I've been painting miniatures with regular brushes for about 6 months now and honestly, it's really hard for me to get an even finish. I saw that airbrushes go for between $80 and $200 here in Colombia, but I'm not sure if they really improve quality that much or if it's just for more experienced people. Should I invest in one now or wait until I get better with brushes?
I think it's worth it, but with one condition: wait until you've got the brush basics down solid. It's not that airbrushes are only for experienced people, but if you're still struggling with even coats using a brush, an airbrush won't automatically fix that. Actually, it can be frustrating at first because it requires learning completely different techniques, adjusting pressure, distance, paint thinning. It's like starting from scratch in some ways, so it's not a "magic shortcut" to improve.
That said, after like a year or so with regular brushes, an airbrush opens up a ton of possibilities you just can't do with a brush. Gradients, even base coats, dust and rust effects come out natural. If you watch videos of well-painted miniatures, they probably used an airbrush on at least part of the process. Between $80 and $200 is a range that covers everything from basic Chinese brands to decent stuff, so it's not an impossible expense.
My recommendation: keep practicing with a brush for a few more months, learn how paint behaves, how to do layers and control the flow. When you feel like you've got that down and the brush is actually limiting you (not before), then invest in a decent mid-range airbrush. Plus it'll make more sense because you'll already know what to expect and how to get the most out of it.
Do you already have a good handle on blending and thin layers with a brush? Because if the answer is no, you're going to get frustrated with an airbrush too. That said, after 6 months you should be ready to make the jump - you don't need to be a master. An airbrush speeds up your work a ton and finishes come out more even, yeah, but it requires investing time in learning how to clean it properly and adjust the pressure, which is what nobody tells you. If those $80 - 200 dollars don't hurt too much, go for it, because honestly you're going to improve faster by experimenting with both tools than by sticking with just a brush.
After trying the airbrush without really nailing gradients with a brush, I ended up frustrated because the equipment amplifies your mistakes instead of hiding them - you have to understand how the paint flows and how to control the pressure before you jump into a gun. With 6 months under your belt you'd already have enough foundation to give it a shot if you want, but I'd recommend investing first in a decent quality brush and practicing another 2-3 months; the airbrush isn't magic, it's a tool that works better when you already know what you're doing, and in your case with those Colombian prices I don't want you to waste money out of impatience.
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