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IS THE IWATA ECLIPSE HP-CS THE ULTIMATE BEGINNER AIRBRUSH? THE AIRBRUSH SHOW S3.EP03

Scale War Machines

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I won't be able to upload this Sunday so instead you get a Friday video! In this episode of The Airbrush Show I take a detailed look at my veteran Iwata HP-CS 0.35mm Dual Action Gravity Fed top trigger airbrush. I have owned it for well over a decade, possibly two, and it was the third proper airbrush I ever bought.

I examine how it has fared over all those years and countless model paint jobs. I discuss what I have replaced due to wear and then compare it with a factory-fresh Iwata Eclipse.

We look at upgrade options, including the 0.5mm conversion set and other extras which could make the ultimate all-in-one airbrush for a beginner.

It truly is a versatile and dependable piece of kit but see what you think as I use it with some old paints and do some real world testing on a Tamiya 1/48th Scale model. I didn't prepare any paints or mixes, just grabbed stuff and went for it, to make the test as authentic as possible.

Find out more here:
https://www.iwata-airbrush.com/iwata-...

And get yourself one from The Airbrush Company:
https://airbrushes.com/product_info.p...

Or other suppliers as pricing varies from £142GBP to £250GBP.

Enjoy!

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20 Comments

@rewtr 3 months ago

I bought an Iwata HP-CS Eclipse in 2004 when I graduated high school. I'm in my 40's now & my Iwata sprays the same as it did the first day I opened it. I've decided to finally replace the needle/nozzle/cap all springs & O-rings.

One thing to note is I always always did routine maintenance oiling the o-rings and waxing the threads, drying completely & storing in its case.

@davidp7414 1 year ago (edited)

Bought my first Eclipse 5 years ago, and bought my second one for metallics last week. I have 5 airbrushes, including H&S ($$), but I rarely use them, just my Iwatas.

@davesans8536 1 year ago

I have had my HP-CS since 2007, and it is still my go-to airbrush.

@anthonykeel1058 4 weeks ago

Thank you for a great video!
Did allot of models when I was younger, have a Badger GF airbrush and remember it being a single action. Had to put the hobby on hold for a good 20 years, moved country, married, family and house etc.
Now going through divorce, want to get back into the hobby and read up good thinks about the Iwata

@bobrivett7645 1 year ago

I have a number of different style air brushes. My oldest is a Badger 200 single action, siphon feed. Came with a .5 needle and nozzle, ordered a smaller needle & nozzle for it after a couple years. Its close to 20yos, still in great shape, use alot still. Only thing i had to replace was a needle that rolled off the bench and a hard floor tip first. In the last 3 years ive purchased Galleria GHAD 68 and the Barbatoes Rex Swallowtail, wanted to try the trigger style, they both work great, zero issues.
Personally i think all major brands offer really good air brushes. It just comes down to what is readly available, your planned use and features you desire. And cost as well.
By the way that Testor Aztec air brush system you showed was and is a great air brush, they were very adanced at the time. I had same kit, it was a gift but i had no compressor then, was using canned air. I sold to a friend. Wish i hadnt down that. Hang on to it, unless you want to sell it to me. 😅

@Psgtoday41 1 year ago

Thank you for the video helpful tip always load your needle through the front part of the airbrush helps from keeping you damaging the needle tip

@monstermini225 8 months ago

I like the eclipse but I think my H&S evolution is a smoother, nicer feeling brush.

I think my sotar 2020 paints finer lines.

I think my Mobius has more bells and whistles.

BUT I think as an overall reliable, decently priced, easy to get replacement parts, work horse the eclipse is hard to beat.

@palamj2 11 months ago

Had mine since 2014 and it is my workhorse.

@lisamunro9758 11 months ago

I love your videos! So helpful! I also love this airbrush, great choice!

@alpacca6756 11 months ago

Great video, just bought one of these and keen to try it out 😊

@Detour16WBlz 4 months ago

I started with a cheap Amazon airbrush that spit and splattered. Not a good first time airbrushing experience 😂. Second I got the Iwata revolution and it was amazing. This eclipse was my third airbrush and I love it! I mainly paint RC car bodies but this video inspired me to do some plastic Tamiya kits like this. Can't wait!

@fishingthepnwwithdave7833 10 months ago (edited)

My Iwata HP-CS chose me, I bought a kit from FB marketplace not knowing what I was buying, just seemed like a good deal, 3 airbrushes including this one, a compressor and about 10 paints for 75.00, seemed like a good deal, I had no idea. Now that I've seen this video, feeling pretty good about it. My first airbrush.

@simonleach6632 1 year ago

My number 1 is a UMP Apex, it's an absolute workhorse, nice big wide paint cup opening makes it really easy to clean, no tiny threaded parts so it's not so fiddly to strip and re-assemble, 0.35mm needle that can handle basically anything, and a needle guard that can be removed and turned around so you can thread it back on to the tip of the airbrush but still exposed the needle for super fine/close up spraying and not have to worry about losing the thing!

@lonthrall5613 8 months ago

Thanks for posting!

@CrazyKitBuilder 1 year ago

I think I be buy a eclipse soon

@hooliezx6r 4 months ago

lol the eclipse is great for newbies or professionals

@Christianis_Imperalis_14 7 months ago

what type of compressor are you using with this airbrush

@Detour16WBlz 4 months ago

I have a cool runner 1/5 hp compressor. It wont hold above 20psi while spraying and I dont know why. It seems to stay at 20 psi no matter how I adjust it. Do you know why? My eclipse says 25-35 psi is optimal.

@henkmeerdink936 1 year ago

I have an Iwata brush, but since I bought my H&S Infinity (and an Ultra which came as part of a compressor deal), I have not used the Iwata. Nothing wrong with the Iwata per se, but the H&S self centering nozzle system is (to me) so much better than the fiddly Iwata system, which is also much easier to damage.