Embedded Files
(Thanks to Christian at Harder and Steenbeck Germany an AL plus review will be coming soon.)
Dare I say this is my new favorite brush and there are a few reasons why. First of all it's by far the easiest brush I have ever used, the first time I used it I had my normal Humbrol enamel with around 40 percent enamel thinners (normal hardware thinners) and it just sprayed without any issue which is a bonus but the trigger is so nice to use, I found controlling the flow (pulling back of the trigger) very easy to control, I have not used the needle limiter as yet and normally its a must for my shaky hand. I think the taper on the .2 needle is why its so smooth with the flow, here from bottom to top is the .2, .4 and the HP.C Plus .3 needles. The trigger travel suits me much better. I think the taper is what some try to do by fine tuning there needle.
Another bonus for me is the nozzles, there big and easy to handle, once again here it is compared to the HP.C plus.
no tool needed either, just do it finger tight and of you go. Before I bought this brush I researched as much as I could as you do and read that many H&S users liked pulling the needle out the front so as not to drag any left over paint through the brush, makes sense I thought and I now do that very quickly, I don't think I would do that with other small nozzle brushes.
Another big plus for me is that most of the parts are interchangeable with other H&S brushes, that really is a big advantage as far as I'm concerned. The paint cups screw onto the body which is handy at times BUT because they screw off you can buy the side fitting connector set so you can use a 15mil jar, put a .6 needle into the same brush that uses a .15, .20 or .4 needle and use it for large area coverage. The set costs under $30US and you get two 15ml jars with 3 lids. I have also read that parts are expensive for H&S but thats just not true, I found they are around the same price and some times a bit cheaper than Iwata parts, needles and nozzles, are about the same price for both, H&S full sets are a bit cheaper but remember if you have a .2 or .15 brush then you wont need the air cap for the other so you only need buy the needle and nozzle. Seals seem to be cheap for H&S, a full seal kit that suits the Infinity, Evolution, Focus and Grafo is just $8.91US. Parts for the H&S range are much easier to find and understand because of the interchangeability I find compared to others.
Another simple idea that makes life easier is this:
The needle clamping nut as H&S call it has a funnel arrangement the same as the capture cone on the space station for docking, it makes replacing the needle extremely easy for me.
As for the quality of the brush once again I compare it to my HP.C Plus and find there both great quality. There is a CR model with triple plating but I can't see the advantage for the average modeler.
Update. There is advantages to the CR plus models, see the Infinity review below.
Here is a quote from there advertising for CR models:
"The advantage is primarily the reduction in the allergy risk. Contact between nickel coating and hand perspiration can lead to an allergic reaction among some users."
Photo's can't really show much but here is a few anyway.
Although they seem different shades, the inside of the cups are pretty much identical, the H&S is a slightly better finish and seems a fraction more chrome coloured for want of a better word but its very slight. The weights with the Iwata quick set tail are within a gram of each other without lids at 94 grams. All in all I would say there as good as each other from what I can see with the eye.
When I bought mine I also bought lids for the two cups which don't come with the brush which I find odd and the two prong air cap that suits the .15 and .2 setup. You can remove the top from the air caps to expose the needle but that is not a smart idea for me, most would be fine with it. You also get a air hose quick release half that screws onto the brush, I would of included a complete quick release myself and lids to suit the cups provided if it was up to me but I can see where there coming from. The thread is the Iwata thread or the Iwata thread is the same as the H&S thread, not sure who had it first, H&S is 101 years old as of 2014 and I can't find out how long Iwata have been going but does it really matter? nope, the hose fits.
Here's a picture of the cap taken apart.
I forgot to mention the case, best one so far, metal pin hinge and sliding locks, everything sits well inside, there's room to keep the lids on the cups and room for extra air caps etc in there little cases. You can tell I love this brush, only had it a couple of months so don't know any long term usage problems if any. Don't worry Iwata fans I still love my HP.C plus but I confess the Silverline gets just about all the work now.
German Precision airbrush is where I bought mine, Mikes service is first class, was on it's way well within 24 hours and his site is what I used for parts prices. I hope to get my hands on the infinity some time in the not to distant future and see how that performs, it looks a lot prettier so it will have to be better. In the mean time I really hope someone gets some benefit from this review.
I used Chicago airbrush for Iwata parts prices.
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse