Gravity vs Siphon Feed

This refers to the way the paint is actually delivered to the gun, and here both options have their pros and cons.

A gravity-fed airbrush is placed in a small container above the paintbrush. This will then allow the paint to “slip” naturally into the main room. Gravity-fed airbrushes allow you to work with lower air pressure, which can give you a little more control when painting the detailed parts of your mini. It also helps prevent “overspray”.

Siphon feeding airbrushes meanwhile place the container under the main unit and feed the paint up into the mixing chamber using a small amount of pressure. These allow you to store more paint at any time and are advantageous when larger models or base coat are painted because they do not require continuous filling.

Needle Size

The size of the needle is an important feature when comparing airbrushes. Smaller pins allow you to create finer lines, and while drawing small details on a smaller model, this can be a Godsend. However, fine needles are also not useful for dyeing large objects. Moreover, fine needles tend to clog so you need to thin the paint.

For miniature painting, it is recommended to take a needle from 0.2 to 0.5mm.

If you’re just starting out and can only buy one airbrush right now, it might be a better option to start with 0.3 pins.

Brands

It’s a good place to start with different brands. There are three special brands that are very popular. These are Iwata, Badger, and Paasche. Other well-known brands include Harder & Steenbeck and Grex. If you choose one of these brands, you can usually expect the product to be well done and perform well for what it does;

Kits and Brushes

When purchasing your airbrush, there is a difference between buying a brush on its own and an airbrush kit. Second, it will provide all the different tools and accessories you need to start airbrushing.

If you buy an airbrush on your own, you will also need to invest in an airbrush compressor. This is what will power the airbrush and is the most important piece of equipment outside the airbrush!

Airbrush Compressor for Miniatures and Models

Perhaps the most important equipment after Airbrush is the compressor. This will provide the airbrush with a constant supply of air and will help maintain the ideal pressure and airflow.

Fluctuations in pressure can cause imperfections in your final product. When choosing, you need to consider PSI, which will tell you the maximum amount of pressure you can offer. For miniatures and models, painting takes a picture that is at least 30 psi.

The ideal compressor ensures silent operation as well as quiet operation.

For more details, see “Choosing the right Airbrush Compressor Is it expensive? Is it performing?” We recommend you to read our article titled.

Other useful accessories to consider:

Airbrush cleaner – necessary to keep your brush running well all the time

Cleaning brushes

Hoses to connect your compressor to the airbrush

Moisture trap

Fittings and connectors

Spare parts for repair – many kits come with these

With all this in mind, let’s take a look at some of the best airbrushes on the market right now.