, you can always buy the larger paint cup and needle/nozzle/head set, there is space in the case for them.

Thanks, I think thats what Ill do.

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Can I do Fine work with thier .4mm tips. I am mainly a 1/48 modeler. I want to be able to do Luftwaffe mottling and squiggles, TPS touch ups on modern fast jets as well as pre-shading and post shading on 1/48 and 1/72. Or should I get a .4 mm tipped AB?

Not really, I have an infinity and I have issues with the .4 needle "spitting" because the paint leaks out from the tip and leaves a drop of paint that spits the next time I use it. I have the .15 needle, .2 needle, the .4 needle and the next one up (.6 I think?) and find that it sprays really well with the .2 needle with Tamiya paint. I've find that the .15 needle is a little bit too small for normal hobby paint.

The needles are very robust in relation to other brands...I was replacing my Iwata needles every 6 months, and I've had my Evolution for 2 years and I haven't damaged the needles yet. The .15 is fragile, but I've been able to fix it then it does get bent.

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Probably worth saying, H&S don't come as standard with cup tops, and if you're as cursed as I it's worth investing the extra for them/it :thumbsup: Also there is an H&S cleaning tool like a tiny reamer with a quarter section cut out, that is way useful for sorting the nozzles (in addition to whatever else you use: guitar string, in my case.)

Have an Evolution 0.15/0.2 and love it. Great quality tool. Would love to comment on the (infinity) but mine is too pretty to actually spray paint through...

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Ok....this thread has gone on long enough without some airbrush pRon :thumbsup:

IMG_1540.jpg

The tool Patrick mentions is in the top-left of the photo. It saved my butt as mine was clogging/spitting when I first got it and almost

gave up on it. I finally held the nozzle up to a bright light one time and there was no light coming through at all. Turns out my dusty

cat-hairy basement and the fine tolerances of an H&S work against each other. But knowing that now I use the little reamer tool almost

every time I take out the brush....or I at least do the 'light test" ...saves a lot of headaches

Sorry about the focus on that shot...it's a little soft. Was just getting used to my D80 at the time.

The best supplier in North America is www.precisiongermanairbrush.com . He supplies brushes and parts, takes PayPal and has even

refunded me on shipping when his ordering system does not combine shipping charges automatically.

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Probably worth saying, H&S don't come as standard with cup tops, and if you're as cursed as I it's worth investing the extra for them/it :coolio: Also there is an H&S cleaning tool like a tiny reamer with a quarter section cut out, that is way useful for sorting the nozzles (in addition to whatever else you use: guitar string, in my case.)

Have an Evolution 0.15/0.2 and love it. Great quality tool. Would love to comment on the (infinity) but mine is too pretty to actually spray paint through...

H&S's main market is Graphic artest, so the brushes are packaged up to meed the demand of the main market.

I've asked them if they can produce the infinity with the fPc valve as a lot of modellers have asked for them, but they are unwilling to offer this as a standard build as the demand isn't there from the Graphic's market.

Lid's aren't that bad a price £5 each, people only generally buy them if they need them, often only for the 2ml cup.

The metal reamer is a good piece of kit is you need it, but you do have to be careful not to damage the nozzle.

The cleaning brushes are also worth mentioning, great for H&S and other brushes.

Note the other tools in Jeffs photo are the distance cap that allows you to draw fine lines with the brush vertical.

The small pole is to loosen the centre of the brush to allow full disassembly.

Paul

little-cars.com

Edited by little-cars
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