Advice on airbrush kit needed (1 Viewer)

Hi

I am toying with the idea of incorporating an airbrush in my art, as a lot of my subjects are from photos I have taken where the background is out of or soft focused. So anyway

What should I look for in a kit - I will be using it in the house, so needs to be quiet(ish)

Also any one suggest a brand, ie Iwata, Badger etc or any others. Anyone had experience with these or other makes - ebay ones etc.

My budget is around £120 ish.

I use a Iwata one...a great airbrush to use , easy to strip down & clean...I mostly use acrylic paints..badger are also good airbrushes, if you need to buy a compressor, then you are a bit under budget.. this would probably be a good starter one to buy (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Neo-For-Iwata-Airbrush-gravity-feed-5-year-warranty-/380567914430?pt=UK_Crafts_DrawingSupplies_EH&hash=item589b9d87be)..mark.:t:

OK, looks good - so what else do i need, can you recommend any compressors (would stretched my budget to match)

How about these kits.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Compresso...Crafts_DrawingSupplies_EH&hash=item257d893388
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Compresso...Crafts_DrawingSupplies_EH&hash=item257d7669f2

I would consider these: http://www.germanairbrush.com/infinity126543.html

It is cheaper than Iwata, but works well. For silent compressor the best are those that are used for fridges. You need the compressor, pressurevalve and a pressure bottle and someone who can put these together. I have had one for 20 years and it still works fine and is very silent.

I have one of the Axminster compressors and have been very happy with it, though it rarely gets used nowadays.

Had a look at the German one, seemed more expensive from dealers in the UK, the freezer compressor idea isn't an option as I don't know anyone to cobble it together (but an interesting option for some that do).

Mary, found some Axminster compressors and they look ok - what model is yours - is it quiet(ish), what brush do you use with it.

Many thanks so far. On more research it seems I should look for a dual action, top feed. But this then leaves me another question, what if you want to change color and blend in the last color

Compressors - what features should these have

Many thanks.

Vic

Oops, Vic, I had a serious senior moment! It shows how long it is since I used the airbrush/compressor! I used to have an Axminster years ago, but then changed to one from http://www.everythingairbrush.com/index.html which I'm also very happy with! It's a mini-piston type something like the AB-AS18. I would think it's important to have one with an 'on-demand' air supply to give an even paint finish.

As for the airbrush, I also had that from the same place; it's a finespray gravity feed AB-130, and very good as long as you wash it out very well after use or the nozzle blocks. If you want to change colour, you have to wash out the paint reservoir, and the air brush, just flushing lots of water through if the paint is water soluble. Doesn't take long. Colours can be mixed in the reservoir, or another container before hand.

I also used their Pro-Colour paints, as I was painting on wood and they were really good.

I don't know how people achieve some of the really fine work that is done! Years of work and really expensive equipment perhaps! But something like the above may be a good starting point. Hope this helps a bit, and apologies for the false start!