What's your experience of airbrushes? Do you swear by expensive brands or do you think they're overpriced in the current market with this sort of competition? Let me know in the comments below!
have had terrible luck with Amazon airbrushes within the $30-60 dollar range. Once you take it apart to change the nozzle/needle or remove a clog, they're basically toast. Thankfully, I was able to exchange all of them in time and I ultimately got an Iwata Neo airbrush with the pistol grip. Haven't used it yet because I'm kind of afraid to...I'll get over it.
@@outpost206 That's interesting, as I've had several of these sort of price brushes and disassembling / reassembling them. How exactly so you clean them before they clog and how do they break when you disassemble them?
I have a couple of these airbrushes. One under the Fengda label and one Timbertech. Same company, same brush. I also have their 186 compressor and a new model. All perform their functions well no issues. The airbrushes are easy to use and clean up. I would not hesitate in buying them again. They cost about $ 30.00 in Canada. In addition, the low cost makes it easier for new and young modelers to get into airbrushing.
I had for a couple of years a H&S Infinity 2in1, worst airbrush ever used! My experience before H&S was Olympos, Iwata and Paasche, all extensively used and all of them never disappointed me. Yes the H&S sprays well lacquers or Tamiyas… but every airbrush basically does, the problem is all the rest. And even worse with the H&S is the consistency as when you pull the trigger you never know what to expect. I ended up selling it. I replaced it with two Grex, a Genesis and a Tritium, with .2 .3 and .5 nozzles and all around they are the best airbrushes I ever used. The only real problem is getting them in Europe sadly…
I am a bit of a compulsive airbrush buyer and have several. Started with a Revell many years ago, bit of a pain to use. Then an Aztec; fine until it clogged (its a sealed plastic unit), broke and after repair; leaks. Upgraded to an expensive Iwata which works pretty flawlessly. Since then I've bought several cheaper airbrushes, starting with a Neo from Iwata (my main airbrush, bought when still cheap for about £40 on Amazon!), A Sparmax (about the same price and I have never used once, nice package though), a £10 potluck off Amazon, 3(!) Fengda airbrushes and a U-Star from Hong Kong. Honestly the £10 cheapo was a bit crap, thin construction and roughly machined inside. The Fengda airbrushes are amazing for the price, although they are a little on the fragile side. The U-Star I bought specifically for laying down varnish, primers etc (has a 0.5mm nozzle), which is pretty nice. Quite robust with a very 'old school' feel to it, textured vinyl-like covering on the barrel etc. Honestly the major difference between the £200+ Iwata and the cheaper brushes is probably the quality of the construction and durability. The cheaper brushes aren't as precisely machined, or at least they feel that way, things have a little more give in them, marginally looser tolerances. But with a smidgen of perseverance they will give the same result on the model.
I bought 3 or 4 of these (different name but same thing) years ago when they were dirt cheap on ebay and the only issue I've had is with the cheap rubber 'o' rings, which do not like solvent cleaner! Although the action improves significantly the more you use them, I have to admit that when I need to get something 'freehand' right first time, I reach for my Iwata, but that's probably more psychological that a fair assessment of these brushes. 10/10 - would buy again!
Great, I love that👍🏻. A lot of modelers believe that the more they spend, the better they'll be. At my return to modeling, about 15 years ago, I got the cheapest single action plastic airbrush, well it sprays paint as it suppose to, not great, then I got a Neo Iwata, much better than the first one, it got a lot of issues from the beginning, I think that it came with the nozzle cracked, replaced it, replaced the gasket, it worked okay, one day I was at Harbor freight (cheap, actually good Chinese tool store in US) and I found an airbrush for $20, it does as good as the $80 one (+repairs), never had an issue with it, it's been 4 years. It's not really that I'm cheap, but I don't like to pay for a brand instead of the product itself. Thanks for the video👋🏻
I believe that this Fengda 130 airbrush *IS THE SAME ONE* included in the Harbor Freight Avanti Airbrush kit (grey and blue compressor and chrome and black spray gun). That means the nozzles and needles should be cross compatible.
I have had a Fengda for years and its a fantastic bit of kit, teflon seals so no mucking about with expensive airbrush cleaning products, methylated spirits works great. It may not be the best airbrush in the world but I'm not the best modeller in the world either, I'm more than happy with it. If any of you guys are thinking of binning your Fengda give me a shout.
My first airbrush this. Problems encountered taught me everything I needed to know about airbrushes. Had it 6 years now with some replacement parts along the way but still going strong.
I bought the 180 & 180k versions the latter with additional needle sizes primarily for spraying primers and metallics saving my H&S brushes and Iwata for fine detail work. I’ve got to say that to date I have, like yourself been most impressed. How long they last only time will tell but to date I’ve been really impressed and they even spray down to quite a fine line. Thinning the paint and dropping the pressure they’ve performed really well. For someone on a budget or just embarking in the hobby for a first airbrush I don’t think you can go far wrong….
I've been using these cheap airbrushes for years and achieve the same results as more capable modellers with expensive airbrushes. I've always wondered what the benefit is of using an airbrush 3 times the cost. I do find with these though that they need regular deep cleaning.
You can even improve the performance of the fengda by sanding/polish the needle with 1200 grit sandpaper. It will spray finer lines with less overspray. The only airbrushes that are far better than these are Iwata and the high end Gaahleri and the new H&S line. I don't like the old H&S line, they have a trigger/paint flow delay which makes them a bit unpredictable when performing fine work.
I’ve been using the 180 for five years with no problems. What I do do though is polish the needle tips by placing it in a drill and using progressively fine grade sandpaper to polish them up. Works a treat. I can’t remember where I learnt that trick.
