Airbrush comparison

Started by Felix · 7 · 1 month ago · airbrush, Harder & Steenbeck, Tool
  • Profile Photo
    Felix said 1 month, 1 week ago:

    Dear fellow modellers

    I would love to hear what kind of airbrush you use for our beloved hobby. For the last three years i have used a Harder&Steenbeck Ultra (Always an 0.2 needle) and i am quite happy with it.

    Now in my infinite clumsiness (one might even say stupidity) i managed to get a cleaning wire get stuck in the air flow and break parts of it of. It's stuck now. Funnily enough, the airbrush still works totally fine, albeit with a weaker air flow, haha. Therefore i am thinking about buying another one.

    I have considered buying an H&S Evolution. Does anybody know if it is a big improvement over the Ultra? All these youtubers make dramatic claims, saying it's another level, etc. Not sure if that is just clickbait. As an art teacher i always tell my students that what matters with cameras is the person behind the lense, not necessarily the equipment. What's your opinion?

  • Profile Photo
    Pedro L. Rocha said 1 month, 1 week ago:

    @fxrob

    Felix, I absolutely concur with your opinion as art teacher, no matter the tool, it’s the person using it that makes the most impact on the outcome.

    That said, I don’t have any experience with the Ultra but I do have plenty with several H&S Evolution and Infinity airbrushes.

    To be honest using the 0,2 mm needle on the Evolution was perhaps the best experience I’ve had so far, but unfortunately the continuous use took its toll, even after replacing the o-rings both my evolution models never again worked as before, no matter how much cleaning and maintenance they got. That was the reason I came to buy the Infinity airbrush with two needles set.

    The 0,15 mm has been the only needle I’ve used and I found it a much sensitive airbrush than the Evolution. However it also sprays beautifully, but the price tag is higher as you know.

    This Christmas I got the new Gaahleri Mobius with the 0,2 mm needle as a gift and it also seems to respond well, but to be fair I’m still on the learning curve with this one.

  • Profile Photo
    John vd Biggelaar said 1 month, 1 week ago:

    Like you said yourself, if a person is not able to use the tool correctly, the outcome will be equal to that.
    I don't have much experience in airbrush equipment myself either, I'm still using my first airbrush, a Fengda BD-180, and I'm sure the airbrush can do much better than I'm able to. It was delivered with 0.3mm and 0.2mm needles.

  • Profile Photo
    Spiros Pendedekas said 1 month, 1 week ago:

    As Pedro said, the Evolution is a great airbrush, my friend @fxrob. If you go for it, my advice would be to hold it in your hands to see if it fits well to your particular style.

  • Profile Photo
    Felix said 1 month, 1 week ago:

    Dear Pedro @holzhamer
    thanks a lot for your extensive feedback! This is exactly what i was hoping for. I could get a used Infinity but with a 0.4 needle. Of course i am intrigued by the 0.15 needle! The new Ultra 2024 seems to be really good too.

  • Profile Photo
    Felix said 1 month, 1 week ago:

    Dear John @johnb
    merci for your insight! Judging from your builds i would say you have mastered your airbrush very much 🙂 I have heard good things about the Fengda actually!

  • Profile Photo
    Felix said 1 month, 1 week ago:

    Jasou Spiros @fiveten, that is actually a good idea! Too bad nowadays most of the tools are only available online...really miss going to shops and checking out stuff.