Iwata Revolution M1 and M2 airbrushes

[Dave F]

Hi

I'm thinking of buying a decent airbrush, having tried a cheapo version and been very disappointed. Has anyone had any experience of the Iwata Revolution M1 or M2 airbrushes. They look really good quality, and just the kind of thing I'm looking for.

Dave

[Ray Haddad]

I offer my opinion for what it is worth.

Air brush technology is absolutely well known and they all use precisely the same same method for applying the paint. A drop of paint is atomized with low pressure compressed air. Your only real choice then is do you want gravity feed or pressure feed for your paint. The end result is the same.

Spend $20 on one or $200 on one and you get the same brush. Handles vary, nozzles vary, buttons vary but the paint still comes out the same.

[Dock Shunter]

I offer my opinion for what it is worth.

Your only real choice then is do you want gravity feed or pressure feed for your paint. The end result is the same.

Spend $20 on one or $200 on one and you get the same brush. Handles vary, nozzles vary, buttons vary but the paint still comes out the same.

With all due respect, Ray, i have to disagree with you.
You have the choice of either single action airbrushes which tend to be a lot cheaper because they only control the air flow, which means you have limited control over the paint/air mix.
Or you can have duel action which control the air flow and the paint volume,which gives you a lot more control over the paint/air mix which in turn means you can do a lot more detailed work.
You have internal and external mix airbrushes which will determine how smooth the finish will be.
Siphon fed airbrushes tend to work better for larger areas of paint where as gravity fed are better for intricate and small jobs.
The build quality of the airbrush will also determine the relationship of the needle with the nozzle and how fine you can spray,and how easy it is to clean.
You really do get what you pay for....

...Ste

[PaulCheffus]

You really do get what you pay for....

...Ste

Hi

I agree. I bought an Iwata CR Revolution and a compressor that came with two cheap airbrushes. To put it frankly I would be better off with a paint brush than either of the two cheap ones. The Iwata on the other hand is fantastic.

Cheers

Paul

[Dock Shunter]

Hi

I'm thinking of buying a decent airbrush, having tried a cheapo version and been very disappointed. Has anyone had any experience of the Iwata Revolution M1 or M2 airbrushes. They look really good quality, and just the kind of thing I'm looking for.

Dave

To be honest Dave i don't think the M1 or the M2 will be best for your needs in N Gauge.
They are both single action airbrushes.
If you like the Iwata Revolution airbrushes then imho you would be better looking at the AR,BR,CR range which would suit you better.
(Just my opinion of course.)

[Ben A]

Hi Dave,

I don't know about Iwata airbrushes having never owned one, but the Badger 200 I bought in 1997 is still the only airbrush I need and after 17 years of reasonably frequent use (at least once or twice a month) it appears to be virtually as new.  I do clean it thoroughly after every session though with Badger "sprayaway" and I almost exclusively use enamel or cellulose paint.  I am not a fan of acrylics as they seem to dry and get "cloggy" too quickly for me.

cheers

Ben A.

[Paul B]

I have not used the Iwata M1 or M2 airbrushes. However, at the Airbrush Company's http://www.airbrushes.com/ training course I went on last September, I used an Iwata Eclipse CS airbrush, and compared it to the 30 year old De Villbis Sprite I had been given - and this comparison made my mind up to get myself a Revolution BR (couldn't quite run to an Eclipse!  ). Have only had one chance to use it once up to now, but it is great; really smooth to use and a great finish!

[bluedepot]

hi paul,

I just ordered a set from amazon (compressor and 2 double action airbrushes, it's a set that pengi suggested)

if I get on ok with this set I will maybe buy a better airbrush from iwata or badger.



tim

[lil chris]

I have one of the new Iwatta Neo trn1 air brushes, its a gravity fed dual action but trigger type operation. Must admit I have not used it much yet but will be shortly. It was christmas present to replace my aging Badge dual action brush. I was struggling a bit with that pressing and pulling back the trigger with my aging fingers.

[Paul B]

hi paul,

I just ordered a set from amazon (compressor and 2 double action airbrushes, it's a set that pengi suggested)

if I get on ok with this set I will maybe buy a better airbrush from iwata or badger.



tim

I know the set you have ordered - because I have exactly the same set myself! The compressor powers my Iwata fine, and is a nice set-up to work with.  I would post pics of it all, but I have had to pack it all away as we are hoping to sell our flat and buy a house (with a brick shed - my new model railway shed!) 

[A.Carter (BiG-T)]

At a show a couple of weeks back I bought a Iwata TRN2 from Eileens Emporium they were there with a stand and had all their airbrushes on show / trial I tried this airbrush and the Iwata CN the TRN2 is a pistol style brush and I like Lil Chris found it easier to use.
As my only other airbrush experience is with a cheap Badger this is like night and day in comparison. The only drawback with the TRN2 is the cost I could have bought 2 CN's for the same money!

Tony

[trkilliman]

After some years of avoiding airbrushes I am on the cusp of ordering one.

My prefered choice after a lot of research is a mid range airbrush with 0.2 needle from Harder & Steenbeck, and a piston compressor. I think these airbrushes may just have the edge or Iwata.

Something that has me undecided is the use of acrylics over  enamels which I have used for over 50 years. Tim Shackleton who has a few books on airbrushing to his credit,invariably uses just a couple of enamel colours. He says he prefers enamels due to their longer drying time allowing some manipulation/blending, compared to acrylics rapid drying times.
I look at Lifecolour acrylics and wonder if I need to buy these when I have a very large collection of enamels?

I would appreciate any views of people who have been confronted with a similar dilemma, and what conclusion they came to. Thank you in advance.

[mr bachmann]

interesting talking point , you gets what you pays for , next time your lass asks you to decorate the livingroom and you need a new brush , treat your self to a set of Hamiltons .

[Pengi]

I have found that some paints with heavier pigments can 'clog up' finer needles such as 0.2mm. Tip dry, which is where the paint dries on the outside can also be a problem. If you go for an H&S i would recommend that you get the 0.4mm needle as well - particularly if you are starting out, as I still am.

I now use Vallejo Model Air paints and they are fine with a 0.4mm needle but I have a lot more issues when using the 0.2mm needle.

Also choose an airbrush that has the cup size you want or interchangeably cups. Some have fixed cups that are too big if you are only spraying a few drops of paint at a time. Interchangeable cups give more flexibility.

I have not used enamels, because I do not have a spray booth but I do use a mask when spraying the Model Air paints.

I started with the kit from Amazon and it was useful to get to know the principles of using an airbrush and cleaning it with the cheapo brushes. For example, I lost one of the parts when cleaning

I have a thread where I am documenting my airbrush journey and the stuff that I bought that was useful and stuff that wasn't so useful. I've not done much air-brushing since (because I needed the space for other stuff) and will pick it up again over the winter months.

[Bealman]

Looking forward to picking up your airbrushing adventure again!! 

George