Having used expensive airbrushes for many years I finally got the money to shell out for a H&S Crplus. I was a little disappointed. Was having many issues with paint flow I hadn’t experienced before with Iwata and Badger brushes using Vallejo, Hataka and Tamiya paints. I’ve recently been relying on a selection of cheap Amazon bought air brushes all dual action gravity fed non more than £30 and I can say they are just as good as the Iwata and badger and in my experience superior to the H&S. I’ve recently purchased a £50 Galeria brush and it is almost part for part a copy of the H&S but performs extremely well with so far no clogging, spiting and the trigger control is in my opinion smoother than the H&S….
Only have clogging on my H&S Evo when swapping between lacquers and acrylics despite thorough cleaning. Got the 180 version with the 3 needles and it is very good value. Only use it for acrylic and primers and it does the job. They are so much better than other cheap airbrushes and good choice for someone just starting out. Good and fair review.
I got a BD-130 two years ago as my first airbrush and had huge problems with clogging and low throughput at the beginning. After accidentally finding out that the manufacturer had put a .2 needle into a .3 nozzle (the .2 needle is longer than a .3, so it blocked the nozzle even with fully drawn trigger), I replaced the needle and the brush worked completely fine, primed and basecoated around 150 models since then. The biggest plus of this brush compared with other chinaclones in its price range is the working spare parts supply. You can get everything for a BD-130, needles, nozzles, O-ring sets, crown, valve, trigger, whatever breaks can be replaced cheaply. Except the corpus itself, but in that case you would probably buy a new one anyway. There are even parts for optic tuning available, if you desperately want a golden or pink grip piece for your $30 airbrush you can get it.
as a newbie to airbrushing!!! I only have a CHEAP airbrush but something I have learned if you take the front cup off you expose the needle so it is easy to see when it starts getting dried pain on it and easier to wipe it between you finger ant thumb. Pluss you can get closer and it is easy to get the pain in the right places. I not done much painting as the CHEAP airbrush set I got the pump packed up and I not go the money for a new one yet! I would direct you to airbrush asylum channel, I like the way he explains what he is doing
I also have a H&S Evolution Airbrush. I find it pretty good. Not had any major issues. You mentioned a broken nozzle. I managed to get replacement nozzles and needles for my Evo from Bartsharp at a fraction of the cost of a branded nozzle from H&S. I also have a Barsharp 186 Airbrush which cost me about £50. Less than half the price of my Evo. My Bartsharp came as a complete set with 0.2, 0.3, 0.5 needles and nozzles. Plus 3 sizes of cup, cable, connectors and a moisture trap for a compressor. The lass at Bartsharp was very helpful in getting me spare parts for both airbrushes. What I would say about the cheap one you have tried out is just that you are better off if you can find one that has a removable paint cup. Makes it a lot easier to clean the airbrush with a removable cup.
All in all, pleasantly surprised with the Fengda in your test, Alex. Especially since you were using Hataka's Blue Line for brush painting. Very smooth flow. Personally, I think there's an airbrush for each person. Some people can do marvels with an HS, Iwata, etc. Then you have some local mutant marrah pulling his grandfather's air can-powered, single-action plastic airbrush out and painting some Rembrandt level stuff. Have had my trusty, marketed locally under the Monumental brand, Chinese knock-off of a Badger 150 (or the likes of it) for some 20 years. It's getting tired now and a bit cranky but, mate, it's painted a whole host of model kits with everything from Tamiya enamel paints to the cheapest local acrylics and enamels available, with Humbrol, Molak, ModelMaster, Hataka, Vallejo, etc. in between. Never let me down once. If it didn't work, thing was down to me botching the pressure setting or dilution rate. Never had to change a single piece, fully original. Maybe the needle spring, if I can get a replacement. Getting a bit sticky. PS: Long live Hataka. Love that crazy Polish guy Lukasz and his brand of indestructible paints. Easiest acrylic to spray I've ever used outside Tamiya. Cheers.
I have 3 of these airbrushes (differing brand names but all the same 'brush) and all perform with very little problems. Sometimes using thinned Vallejo colours (not the modelair) they clog the tip, but then I reckon thats me not thinning them enough. I use one for priming, one for acrylics and one for enamels such as Humbrol.
At the price you quoted it's almost disposable! If it ever stopped working I suspect it's cheaper to simply get another one. Alternatively, buy two and use the second for parts, even cheaper in the long run
The cheap AB from China works & function very well, i can vouch for it with my own experience. What differentiate it from the other branded AB is the Quality, finesse & Durability. After 5 years, these low budget AB will start to breakdown - leaking/blocked from failed O-rings, rusting, brass plating erosion, needle oxidation. Yeah, you can get cheap replacement part by the dozens. After a long while, these cheap AB just dun give the satisfaction to my hobby. But really i value the learning experience and confidence that eventually led to investing into really good quality AB (Tamiya aka iwata and Sparmax). My old beaten up chinese AB still has it function, spraying clear coat, primer & future floor polish.
I really like the Fengda range. I have two of them, an older one (0.5 mm, which I learned airbrushing with and today use it for priming) and a new one (0.3 mm) which is shown here. Never would consider bying an Iwata, or HS bc the Fengda ones are excellent for my purpouses!
I’ve got the H&S Ultra, find it a real pain to use. My cheap airbrush, looks the same model as yours, just seems to work and feels like the trigger is more responsive. Admittedly I’m on my second one, as I didn’t take as much care with the first one and managed to break the tiny nozzle screw cap. But lesson learned. Also, found getting extra needles is much easier and cheaper. Great video, thanks for sharing.
I've just bought a Timbertech including compressor. I believe Timbertech is a part of Fengda although I could be mistaken. All being well by early next week I'll be giving it a first go. Fingers crossed. I saw elsewhere a suggestion to use adult colouring books to practice airbrushing. Does anybody else think it's a viable tactic?
