Mr. Hobby Procon Boy FWA Platinum 0.2 mm Double Action Airbrush [Unboxing and Review]

Finally the last hurdle to regular airbrushing sessions with miniature figurines has been overcome. Needing more control in how paint was being dispensed from an airbrush, I now have it with the Mr Hobby Procon Boy FWA Platinum 0.2 Double Action airbrush by GSI Creos. While it may not be the flagship airbrush in Mr Hobby's line of products - that title belongs to the Mr Airbrush Custom 0.18 - the Platinum 0.2 is a good enough mid-range airbrush that's well suited to my current needs. Here then is a short unboxing and review post on Mr.Hobby's Platinum 0.2 airbrush.  

Mr. Hobby Procon Boy FWA Double Action Platinum 0.2 Airbrush

This airbrush usually retails for about ¥13,300 but I bought it online from HobbyLink Japan for a good price of ¥10,640. When I last checked it was selling for ¥11,970 at the site. For this price, the Mr Hobby Procon Boy FWA Platinum 0.2 Double Action airbrush comes with a Micro Air Control (MAC) air valve below a 10 cc. capacity paint cup. Allowing for better control, the MAC air valve alters paint velocity, changes how paint atomizes and fine tunes spray patterns. Even more control is to be had via the needle stopper at the end of the airbrush that determines the amount of paint flowing out the tip. Essentially a quality airbrush allows one to work slowly with more accuracy.

Detailed description of the airbrush listed at the back of the box is all in Japanese

Tools and accessories included are shown in the side box art

A clear plastic sheet helps prevent scratches to the airbrush container

GSI Creos provides two different sets of instructions for the airbrush. One is a dual language (English/Japanese) guide describing installation, operating and maintenance steps (bottom, left). The other is a Japanese language only troubleshooting guide listing common problems faced by modellers when using the airbrush and the corresponding fix to the problem (bottom, right). Both the airbrush and its accessories are housed within a sturdy plastic casing with extra foam protection inside. 

While a set of English instructions is provided, the more detailed troubleshooting guide is in Japanese only

The Procon Boy FWA Double Action Platinum 0.2 mm airbrush is encased in a solid plastic container

An angled view of the airbrush and its accessories inside the soild plastic container

The airbrush sports a nice chrome finish and has a nice heft to it. In addition to the airbrush, GSI Creos also includes accessories comprising a nozzle wrench, a 1/8" hose and joints, a 1/8" hose connector and an air adjustment valve for use with air cans. The tip of the airbrush has a crown-type needle cap and that can be closed off by a clear rubber-like cap during storage. Meanwhile, the 10 cc. paint cup mentioned earlier comes with a lid containing a bleed hole in the center.

Inside, the airbrush and its accessories were held securely in place by a rigid foam material

Mr. Hobby Procon Boy FWA Double Action Platinum 0.2 Airbrush and its accessories

Straight out of the box, the 1/8" airbrush hose male connector provided isn't of much use to me because my air compressor has a 1/4" hose female connector. So I replaced it with a Quick Release Disconnect Coupler containing both male and female hose connections in 1/4". I wholly recommend getting disconnect couplers with a quick release mechanism for it makes for a much more efficient way to detach an airbrush from the connecting hose. This will translate into less mini-accidents on the worktable e.g. spillage from the paint cup, etc. especially for someone as clumsy as me.  

Tip of the airbrush comes with a protective plastic cover that can be used during storage

Mr.Hobby's Platinum 0.2 airbrush needle cap is of the crown type

Closeup view of the delicate 0.2 mm airbrush needle

Performance-wise, the airbrush worked like a charm. It afforded me enough control to airbrush thin lines and small areas quite easily. Trigger tension felt comfortable as did the balanced weighty feel of the airbrush as a whole. This coupled with the MAC valve and the needle stopper provides modellers with a high level of control to dispense paint slowly and accurately. Of course it goes without saying that more trial and error is required before optimal airbrush/pressure settings can be established and requisite muscle memories can be built in order to achieve a specific desired result.

Airbrush offers a high level of control to allow one to paint slowly and accurately

This airbrush is capable of very fine lines for precision work

That's it then. No more pussyfooting around. No more excuses that allows me to procrastinate airbrushing an actual miniature figurine. No more airbrushing just plastic spoons. It's time to airbrush flesh colors on the atelier iT HQ12-02 Race Queen miniature resin figurine. For now though I'll take my leave of you, my dear readers, with this quote from oil painter extraordinaire Bob Ross ... "Talent is a pursued interest. Anything that you're willing to practice, you can do."