Description
- The Model 105 ARROW is a dual action, gravity feed, internal mix airbrush; set features airbrush with .5 nozzle and instruction manual.
- The Patriot’s innovative and efficient precision design is enjoyed by crafters, artists, and hobbyists.
- Single (.5) needle/nozzle for spraying all Mediums, inks, dyes, watercolors, acrylics, enamels, lacquers, glazes, latex, Air-Opaque, Spectratex, MODELflex, and Stynylrez primers
- Easy maintenance self- centering nozzle design; easy cleaning 1/8oz. tapered color cup; comfort angle trigger clearance and stroke; Patented easy access needle removal system
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Amazon Customer –
This is my first airbrush, so I have nothing to compare it to, but I will clarify a few things that are not detailed well in the item description:
1) Mine came with the Badger “Fine” needle/nozzle, which is roughly 0.5 mm (blue knob on the back). It did NOT come withe the 0.7 mm as stated in the Amazon description. (I don’t know why you would want a 0.7 mm with such a small paint cup on a brush designed for close-in detail work?)
2) The cup is small! I’m not yet sure if this is good or bad? I thought it would be good. It definitely makes it easy to see what you’re working on, but it feels like 1/2 a cup of paint is too little, and filling it any more will make it prone to spilling. …pretty sure it’ll be fine unless I’m working on a very large model (I’m working on 25 mm and 28 mm miniatures, very few vehicles or large figures).
3) It comes with a cap for the cup. But, because the cup is so small that paint will come in contact with the cap and get in the rim such that when you remove the cap it drips and makes a big mess. Don’t use the cap.
4) The cutaway in the handle does NOT have an adjustable needle stop (I guess you have to go up to the Sotar 20/20 for that?). The cutaway contains the needle chuck screw, so while I was disappointed there was no needle stop, I’m super pleased with how easy it is to remove the needle and give it a quick wipe every few colour changes, or as part of a full clean after a session, or to check for bends or burrs.
5) Cleaning is VERY easy. No tools needed. Very little disassembly required.
6) There is a spare nozzle. There is NOT a spare needle. I ordered the “Fine Conversion Kit” (because I thought this brush came with a 0.7 mm) so now I have a spare needle too. That’s probably a good thing since there is no needle guard on the head, so bending a needle if you drop or bump the brush is a distinct possibility.
Note, while I did say that some of the features are not as expected (or as described on Amazon), I do think this is a great brush, especially for the price. It’s also really easy to get parts, and “conversion kits” (which contain needle/nozzle/regulator sets) are only about $15 on Amazon, and those are the bits you’ll mostly likely need to replace. (A conversion kit for a Sotar 20/20 is over $50, so the Patriot Arrow is much more economical for a beginner/hobbiest).
Sean W. Franklin –
I’m getting back into airbrushing after a short 30-year break 🙂 and I decided that I want a dual-action to start with. I’m doing N scale model trains, very small work, so a small paint cup is fine. This brush has done a decent job for me so far, and I suspect I’ll add a few more paintbrushes to my arsenal but this one should be able to hold its own.
I chose Badger primarily because they’re made in the USA. I have a lot of train stuff made in China and other countries, of course, but if I can find an American-made product at a reasonable price I’ll always prefer that. The 105 is a popular model, and this particular variant has the small paint cup for “Close detail” work.
Cleaning the brush is… well, it’s easier with acrylic paint than with lacquer, that’s for sure! But it’s still a process. I’ve found that I need to allocate a solid 15 minutes to cleaning once I’m done painting, so I make sure that time is budgeted. If you let the brush sit without cleaning…. it’s going to be a lot harder to clean!
I’m hopeful that as I get more experience with cleaning it I’ll cut the time required down to just a few minutes. But overall, it’s been doing a good job with painting so far and it’s going to be the cornerstone of my painting kit for a while.
Wade M. –
I really like it. Easy to use, easy to clean, the cap size is ok depends on paint.
For acrylic paints – cap size is OK. But if you plan to use lacquers – the cap is small.
I have to refill it two times just to paint a plastic spoon. But still I really like it!
Britt McDonough –
This is a great little airbrush from Badger. This is basically the Patriot 105 airbrush with a smaller cup. Already owning an Extreme Patriot 105, I was able to switch needle /nozzles between the two, because the No 5 needle/nozzle that the Arrow came with is a better match for the 105 with the bigger color cup. I now have the No 3 needle/nozzle on the Arrow. Easy to clean, smart design, American made. I think it’s worth mentioning that Badger customer support is excellent. Badger is a family owned business headed by long time owner Ken Schlotfeldt, and they pride themselves on great customer service and product innovation.Absolutely recommended!
Lee Shirk –
I used my previous 105 roughly and it eventually crumbled under my gigantic hands. Snagged this version with a smaller cup size (miniature painter) and I am loving this brush. Throw a QD on it and go to work.
Sean –
So I thought I would upgrade to an airbrush for my minis as I’ve been using a cheaper one and figured something nicer could help. I bought this given it was on sale and from what I heard badger was a reasonably trustworthy company. Well I got it along with a new light box setup and went to paint. First cup of paint went so quick I was surprised, then I noticed paint on the gun. Upon inspection the cup was not SEALED to the airbrush so any liquid put in just poured out the side of it. Processed a refund and replacement thinking perhaps this was a fluke.
Received the second one today and I inspected it thoroughly, couldn’t unscrew the nose cone on the front of the gun without two pairs of pliers and once I got it off the threading was so poorly made that it didn’t even screw all the way back on. Absolutely shocked that a company in somewhat of high regard could make products sooooo terrible. Gonna stick with my 20 dollar airbrush that works and functions a thousand times better. Badger should be downright embarrassed.
Sean –
While other Badger airbrushes come in a decent plastic case, this one came in a cardboard box. Really Badger? Even the cheap foreign $20 airbrushes come in a good plastic case with fitted foam insert. The brush works ok, but the fit and finish is marginal. Again, the $20 import brushes have much better finish. Kind of pathetic for an American made brand to be so outdone.