This particular one is GREAT at priming and putting one shade base coat. Not only you won't care if you break it, it works really well and you can even get 0.8 nozzle/needle which makes those tasks ridiculously fast on high count of minis painted in a batch. Some of the more expensive ones are actually hit or miss, doesn't matter if Fengda, Asgud or whatever other clone - as those are often a mix/match of internals that not always fit well. The cheapest ones have the same parts, all the time - and incredibly that makes them more reliable, as there is very little play if any. The BIGGEST problem for airbrushes is actually the compressor. All fengdaclonses are an absolute crap with very high failure rates, Iwata compressors are a scam (they are same quality levels as fengdaclones and you pay 3x for the fact someone LOOKED at them before boxing) and the only reliable one is Sparmax 620 series, but it is quite/very expensive. So, to try it our - I would rather go with that weird mobile can that you connect to the airbrush. Sufficient for priming/base and prevents wasting money if you don't like it.
I agree - to be honest, I would rather spend money on a good compressor than an expensive airbrush - I even had to use large Nitrogen tanks for a super experience!
Chinese airbrushes are good value for money. I bought a cordless compressor that came with a new Neoeco airbrush of a completely new Chinese design. It has "drop in" nozzles, more robust needles and has done away with most rubber washers. Works really well and easier to clean than most.
I'm owning nine cheap airbrush. Five are different Fengda, four are Neodeco, which are surprisingly modern. I polished all needles, and now they work perfectly well.
Hi. I've seen a number of videos on YT where airbrushes have been used. Only in one case have I seen any mention of PPE (breathing mask in that case). Have you any views on the need for PPE with any of the types of paint. I have yet to use an airbrush and would like to know more about the pros and cons and any special requirements.
@@MannsModelMoments That sounds like a "piece of string" answer. Any ideas on relative toxicities of the various types of paint? In the 1960's we brush painted Humbrol enamels with no regard to fumes etc, but spraying is a bit more dispersive of fumes and there seem to be a bewildering variety of paints available.
Thats absolutely true! Most pre-mixed acrylics (Vallejo, AK, Citadel, Army Painter, MiG etc) are non-toxic. For airbrushing, you only need to worry about particulates, as your lungs don't really want tiny bits of paint in them, no matter how non-toxic they are. Some single-pigment acrylics have toxic components, like Cobalt and Cadmium - these are generally easily identified by their name (eg Cobalt blue), and you definitely don't want these in your body at all. For both of these, a good particulate mask solves the problem. Some acrylics (like Tamiya or Mr Color) contain a fair amount of polar carrier solvents like isopropanol. These aren't necessarily toxic in the small amounts you might inhale, but they will pass straight through a particulate mask. Enamel and lacquer paints both use solvents which are much more noxious, and which can be dangerous to your health in several ways (most are also flammable). These should be used either with a chemical mask or in a well-ventilated space - preferably both.
I have the same mind as you. I have a Header and Steenbeck, which is ok. But my go to is a cheap Timbertech Airbrush. Seems to flow better and spares are dead cheap 👍
I've bought "AK" one (it's Chinese of course) as my first airbrush. Works pretty well so far. Not much clogging with Vallejo at least. Paid 45-ish euros
I got this same brush in an airbrush/compressor starter kit,and even though I have 3 H&S 1 IAWATA and 1 Mr AIRBRUSH,and I still come back to my cheap brush.
Hi good review of this AIrbrush, I have spent a lot of money on airbrushes over the years, I have an Iwate and a Sparmax but been using one of these Fengda's for over two years now. Good peace of kit
These cheap airbrushes do work well when new but wear out quickly. I recommend Sparmax airbrushes for a mid range option as they work really well and spare parts are reasonable. I have a creos proconboy now which is awesome. Definitely worth the money.
I purchased one of those cheap one, as my first one aswell. I was not happy, it clogged a lot. Then I purchased, a similar airbrush from AK (rebranded I think). That one, is now my go to airbrush. It was quite cheap too...
For me I went with the cheaper brand.What got me for this is the availability of replacement parts.Needles o-rings and such are all under 10-15 dollars and the quality is just as good as the name brands that charges the higher prices.I have the mastercraft brand that has a big selection of brushes to choose from.I will not buy the higher end brushes when these cheap ones are just as good when painting a model or painting art piece.
I would be interested in seeing a vid on the airbrush with the smaller nozzle. Also a follow up on this one, say in about 3 months? Thanks for the information!
Bought my first airbrush Badger 150 at 80 usd in 1990. Then in 1998, China was selling such cheap brushes at around 30 usd. Didn't dare to buy until 2008 I bought 2, 20 usd each. Didn't work well. Swap the needle and found one became better. Since then found the cheapest price was 10 usd😂. Maybe they are improving, but won't buy again. Then bought Tamiya 0.2, H&S infinity 2 in 1, recently bought Olympos MP200A. Funny to see many can't tell the difference and say they the same. Anyway, enjoy. Happy Father's day. 😄
Good video! My personal experience is as follows. I got a Fengda airbrush very similar to the one in your video (if not the exact same one by the look of it and of the box it came with) during the early days of the first lockdown in 2020 as I decided to revamp my modeling hobby. The airbrush worked fine for about 3 months. Then it started to clog so often that any paint job would take 5 times the time needed. I do not recall the number of times I took apart the airbrush and did deep cleaning, sharpening the needle, changing the o-rings, using all the tips and tricks I could find on YT to make it work but could not fix the problem. I became so frustrated I purchased a new airbrush, still on the cheap side but not as cheap as the first one. This one laster me through the end of 2020 and then started to give me the same problems as the first one. Mind I only use acrylic paints and relative thinners. At the beginning of 2021 I got a more expensive Iwata and had been using it since then without a problem. I might have been unlucky with my first two purchases but the money I spent on the Iwata is less than having to buy a new, cheap, airbrush every 3 months….. 😅. Again, this is my personal experience and surely is not statistically relevant but in my case one bigger investment is lasting me a long time. Keep up the great content!
