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AFV Painting & Weathering
Answers to questions about the right paint scheme or tips for the right effect.
REVIEW
Grex Tritium.TG Airbrush
bill_c
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Posted: Monday, June 21, 2010 - 02:21 AM UTC
Bill Cross reviews the Grex Tritium.TG Airbrush.



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If you have comments or questions please post them here.

Thanks!
redleg12
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Posted: Monday, June 21, 2010 - 03:35 PM UTC
Bill - I have a TS for about a year now. I also have an Iwata. The Grex TS beats the pants off the Iwata. I have nothing but praise for the Grex air brush. I have the 2mm nozzel and have had 0 problems with clogging and prefer it to the wider nozzels.

The TS requires a bit more cleaning....but the side cups keep the top clear for a good veiw of the aim point and paint. Also the cups can be rotated to keep the paint from spilling if you are painting on an angle.

The Iwata has been relagated to base coats and quick shots on some small parts.

I would consider a TG to use as the quick shot gun and dump my Iwata.....maybe soon.

You can never have enough good tools. The Grex are FANTASTIC airbrushes....also try their airbrush stand....works great with the TG and TS.

The TS works better for larger volume of paint and for angle painting...

I would have both with .020 nozzels...

Rounds Complete!!
thomokiwi
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Posted: Monday, June 21, 2010 - 10:57 PM UTC
I too have a Grex TS, I have not owned that many brushes however I have been very impressed with it. Due to a hand injury this was my best option and it was worth bringing it in from the US ( exchange rate was pretty good at the time). If it goes that way again I would be very tempted to get this one. I have also recommended them to my club.

Excellent Brushes
Karl187
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Posted: Tuesday, June 22, 2010 - 12:00 AM UTC

Quoted Text

The Grex also comes with three different nozzle sizes, including the option of the extremely-fine .2mm (.3mm is the smallest size on all Iwatas except the $500 Kustom Custom Micron CM which does not come in the pistol-grip configuration).



Bill I just want to clarify- I have an Iwata Revolution TR0 with trigger control and it has a 0.2mm nozzle as standard. It retails in the UK for £186.99 ($275).

You also mentioned:


Quoted Text

And so far as I can tell, none of the Iwatas offers the Grex feature of changing paint cup sizes. In practical usage, I find this feature very helpful and a real advantage over other gravity-fed airbrushes.



The TR0 is a side feed and you can change the size of the cup if you want. Like you said though, I don't think you can change the cup size on the gravity feed Iwatas.

Sorry to nitpick!

In any case I am glad to see another company come out with a pistol grip airbrush, especially one with the pistol grip handle already as standard. With the Iwata you have to buy it separately. I like the green too, a little color never hurt anyone! I also like the way you can touch that two-pronged tip to a surface without worrying about damaging the needle. That would be very useful for various nooks and crannies.





bill_c
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Posted: Tuesday, June 22, 2010 - 04:00 AM UTC
Thanks, everyone, for your input, and no, it's not nit picking at all. I appreciate the clarity on the matter, as well as the personal testimonials about the brush.
Illini
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Posted: Tuesday, June 22, 2010 - 06:06 AM UTC
Quote

"Airbrushes are like women: every man has a different opinion on what makes for the "perfect" one"

Witty is as witty does.

You got a couple of other good ones in there.
Illini
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Posted: Tuesday, June 22, 2010 - 06:31 AM UTC
I am a pretty good builder, but terrible finisher. I've tried various air brushes, and just seem to always make a mess of thigs. So, I usually resort to "can rattling", and a very monochrome finish, if I do one at all.

This looks like a good tool for a klutz like me.

Amazon has a TG3 for $209, they say list is $299. This has a .3mm tip, with .2mm as a $35 add on. Would you get that? Do I need their hose, or are they standard, I have one or two from other air brushes.
bill_c
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Posted: Tuesday, June 22, 2010 - 07:44 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Amazon has a TG3 for $209, they say list is $299. This has a .3mm tip, with .2mm as a $35 add on. Would you get that?


I bought mine from AcceleArt. Same price, free shipping. Be sure you click on the right drop-down menu, as .3mm is standard, but you can get it with .5 and .2 for no extra charge.

The .2mm tip is if you plan on doing very fine work. If you have a second airbrush for broad work, then go for the smaller tip.

Quoted Text

Do I need their hose, or are they standard, I have one or two from other air brushes.


No, you can get an attachment for whatever hose you have (I'll avoid the obvious "witty" comments). I recommend the GMAC adaptor ($25). They have them standard for Badger and Paasche hoses, but I imagine customer service could get you connected with as little hassle as possible. If you have other airbrushes, then purchase a quick-connect attachment for each one that will let you switch between brushes in a jot. If I'm not mistaken, the GMACs come with a quick-connector for the Grex standard.

