
Very similar to the option above except this one plugs into the mains. Generic Mini Airbrush CompressorĪgain a generic model as there are multiple brands offering this. You can connect any airbrush you like, but it would be an absolute waste connecting this up to anything more than a cheap generic airbrush like the kind we mention in our Best Beginner Airbrush Article. You will get speckling and it will be harder to put down base colour layers with this than any other compressor on the list. Because most airbrush primers are great at self-levelling and you can spray indoors-all year-round. This is still (IMHO) a better thing to use than aerosol primers. If budget is your main concern or you’re very limited on space. That doesn’t mean this is without consideration. Most higher-end (proper) airbrushes are dual-action, which means push down to release air and pull back to release paint Single action means, it constantly feeds air through the nozzle at a set rate and you just pull back to spray. This unit only works well with Single Action Airbrushes, mainly, the specific on you get with it.


Thinner paints such as airbrush specific or even airbrush primers can be fine as low as 22psi. I tend to set my own compressor (not this) at 30 psi initially for most base paints and adjust as necessary. It’s rated output is 15-30psi (lol, expect closer to 15psi). For very little money you can get a USB rechargeable battery operated compressor, with an airbrush.įor miniature painting, the airbrush you get with these is considered trashy, the compressor isn’t much better. This is on this list for one reason, budget. I’ve referred to these as ‘generic’ becasue you will find multiple brands offering them online. Best Airbrush Compressor for Miniatures & Models 10. Next, you can limit yourself by getting a compressor without variable pressure flow as the only way you can avoid speckling and spider webbing is with an exact paint-thinner consistency, which is very tricky at lower pressure ranges. Well if you are starting at the lower end of airbrush compressors, you can limit yourself by getting a compressor where the pressure is too low, Because you may struggle with thicker paints. It’s more about your paint consistency than the airbrush itself. Honestly, in my experience, this is absolutely arbitrary. Many of them may suggest an optimal airbrush pressure.

You may also find when choosing an airbrush. So if you are budget or space-conscious 22psi as a mid-range is a nice target to shoot for. If you will be using only Airbrush Specific Paints, Like Vallejo Air or Citadel Air, these are much thinner generally. Generally though for proper airbrushing you want at least 30psi to work with many of the denser pigments we’ll encounter in standard miniature paints. How long is a piece of string? The absolute bare minimum you would need is 15-18psi for things like you’re average primer. Best Airbrush Compressor for Miniatures & Models – Summaryįor those who just want the list without reason, please see below for the list of the best Airbrush Compressors for Miniatures & Models.

We’ll look at a variety of options below considering everything from features to budget. But these are optional extras available on a few models and these are probably suited to studios and commission painters who are working all day every day. There are some special features such as multiple pistons for faster compression or the ability to use multiple airbrushes. It’s most important to have a compressor which can offer the right pressure for your particular airbrush and paint.Īside from that, the only considerations to make are the noise levels and your budget. If the pressure is too low (for your paint consistency) you will create speckling and if it’s too high you create spider-webbing. Along with paint consistency, this is one of the main requirements to get the most out of your spraying. When it comes to getting the best out of them, it’s better to have something with variable air pressure control. Europe: eBay (DE), eBay (FR), eBay (ES), eBay (IT), AmazonĪirbrush compressors are quite a simple affair, they compress air and express it through an outlet, connect this to your airbrush and away you go.US/Canada: MTechCave, GameKastle, eBay (US), eBay (CA), Amazon.UK: Element Games, The Outpost, Wayland Games, Mighty Lancer, Goblin Gaming, Forbidden Planet, Model Scenery Supplies, eBay, Amazon.