Myself I cannot understand your issues with the H&S. I use it since decades, never had problems with and the cleaning process is at easy as it could be. Also the variety from .15 to .4 allows a big range of application.
@@MannsModelMoments That´s great and also I learned a new expression (ymmv). At home we still reckon in kilometers and don´t drive at the wrong side of the street :D Thank you for that and overall for the content you spread!
I had a very similar experience to you, both my H&S Evo and CR were more trouble than they were worth (more time cleaning than spraying).I regret buying them. I now have two of the four nozzle Fengda airbrushes and use them all the time one set up for Tamiya and one for Vallejo, no faff with changing needles! It also means I have spares for both brushes.
I bought a harder infinity as getting spares for my sparmax was impossible, needle seals. So I look at airbrushes as I do with all my motorbikes and classic car, can I get spares?? If not, not worth having. But as you say the price, cheaper to buy the entire brush than the bits for the old one, sadly I'm of a type of engineer who will mend than buy new. But it's a buyers market and for all those who are on a budget these cheap airbrushes are pricless and a great boon to the hobby.
Buy anything from the Badger 105 series (including MIG AMMO), or anything in the Iwata Eclipse series. H&S airbrushes just don't do well with model paint - PERIOD (and stay away from Iwata Neo as well - the QC is sooooo poor).
If you are lucky enough to find an inexpensive airbrush that meets all your needs at first try, that’s wonderful. But if you have to buy several before you find a good one then it will be more cost effective to get a premium one right off the bat. The higher priced airbrushes have a paper sheet that shows that particular airbrush’s spray patterns. This test is done at the factory to guarantee the airbrush’s capabilities. Or, someone could instead watch your video of a review and be pointed towards a good but inexpensive airbrush, recommended by a fellow modeller. 😁
Well, this is my fourth and cheapest airbrush, and none gave me particular issues. I don't believe my evolution came with any spray pattern, and I'm not sure your logic holds true - I could buy about 8 of these brushes for the price of my H&S, so even if half of them didn't work I'd still have four working airbrushes for the price of one, meaning I could have different dedicated setups and still have plenty of spares.
I always enjoy your content and the channel, but I really dislike this latest UA-cam fad of timed "premiere" nonsense. Just casting my vote to end the "premiere" BS. Cheers!
As a creator, we get far more engagement from premieres than regular releases, so its all on you guys - give us high engagement on regular releases and premieres will naturally die…until then, people get what they want!
I have this 'brush for a couple of models (I build very slowly) and I am happy enough. It's good to know that there's another version that has multiple needles. Thanks for the tip 👍
Actually I can vouch for what @MannsModelMoments says here. I have a Fengda BD-180 with a 0.2mm nozzle and I've just used it to spray a pretty intricate camouflage over a 1/35 German Panther G. For the price they are very good. I've had no issues, its performed very well. Now will it last as long as say, an Iwata? Maybe no, but at around £20 a pop you can't complain. Also I bought that airbrush on the recommendation from a video on Martin Kovac's channel, Night Shift, apparently an accomplished airbrushing friend of his swears by them.
@@mrbeast85 I’m not trying to sell these airbrushes, I#m not on commission or anything - id say if i was. I give honesty reviews and have an Amazon store, that’s all
I started using airbrushes way back in the 1980s and have used many different brands. I started with Badger and was ok with it until I discovered Paasche. I own 4 Paasches and have been satisfied with the results over many years of their use. I also have tried the Iwata and am just ok with it as well but prefer the Paasches overall. I wouldn't hesitate to try the Fengda though and may eventually give them A go.
What's your experience of airbrushes? Do you swear by expensive brands or do you think they're overpriced in the current market with this sort of competition? Let me know in the comments below!
have had terrible luck with Amazon airbrushes within the $30-60 dollar range. Once you take it apart to change the nozzle/needle or remove a clog, they're basically toast. Thankfully, I was able to exchange all of them in time and I ultimately got an Iwata Neo airbrush with the pistol grip. Haven't used it yet because I'm kind of afraid to...I'll get over it.
@@outpost206 That's interesting, as I've had several of these sort of price brushes and disassembling / reassembling them. How exactly so you clean them before they clog and how do they break when you disassemble them?
I have a couple of these airbrushes. One under the Fengda label and one Timbertech. Same company, same brush. I also have their 186 compressor and a new model. All perform their functions well no issues. The airbrushes are easy to use and clean up. I would not hesitate in buying them again. They cost about $ 30.00 in Canada. In addition, the low cost makes it easier for new and young modelers to get into airbrushing.
I had for a couple of years a H&S Infinity 2in1, worst airbrush ever used!
My experience before H&S was Olympos, Iwata and Paasche, all extensively used and all of them never disappointed me.
Yes the H&S sprays well lacquers or Tamiyas… but every airbrush basically does, the problem is all the rest.
And even worse with the H&S is the consistency as when you pull the trigger you never know what to expect.
I ended up selling it.
I replaced it with two Grex, a Genesis and a Tritium, with .2 .3 and .5 nozzles and all around they are the best airbrushes I ever used.
