Can't blame you for being a little overwhelmed. There are indeed a good many airbrushes to choose from. Here's my two-cents worth. I used a inexpensive Badger airbrush for years and found it to be quite serviceable. It was a simple single-action brush that was great for general painting and always worked fine for me. Recently I decided to upgrade and purchased a mid-range Iwata-Media double-action brush and am thrilled with it. Much higher ability for precise paint application and the price (around $130) fit my budget. The other recommendation I would pass along is to get a quality air compressor with the ability to regulate pressure. You'll find it will make it easier to achieve great results.

I have a Badger 200 that I bought probably close to 25 years ago.  It's a single action internal feed that I bought to replace a Badger external feed.

I purchased a screen to keep lumps of paint  out of the brush and an adjustable air pressure regulator as well. 

I have used one of the inexpensive diaphram compressors sold for use with air brushes, but really prefer to use a regular compressor as air control seems better.  Mine is a Porter Cable that is available with a combination of air nailers or separately that I got from Home Depot.

This airbrush setup works good enough that I never got around to getting a dual action airbrush.

Terry

I would suggest that you not look at it as "buying an airbrush for a beginner" - you're going to tend to end up on the lower end of the scale there - but instead look at what sort of work you intend on doing with your airbrush.

I've had both a gravity feed (bowl on top) and a suction feed (suck the paint of of a jar from the bottom) and can confidently say that I prefer the gravity feed. In the long run, a dual action airbrush is also going to be a more flexible tool.

One last word to the wise: Keep it clean -- a clogged airbrush brings everything to a screeching halt.

Oh - I also own one of the middle-range (Eclipse) airbrushes from Iwata-Medea.

What Jeff said about keeping it clean is very very important.  The most important comment made by any of us.

Terry

Get either a large ( 2 or 3 gal) compressor or a rechargeable tank. Do not paint when the compressor is running to avoid pulses on the air line. A small framing compressor (pancake type) from a box store charges fast and costs less than a hobby one.

Add a water trap as close to the airbrush as practical.

I have both a single and dual action airbrushes. Single for areas where fine detail is not needed (i. e. scenery), dual for finer work.

And "practice makes perfection" will be your mantra.

I use an air brush a lot and can not speak highly enough of Iwata. I use both a HP-C Plus and a HP-CH. I agree with other posters about not buying a "beginner" airbrush. Go with a double action airbrush. I like the gravity feed type as I find I waste less paint and find them easier to clean. Be sure to clean right after use and they will last you a lifetime. 

Oh, and I love having the mini quick disconnect fittings.

Gary

I am just like all the rest who have posted here. I started out with a low priced airbrush and used it for a while and thought it was great, and then I moved up to a nicer model, similar to an Iwata, and it is fantastic! but also it was expensive. A decent air compressor is the first thing you need, I have a small compressor made for airbrushes, no tank, it works great, and only cost about $70. So I have this expensive double action airbrush that does all these fantastic things, but I also have a super cheap single action airbrush that I paid $10 for on eBay! a no name economy job, and it also works great! It is so easy to clean, it has literally two parts to wash. And so easy to use, thin your paint, screw on the jar, attach the hose, and unscrew the tip until it starts to spray, and you're airbrushing! and it does a great job on model structures and other general duty work. I never could get the cheap double action guns to give me any satisfaction at all, they splattered and stopped up and were just a pain in the butt to use. So start out with a cheap single action brush like the $10 eBay job, and get used to spraying, thinning, keeping water out of your air, learn all that stuff while you are putting down some good paint! Once you get the hang of that gun, then you will be familiar with airbrushing enough to make your expensive purchase and get that top notch gun. One thing I have learned is to use good paint! Polly Scale paints work so well, go on so easily, are very forgiving, and cover well. Polly Scale makes my airbrush work that much better. I only work with acrylics, being able to wash up with water, and to spray around my layout without a spray booth, and not have toxic fumes in my train room is an advantage I can't pass up. Most of all have fun with it!

Russell

I started out at about 15 saving lawn mowing money to buy a Paasche single action external mix airbrush.  In other words, it was the cheapest "good" airbrush I could find, and I found a way to afford it.  Today, 17 years later, I still use that airbrush and it still works beautifully.  While better, fancier airbrushes can do a few things I have a hard time doing (I might buy one just for weathering), the basic one I have has let me do everything I wanted to.

It cannot be said enough - keep it clean!

I would suggest buying some extra paint jars (I've never liked the side cup - I spill things), and you must buy a strainer that fits over the pickup tube in the jar.  I tried for a while to do without, but even the tiniest bit of dried paint will clog an airbrush in no time.  They're not expensive, and I've been using the one I bought for - well, 17 years now.

My first air source was a portable 5 gallon tank that I carried down to the local gas station.  That would usually get me through most of one model, or at least one round of painting.  I eventually built my own compressor using scrounged bits and pieces, and used it for the better part of a decade.  I finally bought myself one of those cheap ($100 or so, and I've seen them at harbor freight for around $50) 2-3 gallon compressors, and have had excellent results.

Someone suggested not painting when the compressor is running.  I have not had a problem, but that's because I keep the compressor cycling between about 75-100 psi, while I have a regulator on the output and paint at around 15-25 psi.  Do use a pressure regulator, and do use a moisture trap.  another thing that may seem insignificant, but it's worth it, is a quick connect fitting on the compressor.  Aside from allowing me to use it for my homemade media blaster and to fill tires, it makes it a lot easier to take the airbrush inside for cleaning.  They're not expensive, and they're readily available.  Use them.

Thanks for the suggestions.

What to the terms single and double action mean?

Do I need to buy special paint to use with an airbrush?

Thanks,

Andrew

Andrew,

1. All hobby paints can be used with most (if not all) airbrushes.  Some, like Valero and Badger Modelflex are formulated slightly thinner to flow better in an airbrush, but a little thinner (usually no more then 10%) in any paint overcomes this problem.
2. Picking an airbrush is like licking a scale or prototype - find what works for you.  I have a higher end Aztek double action (bought off ebay) that I really like - in part because I could still use my previously purchased tips from the single action I started out with.
3. "Action" in an air brush refers to controlling one of two things - paint flow and air flow.  Single action airbrushes allow you to control only the air flow - more air equals more paint applied. Double action allows you to control both airflow and paint flow at the same time.  This generally allows for smoother finishes, effects, and makes airbrush weathering a breeze.
4. Clean it EVERY TIME you use it.  Period.