AIRBRUSHING FOR ‘O’ GAUGE
I’ve enjoyed Model Rail’s Skills Station articles on airbrushing, although I was hoping for a list of recommended airbrushes and compressors. I work in ‘O’ gauge, so what set-up would George recommend?
Alan White, by e-mail
George says: I’m glad to hear that you’ve been enjoying our new Skills Station feature. Alas, we didn’t have space to include my personal product recommendations.
I only work in 7mm scale occasionally, but when I do, my preference is usually for an Iwata Revolution CR airbrush, which sports a 0.5mm nozzle. This tool will make easy work of the initial livery coats and more general weathering work. If the model is especially large, such as a tender steam locomotive or Co-co diesel, I’ll probably choose a pistolgripped airbrush – such as my Iwata Revolution TR-2 – for the more repetitive livery work, to cut down on ‘finger fatigue’! For more exacting weathering work, or for touching in the smaller details of a locomotive or rolling stock subject, I invariably reach for my Iwata HP-CH (0.3mm nozzle), as it allows for greater precision and can be employed close up to the surface.
As for a compressor, my two current favourites are a Sparmax TC-610H and an Iwata Smart Jet Pro. Both are well-suited to the demands of working on ‘O’ gauge models, although the Sparmax unit’s 2.5-litre air reservoir gives it a slight edge, allowing the motor to run only when it needs to top up the tank.
I’ve recently uploaded a couple of articles onto my online blog, detailing my favourite airbrushes and compressors, across all price brackets. See: www.georgedentmodelmaker.blogspot.com