The only real problem is getting them in Europe sadly…
I am a bit of a compulsive airbrush buyer and have several. Started with a Revell many years ago, bit of a pain to use. Then an Aztec; fine until it clogged (its a sealed plastic unit), broke and after repair; leaks. Upgraded to an expensive Iwata which works pretty flawlessly. Since then I've bought several cheaper airbrushes, starting with a Neo from Iwata (my main airbrush, bought when still cheap for about £40 on Amazon!), A Sparmax (about the same price and I have never used once, nice package though), a £10 potluck off Amazon, 3(!) Fengda airbrushes and a U-Star from Hong Kong. Honestly the £10 cheapo was a bit crap, thin construction and roughly machined inside. The Fengda airbrushes are amazing for the price, although they are a little on the fragile side. The U-Star I bought specifically for laying down varnish, primers etc (has a 0.5mm nozzle), which is pretty nice. Quite robust with a very 'old school' feel to it, textured vinyl-like covering on the barrel etc. Honestly the major difference between the £200+ Iwata and the cheaper brushes is probably the quality of the construction and durability. The cheaper brushes aren't as precisely machined, or at least they feel that way, things have a little more give in them, marginally looser tolerances. But with a smidgen of perseverance they will give the same result on the model.
I do like these type of reviews........in any event these are good for clear coats where precise control isn't necessary....
I got one of the Amazon combos and so far I am very pleased!
I bought 3 or 4 of these (different name but same thing) years ago when they were dirt cheap on ebay and the only issue I've had is with the cheap rubber 'o' rings, which do not like solvent cleaner!
Although the action improves significantly the more you use them, I have to admit that when I need to get something 'freehand' right first time, I reach for my Iwata, but that's probably more psychological that a fair assessment of these brushes. 10/10 - would buy again!
nice to know, thanks
Great, I love that👍🏻. A lot of modelers believe that the more they spend, the better they'll be. At my return to modeling, about 15 years ago, I got the cheapest single action plastic airbrush, well it sprays paint as it suppose to, not great, then I got a Neo Iwata, much better than the first one, it got a lot of issues from the beginning, I think that it came with the nozzle cracked, replaced it, replaced the gasket, it worked okay, one day I was at Harbor freight (cheap, actually good Chinese tool store in US) and I found an airbrush for $20, it does as good as the $80 one (+repairs), never had an issue with it, it's been 4 years. It's not really that I'm cheap, but I don't like to pay for a brand instead of the product itself. Thanks for the video👋🏻
Yeah, I believe in spending money wisely rather than just throwing money at a problem!
I believe that this Fengda 130 airbrush *IS THE SAME ONE* included in the Harbor Freight Avanti Airbrush kit (grey and blue compressor and chrome and black spray gun). That means the nozzles and needles should be cross compatible.
I have had a Fengda for years and its a fantastic bit of kit, teflon seals so no mucking about with expensive airbrush cleaning products, methylated spirits works great. It may not be the best airbrush in the world but I'm not the best modeller in the world either, I'm more than happy with it. If any of you guys are thinking of binning your Fengda give me a shout.
Thanks for sharing your experience!
My first airbrush this. Problems encountered taught me everything I needed to know about airbrushes. Had it 6 years now with some replacement parts along the way but still going strong.
Good to know!
I bought the 180 & 180k versions the latter with additional needle sizes primarily for spraying primers and metallics saving my H&S brushes and Iwata for fine detail work.
I’ve got to say that to date I have, like yourself been most impressed.
How long they last only time will tell but to date I’ve been really impressed and they even spray down to quite a fine line.
Thinning the paint and dropping the pressure they’ve performed really well.
For someone on a budget or just embarking in the hobby for a first airbrush I don’t think you can go far wrong….
I've been using these cheap airbrushes for years and achieve the same results as more capable modellers with expensive airbrushes. I've always wondered what the benefit is of using an airbrush 3 times the cost. I do find with these though that they need regular deep cleaning.
To be honest, all brushes need regulassr deep cleaning in my experience
I know very little, but the expensives ones only reallt have an ousized effect when doing high quality gloss finishes for cars
You can even improve the performance of the fengda by sanding/polish the needle with 1200 grit sandpaper. It will spray finer lines with less overspray. The only airbrushes that are far better than these are Iwata and the high end Gaahleri and the new H&S line. I don't like the old H&S line, they have a trigger/paint flow delay which makes them a bit unpredictable when performing fine work.
I’ve been using the 180 for five years with no problems.
What I do do though is polish the needle tips by placing it in a drill and using progressively fine grade sandpaper to polish them up. Works a treat.
I can’t remember where I learnt that trick.
Edited to add: very good at finer details too.
@@bugler75 nice feedback and tips
@@MannsModelMoments thanks, it’s what it’s all about. I’ve learnt plenty from you guys too 😊
Having used expensive airbrushes for many years I finally got the money to shell out for a H&S Crplus. I was a little disappointed. Was having many issues with paint flow I hadn’t experienced before with Iwata and Badger brushes using Vallejo, Hataka and Tamiya paints. I’ve recently been relying on a selection of cheap Amazon bought air brushes all dual action gravity fed non more than £30 and I can say they are just as good as the Iwata and badger and in my experience superior to the H&S. I’ve recently purchased a £50 Galeria brush and it is almost part for part a copy of the H&S but performs extremely well with so far no clogging, spiting and the trigger control is in my opinion smoother than the H&S….
Only have clogging on my H&S Evo when swapping between lacquers and acrylics despite thorough cleaning. Got the 180 version with the 3 needles and it is very good value. Only use it for acrylic and primers and it does the job. They are so much better than other cheap airbrushes and good choice for someone just starting out. Good and fair review.
I actually have that air brush for my beginner level work. It does everything I need.
