H&S Ultra

[stona]

Thanks for the explanation Paul. It sounds like you'll be saving up for something else then

I only ever had my hands on an H+S brush once. It was the one with the different size options and in the limited time I had it certainly seemed a very nice and well made brush.

Cheers

Steve

[Guest]

I have the ultra and infinity, both brushes are excellent for any modeller and are very forgiving, easy to clean and hassle free. I have a neo as well but that it is no relegated to just varnish. Hate cleaning this.

Over the years I have used many Ab but to me the H&S brushes are some of the best, iwata have the micron range which cost a arm and a leg £300 + and have been compared to the infinity in quality, so I would start slow and As you go along you may find a preference for a certain brand. I still use my cheap Chinese brushes for metallics and they do the job fine and sometimes I use these all day long with no issues.

[Guest]

Just to clarify the Iwata brushes generally only fit one size of nozzle/needle. That means you can't fit a 0.5mm nozzle and needle to a brush made for a 0.35mm assembly, unlike some of the H&S brushes which do allow this sort of option. However, with Iwatas, you can replace either the needle or the nozzle with one of the correct size.I very rarely replace a nozzle but I have replaced a few needles when they have got bent or hooked beyond my ability to repair them!

Cheers

Steve

Actually to calrify a clarify. Many of the Iwata brushes have alternatives. For instance the brushes I have the HP BH has a .2 needle/nozzle but a .3 is an optional extra. The HP BS has a .35 but can take a .5.

Laurie

[Guest]

I have the ultra and infinity, both brushes are excellent for any modeller and are very forgiving, easy to clean and hassle free. I have a neo as well but that it is no relegated to just varnish. Hate cleaning this.Over the years I have used many Ab but to me the H&S brushes are some of the best, iwata have the micron range which cost a arm and a leg £300 + and have been compared to the infinity in quality, so I would start slow and As you go along you may find a preference for a certain brand. I still use my cheap Chinese brushes for metallics and they do the job fine and sometimes I use these all day long with no issues.

Ah, interesting. So how would you compare the two (H&S) in quality of build? You see, I'm wondering if the ultra has the same nozzles as the more expensive models? It would strike me as an unusual production decision to make two or three nozzles of the same size - the only difference being, say, fineness of tolerance, if you see what I mean? I know that I want a .4 nozzle for primers, base coats and varnishes, and I suspect that nozzle will get by far the most use. So, is it worth spending £118 on an Evolution 2 in 1, or stick with the Ultra at £75 which also has two nozzles, that appear to be the same size?

[Guest]

Ah, interesting. So how would you compare the two (H&S) in quality of build? You see, I'm wondering if the ultra has the same nozzles as the more expensive models? It would strike me as an unusual production decision to make two or three nozzles of the same size - the only difference being, say, fineness of tolerance, if you see what I mean? I know that I want a .4 nozzle for primers, base coats and varnishes, and I suspect that nozzle will get by far the most use. So, is it worth spending £118 on an Evolution 2 in 1, or stick with the Ultra at £75 which also has two nozzles, that appear to be the same size?

John me thinks though makest to much of the differences. It is doubtful if any one has tried the Ultra and the Evolution to give you your answer.

The Ultra and the Evolution have different nozzles. So I think that on the basis that as H & S are a quality producing concern that there is a difference in quality between the Ultra and the Evolution. So in the end it depends on what you want to pay and if you feel that is affordable for what you want to do with it. Actually the Evolution has the ability to take 4 nozzle sizes, .18 .2 .4 and .6.

Although you only want it at the moment for primer and varnish I think that once you have tried an airbrush you will be hooked. Not only for top coat work which, what any body says, an airbrush will win hands down compared to hand brushing. A paint film from an airbrush is minute in thickness following but not filling panel and intricate detail on the plastic. Handbrushing is not going to achieve that.

On top of all that is the weathering and distressing of models to produce, as well as possible, and to emulate the aircraft or military vehicle as it is in the the raw. For that you need a good airbrush.