Also the GMAC has a thumbscrew that lets you control the air flow.
Mojo
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Posted: Sunday, June 27, 2010 - 02:14 AM UTC
Fine looking airbrush if I do say so myself... I had a pistol grip style a few years a go, not a Grex, but I loved it. It felt good in the hand and I found it so much easyier to use. Although it was a single action brush, It put down a fantastic coat of paint. I may look into this one.. Thanks for the great review Bill.
bill_c
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Posted: Tuesday, June 29, 2010 - 03:07 AM UTC
You're welcome, Dave.
JPTRR
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Posted: Friday, July 02, 2010 - 11:51 AM UTC
Hi All,

The companion review of the Grex Tritium.TS3 is on now at https://aeroscale.kitmaker.net/review/5312&uview=on.

metooshelah
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Posted: Sunday, July 04, 2010 - 08:35 AM UTC
Nice and informative review Bill, though I would have like to see some painting pictures

cheers
bill_c
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Posted: Tuesday, July 06, 2010 - 06:00 AM UTC
Thanks, Matan. Squiggly lines just never did it for me. You'll have to take my word it's a killer tool.
bill_c
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Posted: Tuesday, January 18, 2011 - 11:35 AM UTC
Having used this brush for over six months, I just want to confirm that it's AMAZING. No complaints at all. It has made me a better modeler.

And remember, I purchased this airbrush, I did not get it for review from Grex.
Illini
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Posted: Saturday, February 05, 2011 - 08:53 AM UTC
I purchased this awhile back, but for a variety of reasons couldn't try it out until today. It seems to work great, even for a klutz like me. However, I have on problem

I can't get the paint cups to screw in to the top. I managed to get the large one in once, and did some spraying. Now I'm trying to clean up, and can't get it or the others to thread.

I noticed in one of your pictures there wasn't a washer on the threads of the cup. Did that need to come off? There's hardly any thread exposed with it on.
bill_c
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Posted: Saturday, February 05, 2011 - 10:56 AM UTC
There should be a very tiny Teflon washer on the base of each color cup. If you continue to have problems, you can contact Grex directly. They're very helpful.
Illini
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Posted: Saturday, February 05, 2011 - 11:36 AM UTC
I removed the washer and now I can get it to screw on, but just barely. It doesn't leak, the pieces mate very titley.

I will contact Grex on Monday.
bill_c
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Posted: Tuesday, February 08, 2011 - 03:50 AM UTC
I checked the fit on my color cups, and there's not a lot of thread. But you should contact Grex, since the washers keep the cups from leaking.
bill_c
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Posted: Tuesday, April 12, 2011 - 07:40 AM UTC
Just wanted to add that this brush continues to delight and please me. I paid for it, this wasn't a review sample, folks.
Illini
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Posted: Tuesday, April 12, 2011 - 03:02 PM UTC
I think I posted a new thread, but I should have mentioned here, that Grex replaced the faulty parts with no questions asked. I too now really enjoy this, which I also paid for.
bill_c
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Posted: Wednesday, April 13, 2011 - 03:35 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Grex replaced the faulty parts with no questions asked.


Their service and support are unsurpassed IMO.
vonHengest
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Posted: Wednesday, April 13, 2011 - 05:41 AM UTC
I am used to using larger airguns for 1/1 projects, and correct me if I'm wrong but this looks like it would be a more natural transition into airbrushes? I have found airbrushes awkward to handle at times and I usually won't even attempt detail work with an airbrush.
bill_c
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Posted: Wednesday, April 13, 2011 - 06:08 AM UTC
An airbrush is like a car: what I like and value won't register with you and vice versa. It's a very, very personal decision. I used to hate the Paasche I had because of its side-feed color cup. I prefer a gravity-feed rig like this one.

I also like the .2mm tip which gives an incredibly fine line, along with the open tip that allows me literally to touch the object being sprayed for very fine coverage. I painted the metal parts on my Sherman tracks yesterday, and had very little overspray on the "rubber" portion.

The control of the air pressure also allows me to shoot a variety of liquids and produce a variety of effects. I probably don't know half of what this brush can do, but it has definitely made me a better modeler.

I became acquainted with the brush at a local hobby show. My suggestion would be to attend one where Grex has a factory rep and hold the brush, feel its weight & balance, and try it out.
vonHengest
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Posted: Wednesday, April 13, 2011 - 05:30 PM UTC
What I'm wondering is if the pistol grip and trigger will feel more natural to me. I am learning ab with side feed dual action and gravity feed single action Paasche airbrushes. I agree that the side feed cup can get in the way and I'm not wild about the gravity feed, but it is a good gun to learn with in case I mess something up. I haven't seen a Grex rep at any of the local shows that I've attended, but I'll be sure to keep an eye out.
Illini
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Posted: Wednesday, April 13, 2011 - 05:48 PM UTC
The trigger feels really natural, and doesn't take great dexterity which I lost years ago (as if i ever had it). I can control paint volume while aiming and whatever, which I've never been able to do with a "button" control brush.

By the way, I like their compressor too. Nice and small and pretty quiet.
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