I got a BD-130 two years ago as my first airbrush and had huge problems with clogging and low throughput at the beginning. After accidentally finding out that the manufacturer had put a .2 needle into a .3 nozzle (the .2 needle is longer than a .3, so it blocked the nozzle even with fully drawn trigger), I replaced the needle and the brush worked completely fine, primed and basecoated around 150 models since then.
The biggest plus of this brush compared with other chinaclones in its price range is the working spare parts supply. You can get everything for a BD-130, needles, nozzles, O-ring sets, crown, valve, trigger, whatever breaks can be replaced cheaply. Except the corpus itself, but in that case you would probably buy a new one anyway. There are even parts for optic tuning available, if you desperately want a golden or pink grip piece for your $30 airbrush you can get it.
as a newbie to airbrushing!!! I only have a CHEAP airbrush but something I have learned if you take the front cup off you expose the needle so it is easy to see when it starts getting dried pain on it and easier to wipe it between you finger ant thumb. Pluss you can get closer and it is easy to get the pain in the right places.
I not done much painting as the CHEAP airbrush set I got the pump packed up and I not go the money for a new one yet!
I would direct you to airbrush asylum channel, I like the way he explains what he is doing
Just be careful when you do this - it's easy to bend the needle tip when removing the crown, and even easier to stab yourself with the needle!
I also have a H&S Evolution Airbrush. I find it pretty good. Not had any major issues. You mentioned a broken nozzle. I managed to get replacement nozzles and needles for my Evo from Bartsharp at a fraction of the cost of a branded nozzle from H&S. I also have a Barsharp 186 Airbrush which cost me about £50. Less than half the price of my Evo. My Bartsharp came as a complete set with 0.2, 0.3, 0.5 needles and nozzles. Plus 3 sizes of cup, cable, connectors and a moisture trap for a compressor. The lass at Bartsharp was very helpful in getting me spare parts for both airbrushes. What I would say about the cheap one you have tried out is just that you are better off if you can find one that has a removable paint cup. Makes it a lot easier to clean the airbrush with a removable cup.
All in all, pleasantly surprised with the Fengda in your test, Alex. Especially since you were using Hataka's Blue Line for brush painting. Very smooth flow.
Personally, I think there's an airbrush for each person. Some people can do marvels with an HS, Iwata, etc. Then you have some local mutant marrah pulling his grandfather's air can-powered, single-action plastic airbrush out and painting some Rembrandt level stuff.
Have had my trusty, marketed locally under the Monumental brand, Chinese knock-off of a Badger 150 (or the likes of it) for some 20 years. It's getting tired now and a bit cranky but, mate, it's painted a whole host of model kits with everything from Tamiya enamel paints to the cheapest local acrylics and enamels available, with Humbrol, Molak, ModelMaster, Hataka, Vallejo, etc. in between. Never let me down once. If it didn't work, thing was down to me botching the pressure setting or dilution rate. Never had to change a single piece, fully original. Maybe the needle spring, if I can get a replacement. Getting a bit sticky.
PS: Long live Hataka. Love that crazy Polish guy Lukasz and his brand of indestructible paints. Easiest acrylic to spray I've ever used outside Tamiya.
Cheers.
I think you're 100% right
I have 3 of these airbrushes (differing brand names but all the same 'brush) and all perform with very little problems. Sometimes using thinned Vallejo colours (not the modelair) they clog the tip, but then I reckon thats me not thinning them enough. I use one for priming, one for acrylics and one for enamels such as Humbrol.
At the price you quoted it's almost disposable! If it ever stopped working I suspect it's cheaper to simply get another one. Alternatively, buy two and use the second for parts, even cheaper in the long run
My thoughts exactly!
The cheap AB from China works & function very well, i can vouch for it with my own experience. What differentiate it from the other branded AB is the Quality, finesse & Durability. After 5 years, these low budget AB will start to breakdown - leaking/blocked from failed O-rings, rusting, brass plating erosion, needle oxidation. Yeah, you can get cheap replacement part by the dozens. After a long while, these cheap AB just dun give the satisfaction to my hobby. But really i value the learning experience and confidence that eventually led to investing into really good quality AB (Tamiya aka iwata and Sparmax). My old beaten up chinese AB still has it function, spraying clear coat, primer & future floor polish.
I really like the Fengda range. I have two of them, an older one (0.5 mm, which I learned airbrushing with and today use it for priming) and a new one (0.3 mm) which is shown here. Never would consider bying an Iwata, or HS bc the Fengda ones are excellent for my purpouses!
I’ve got the H&S Ultra, find it a real pain to use. My cheap airbrush, looks the same model as yours, just seems to work and feels like the trigger is more responsive. Admittedly I’m on my second one, as I didn’t take as much care with the first one and managed to break the tiny nozzle screw cap. But lesson learned. Also, found getting extra needles is much easier and cheaper. Great video, thanks for sharing.
I've just bought a Timbertech including compressor. I believe Timbertech is a part of Fengda although I could be mistaken. All being well by early next week I'll be giving it a first go. Fingers crossed.
I saw elsewhere a suggestion to use adult colouring books to practice airbrushing. Does anybody else think it's a viable tactic?
Yes. Both are brands of AIRGOO. I have the same air compressor and the same airbrush (Fengda and Timbertech branded).
Never bought an expensive airbrush, my two cheap ones provide good service! My only preference is for changeable cup sizes. Thanks for the review.
Good to know!
This particular one is GREAT at priming and putting one shade base coat. Not only you won't care if you break it, it works really well and you can even get 0.8 nozzle/needle which makes those tasks ridiculously fast on high count of minis painted in a batch. Some of the more expensive ones are actually hit or miss, doesn't matter if Fengda, Asgud or whatever other clone - as those are often a mix/match of internals that not always fit well. The cheapest ones have the same parts, all the time - and incredibly that makes them more reliable, as there is very little play if any.
