Recently got two new airbrushes. I have been a Harder & Steenbeck (Evolution) fan but invested in one & one a freebie present Iwata. One an Eclips HP-BS the other HP-CS. Found, with short experience that the CS is a real beauty as it is good at close work & large scale (model work 1/48) airbrushing.
The Iwata are certainly much more difficult to take apart & clean. They are also not as easy to use. The H & S is simple. The H & S I always took apart after a session & cleaned. Not the Iwata it is laborious.
Annoying is that the cups on the Iwata are moulded in those on the H & S are changeable. The Iwatas are heavier & more intricate. The H & S on the evolution will take .15 .2 .4 & .6 needle nozzles. The Iwata no change at all. H & S spares are cheaper & they have spares for every part of the brus. Iwata do not.
Performance, I suppose the bottom line, at the moment I favour the HP BS Iwata as producing a nice perhaps smoother finish. But ! Early days & I will have further flutter with H & S before deciding on my favourite.
I suppose that is the bottom line H & S & Iwata are star performers & the difference is difficult to separate the two. Which ever you will be pleased with Adrain. Like all things you look at a Honda Car you drive & wonder if a Kia is better. Kia at the moment & Honda previously & both are great cars. That is the
airbrush dilemma.
Laurie