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Tool Review
Airbrush Cleaning Kit
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by: Rowan Baylis [ MERLIN ]

I'm a self-confessed lover of gadgets and gizmos, but I'm also the first to admit that it's frequently the humblest things that turn out most useful in the long run. So it is with modelling tools and accessories, and I think one of the latest items from the Airbrush Company will prove almost indispensible - their airbrush cleaning kit.

I've been looking for something like this for years! Instead of struggling with pipe-cleaners that are too thick and leave bits of fluff behind, here's a set that's purpose-made for cleaning an airbrush.

The set comprises 5 x miniature bottle brushes on a key-ring which are perfect for cleaning the interior of the airbrush body and tubing. They are graded in size so you can easily find a suitable diameter for your particular airbrush. Each brush is about 3cm long and has a steel stem approximately 6cm long, which gives plenty of reach. The bristles are synthetic so, unlike a pipe-cleaner, they are easy to clean for re-use. The bristles are stiff enough to shift even stubborn, dried-on paint - as I found to my shock when I saw just how much gunge they got out of an airbrush which I'd previously thought was reasonably clean! (Caution: although the stem of the smallest brush is only about 1mm in diameter, that's still far too thick to risk using inside an airbrush's delicate nozzle - a tiny interdental brush or a sharpened cocktail stick is a safer option in this case.)

Conclusion
It's not often I describe something as indispensible but, basically, if you use an airbrush, sooner or later you're likely to need a cleaning kit like this. For little more than the price of a couple of pots of paint, here's a set of cleaning brushes that will be an essential part of my painting set-up. It's cheap and simple, and should last for years, and will help ensure you're getting the best performance out of your airbrush. Highly recommended.

Please remember, when contacting retailers or manufacturers, to mention that you saw their products highlighted here - on AEROSCALE.
SUMMARY
Highs: Cheap and simple, and does a great job of shifting stubborn paint residue from hard to reach areas inside an airbrush.
Lows: The smallest brush is still too coarse to use inside a paint nozzle, so the inclusion of an ultra-fine interdental-style brush would complete a great all-in-one set.
Verdict: This is a hugely useful set of brushes that will help keep any style of airbrush clean and ready for action.
Percentage Rating
95%
  Scale: Other
  Mfg. ID: E-5CB
  Suggested Retail: £3.49
  PUBLISHED: Sep 05, 2011
NETWORK-WIDE AVERAGE RATINGS
  THIS REVIEWER: 88.37%
  MAKER/PUBLISHER: 95.50%

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About Rowan Baylis (Merlin)
FROM: NO REGIONAL SELECTED, UNITED KINGDOM

I've been modelling for about 40 years, on and off. While I'm happy to build anything, my interests lie primarily in 1/48 scale aircraft. I mostly concentrate on WW2 subjects, although I'm also interested in WW1, Golden Age aviation and the early Jet Age - and have even been known to build the occas...

Copyright ©2021 text by Rowan Baylis [ MERLIN ]. Images also by copyright holder unless otherwise noted. Opinions expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of AeroScale. All rights reserved.



Comments

The ring of five brushes is very good, I've used them before.
SEP 06, 2011 - 04:15 AM
There is one problem with these brushes, the wire used for building them is not quite stiff enough and bends a little too easily when the going gets tight. A smaller brush would be even more handy.
OCT 30, 2011 - 09:11 AM
   
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