The BIGGEST problem for airbrushes is actually the compressor. All fengdaclonses are an absolute crap with very high failure rates, Iwata compressors are a scam (they are same quality levels as fengdaclones and you pay 3x for the fact someone LOOKED at them before boxing) and the only reliable one is Sparmax 620 series, but it is quite/very expensive. So, to try it our - I would rather go with that weird mobile can that you connect to the airbrush. Sufficient for priming/base and prevents wasting money if you don't like it.
I agree - to be honest, I would rather spend money on a good compressor than an expensive airbrush - I even had to use large Nitrogen tanks for a super experience!
I've got this and 3 other fengda airbrushes, if I'm honest, I can't fault them,I've even got the 186 compressor as well, that great also
Yes. They are inexpensive, easy to use, and do the job well. Both the airbrush and the air compressor.
Yeah kinda ended up buying 4 too, which makes for a total of 11 airbrushes in my 'collection' now...
Chinese airbrushes are good value for money. I bought a cordless compressor that came with a new Neoeco airbrush of a completely new Chinese design. It has "drop in" nozzles, more robust needles and has done away with most rubber washers. Works really well and easier to clean than most.
I'm owning nine cheap airbrush. Five are different Fengda, four are Neodeco, which are surprisingly modern. I polished all needles, and now they work perfectly well.
Hi. I've seen a number of videos on YT where airbrushes have been used. Only in one case have I seen any mention of PPE (breathing mask in that case). Have you any views on the need for PPE with any of the types of paint. I have yet to use an airbrush and would like to know more about the pros and cons and any special requirements.
Ppe is important . Depending on your setup, anything from nothing to a full chemical mask might be appropriate
@@MannsModelMoments That sounds like a "piece of string" answer. Any ideas on relative toxicities of the various types of paint?
In the 1960's we brush painted Humbrol enamels with no regard to fumes etc, but spraying is a bit more dispersive of fumes and there seem to be a bewildering variety of paints available.
Thats absolutely true!
Most pre-mixed acrylics (Vallejo, AK, Citadel, Army Painter, MiG etc) are non-toxic. For airbrushing, you only need to worry about particulates, as your lungs don't really want tiny bits of paint in them, no matter how non-toxic they are.
Some single-pigment acrylics have toxic components, like Cobalt and Cadmium - these are generally easily identified by their name (eg Cobalt blue), and you definitely don't want these in your body at all.
For both of these, a good particulate mask solves the problem.
Some acrylics (like Tamiya or Mr Color) contain a fair amount of polar carrier solvents like isopropanol. These aren't necessarily toxic in the small amounts you might inhale, but they will pass straight through a particulate mask.
Enamel and lacquer paints both use solvents which are much more noxious, and which can be dangerous to your health in several ways (most are also flammable). These should be used either with a chemical mask or in a well-ventilated space - preferably both.
@@MannsModelMoments Thanks, that's just the info I was looking for.
I have the same mind as you. I have a Header and Steenbeck, which is ok. But my go to is a cheap Timbertech Airbrush. Seems to flow better and spares are dead cheap 👍
I've bought "AK" one (it's Chinese of course) as my first airbrush. Works pretty well so far. Not much clogging with Vallejo at least. Paid 45-ish euros
I bought one of those AK airbrushes off Amazon UK too.....very nice indeed, and feels pretty solidly built! Gives good results 👍
I got this same brush in an airbrush/compressor starter kit,and even though I have 3 H&S 1 IAWATA and 1 Mr AIRBRUSH,and I still come back to my cheap brush.
Nice! I'm looking for a cheap airbrush for tamiya lacquer paint, instead of my Iwata.
Thanks for sharing 👍
No problem 👍
Hi good review of this AIrbrush, I have spent a lot of money on airbrushes over the years, I have an Iwate and a Sparmax but been using one of these Fengda's for over two years now. Good peace of kit
Thanks for that 👍
I also have s cheap AB and I m pleased with it.
These cheap airbrushes do work well when new but wear out quickly. I recommend Sparmax airbrushes for a mid range option as they work really well and spare parts are reasonable. I have a creos proconboy now which is awesome. Definitely worth the money.
I'll check them both out!
I purchased one of those cheap one, as my first one aswell. I was not happy, it clogged a lot. Then I purchased, a similar airbrush from AK (rebranded I think). That one, is now my go to airbrush. It was quite cheap too...
FenGDa BD-130's and 180's are amazing and no one can convince me otherwise.
Well I won't spoil the video, but I don't think you and I will find much argument... ;-)
@@MannsModelMomentswould love to use an airbrush but just dont have the facility
For me I went with the cheaper brand.What got me for this is the availability of replacement parts.Needles o-rings and such are all under 10-15 dollars and the quality is just as good as the name brands that charges the higher prices.I have the mastercraft brand that has a big selection of brushes to choose from.I will not buy the higher end brushes when these cheap ones are just as good when painting a model or painting art piece.
I would be interested in seeing a vid on the airbrush with the smaller nozzle. Also a follow up on this one, say in about 3 months? Thanks for the information!
Great suggestion!