What ever you buy they are wanted good second hand airbrushes. So little is lost that is on H&S and Iwata airbrushes if you wanted to upgrade from the utility model of the pack.

Laurie

[Guest]

I hear you! ...checks bank balance...!

[Guest]

The ultra is an all rounder, 2mm or 4 mm I tend to stick to just the 2 mm and can spray most paints through it and it has no problems with varnish or large areas, I never seem to use the 4mm unless I'm doing something really big with large areas.

You may struggle with fine, fine detail with the ultra but it's a great starter brush just to get you hooked, good luck with your choice mate, we will all help you when you get it and have fun you will be looking at everything to see what you can paint, plastic spoons are great for practice.

[stona]

Actually to calrify a clarify. Many of the Iwata brushes have alternatives. For instance the brushes I have the HP BH has a .2 needle/nozzle but a .3 is an optional extra. The HP BS has a .35 but can take a .5. Laurie

True Laurie, but it's not just a case of screwing on a new nozzle and changing the needle. Surely the needle packing would also have to be changed to accommodate a different needle size, and that's a fiddly job! On my Eclipse it's a very small Teflon screw thingy.

They are not designed to be easily interchangeable. Many airbrush users wouldn't know how to do it and I wouldn't advise it.

Cheers

Steve

[Guest]

I hear you! ...checks bank balance...!

True Laurie, but it's not just a case of screwing on a new nozzle and changing the needle. Surely the needle packing would also have to be changed to accommodate a different needle size, and that's a fiddly job! On my Eclipse it's a very small Teflon screw thingy.They are not designed to be easily interchangeable. Many airbrush users wouldn't know how to do it and I wouldn't advise it.

Cheers

Steve

Probably different with each Iwata type Steve. They do produce very nice airbrushes but they are not easy to maintain. Think if you are going to change sizes of needle nozzle regularly the front assembly is the best bet which makes it then easy but more expensive. For me I do not swap as I get used to one and that is it.

What I was trying to point out was that if you acquired a brush you do have an alternative needle/nozzle if you found the one supplied was not as perhaps you thought etc. Compared to an H & S you are spot on Steve. With an H & S . Remove needle, unscrew front with fingers pop out nozzle pop in alternative screw back insert new needle. 30 secs flat.

If you can afford it one brush for varnish and primer H & S. One for general coverage work Iwata .35 my preference. Close work Iwata .2 with a small cone spray. Bit expensive but not a drop in the ocean compared to my previous spare time occupation of chucking 10 pound notes in to a big hole in the sea in maintaining a sea going boat spending more time on the thing than actual going to sea in it. Airbrushes for me now provide my excitement in life. God I am going to pieces it must be that Monday thing.

Laurie

[Guest]

Right! Had an epiphany today with the freebie airbrush that came with my compressor. Using Vallejo's green primer, I've primed a fair bit of my Churchill today, really sweet surface, almost no fall-out (Aerosols make sure that at least a 3 foot area around the model get primed as well!). I am now sold on dual action - thanks gents, you've saved me from buying single action, then realising I actually need a dual…!

However, I don't trust this Airbrush, in the respect that I want to understand all it's foibles - I am the kind of bloke that wants his painting tools as clean as a cat's…well, you know, so I am going to buy an H&S as soon as me pension comes through. Then an extracting booth, then……..

[Guest]

Right! Had an epiphany today with the freebie airbrush that came with my compressor. Using Vallejo's green primer, I've primed a fair bit of my Churchill today, really sweet surface, almost no fall-out (Aerosols make sure that at least a 3 foot area around the model get primed as well!). I am now sold on dual action - thanks gents, you've saved me from buying single action, then realising I actually need a dual…!However, I don't trust this Airbrush, in the respect that I want to understand all it's foibles - I am the kind of bloke that wants his painting tools as clean as a cat's…well, you know, so I am going to buy an H&S as soon as me pension comes through. Then an extracting booth, then……..

Like it John. Another Scale Model Forum success story.

Laurie