Newbie question for modelers

[seigezunt]

So, I've come back to Trek modeling as an adult, and am finding it a fun way to unwind. Question: I have usually just painted by hand or spray can, but I'm curious about airbrushes opening the possibilities for color mixes.

Modelers: is there a decent entry-level model airbrush for a newbie on a tight budget? I've seen these Testors/Aztek kits at Michael's, but I see they get mixed reviews.

 

[Albertese]

My first airbrush as a teenager in the 90s was one of those Testors Aztek units. I immediately destroyed it by not properly cleaning it. Personally I'll never own another plastic airbrush again. Standard metal ones are more robust and can be cleaned with a wider array of chemicals. Even if you are a dummy like I was and let the paint dry inside the airbrush's guts. The plastic one was pretty well ruined.

I found my current airbrush at a local hobby store for about $150 USD. Came with the appropriate compressor and everything. Not super fancy, but it gets it done and has been reliable.

That said, I built models for well over a decade with no airbrush at all. It's true, you won't be spraying custom colors without one, but the array of commercially available rattlecans usually met my needs pretty well. To be honest, I still use rattlecans over my airbrush unless I'm doing some fancy Star Wars style weathering or really really need a custom color that I just can't find off the rack.

--Alex