Bought my first airbrush Badger 150 at 80 usd in 1990. Then in 1998, China was selling such cheap brushes at around 30 usd. Didn't dare to buy until 2008 I bought 2, 20 usd each. Didn't work well. Swap the needle and found one became better. Since then found the cheapest price was 10 usd😂. Maybe they are improving, but won't buy again. Then bought Tamiya 0.2, H&S infinity 2 in 1, recently bought Olympos MP200A. Funny to see many can't tell the difference and say they the same. Anyway, enjoy. Happy Father's day. 😄
Good video! My personal experience is as follows. I got a Fengda airbrush very similar to the one in your video (if not the exact same one by the look of it and of the box it came with) during the early days of the first lockdown in 2020 as I decided to revamp my modeling hobby. The airbrush worked fine for about 3 months. Then it started to clog so often that any paint job would take 5 times the time needed. I do not recall the number of times I took apart the airbrush and did deep cleaning, sharpening the needle, changing the o-rings, using all the tips and tricks I could find on YT to make it work but could not fix the problem. I became so frustrated I purchased a new airbrush, still on the cheap side but not as cheap as the first one. This one laster me through the end of 2020 and then started to give me the same problems as the first one. Mind I only use acrylic paints and relative thinners. At the beginning of 2021 I got a more expensive Iwata and had been using it since then without a problem. I might have been unlucky with my first two purchases but the money I spent on the Iwata is less than having to buy a new, cheap, airbrush every 3 months….. 😅. Again, this is my personal experience and surely is not statistically relevant but in my case one bigger investment is lasting me a long time. Keep up the great content!
Myself I cannot understand your issues with the H&S. I use it since decades, never had problems with and the cleaning process is at easy as it could be. Also the variety from .15 to .4 allows a big range of application.
Well, this is my personal experience, and I'm no newbie to airbrushes and airbrushing, but as always, ymmv
@@MannsModelMoments That´s great and also I learned a new expression (ymmv). At home we still reckon in kilometers and don´t drive at the wrong side of the street :D
Thank you for that and overall for the content you spread!
I had a very similar experience to you, both my H&S Evo and CR were more trouble than they were worth (more time cleaning than spraying).I regret buying them. I now have two of the four nozzle Fengda airbrushes and use them all the time one set up for Tamiya and one for Vallejo, no faff with changing needles! It also means I have spares for both brushes.
Thanks for sharing, that's a great idea
The timbertech is also a great brush , for £25 you get 3 needles and nozzles !
Same thing I believe
Ive got the multi nozzle model - Excellent, as is their £80 compressor.
Much better than my old badger 150!
I bought a harder infinity as getting spares for my sparmax was impossible, needle seals. So I look at airbrushes as I do with all my motorbikes and classic car, can I get spares?? If not, not worth having. But as you say the price, cheaper to buy the entire brush than the bits for the old one, sadly I'm of a type of engineer who will mend than buy new. But it's a buyers market and for all those who are on a budget these cheap airbrushes are pricless and a great boon to the hobby.
Informative video and some vicarious airbrushing to boot!🧐😜
Glad you enjoyed it
Buy anything from the Badger 105 series (including MIG AMMO), or anything in the Iwata Eclipse series. H&S airbrushes just don't do well with model paint - PERIOD (and stay away from Iwata Neo as well - the QC is sooooo poor).
My H&S Evolution is the finest airbrush I have ever used.
Based on my experience, you must javeusd some really bad airbrushes then!!!
It's a great airbrush for the price.
Hi , would it be possible to show how to paint 1/6 scale assault weapons? Thanks Dave
Do you have an example?
Are you using a good compressor
Yes, with a large tank too
I buy badger or pache
I have a badger, it was good but not anything more than this - I’ve never tried paasche
I bought a few double action airbrushes at Harbor Freight for $20 each. They work great👍
Just found your channel! I just bought an airbrush. Not from Amazon
Welcome!!
If you are lucky enough to find an inexpensive airbrush that meets all your needs at first try, that’s wonderful. But if you have to buy several before you find a good one then it will be more cost effective to get a premium one right off the bat. The higher priced airbrushes have a paper sheet that shows that particular airbrush’s spray patterns. This test is done at the factory to guarantee the airbrush’s capabilities. Or, someone could instead watch your video of a review and be pointed towards a good but inexpensive airbrush, recommended by a fellow modeller. 😁
Well, this is my fourth and cheapest airbrush, and none gave me particular issues. I don't believe my evolution came with any spray pattern, and I'm not sure your logic holds true - I could buy about 8 of these brushes for the price of my H&S, so even if half of them didn't work I'd still have four working airbrushes for the price of one, meaning I could have different dedicated setups and still have plenty of spares.
@@MannsModelMoments 👍🏻 Sounds good to me.
Don’t you just hate it when you splurge.
Lol
I always enjoy your content and the channel, but I really dislike this latest UA-cam fad of timed "premiere" nonsense. Just casting my vote to end the "premiere" BS. Cheers!
As a creator, we get far more engagement from premieres than regular releases, so its all on you guys - give us high engagement on regular releases and premieres will naturally die…until then, people get what they want!
I have this 'brush for a couple of models (I build very slowly) and I am happy enough. It's good to know that there's another version that has multiple needles. Thanks for the tip 👍
I didn't expect any other result. You want to sell the pistols.
Actually I can vouch for what @MannsModelMoments says here. I have a Fengda BD-180 with a 0.2mm nozzle and I've just used it to spray a pretty intricate camouflage over a 1/35 German Panther G. For the price they are very good. I've had no issues, its performed very well. Now will it last as long as say, an Iwata? Maybe no, but at around £20 a pop you can't complain. Also I bought that airbrush on the recommendation from a video on Martin Kovac's channel, Night Shift, apparently an accomplished airbrushing friend of his swears by them.
@@mrbeast85 I’m not trying to sell these airbrushes, I#m not on commission or anything - id say if i was. I give honesty reviews and have an Amazon store, that’s all
I started using airbrushes way back in the 1980s and have used many different brands. I started with Badger and was ok with it until I discovered Paasche. I own 4 Paasches and have been satisfied with the results over many years of their use. I also have tried the Iwata and am just ok with it as well but prefer the Paasches overall. I wouldn't hesitate to try the Fengda though and may eventually give them A go.