need help about iwata micron

An old friend from my school days lives in Japan and works as a translator, and was able to get in touch with somebody over there, and that was the info he was given. I tried contacting one of their Japanese vendors, but their English was horrible, and my Japanese is, well, none, so trying to find out what was going on was confusing, to say the least.
MP200's used to go for $500-$600 IF you were lucky enough to find one on eBay. Now you can buy them for $200 or less. Trust me, the cases and extra head unit don't make a $300-$400 difference. They're plastic.

My guess is that your vendor either doesn't know, or doesn't want you to know, that there is new production. From the sounds of it they may have someone new doing the manufacturing. The older needles I have would probably break before they'd bend. (Also, AndreZA, quit bumping stuff. Lol.) They are ridiculously hard, and definitely work best after they're polished

The only Olympos needle I've bent was on my HP100-B, and it was because I dropped it. I replaced the nozzle and needle with Iwata HP-B parts, but it wasn't quite the same. Eventually, on a tip, I tried Grex parts, and it's pretty damn close. The Grex parts are softer, but apparently quite a few details for their XN were borrowed from the HP100-B.

where did you buy the older neddle from?
 
where did you buy the older neddle from?
A few are from the artist I bought the MP200-C from. The rest I bought from European Olympos retailers like obleeks (I think that's the spelling). Olympos-airbrush.onck.net shows the old-style needle cases on the "parts" section, so they may be NOS.
 
If Grex parts are softer than Olympos then it will be like soft cheese heated up in a microwave.
Lol. They must be using a new supplier, which sucks. Mine are quite a bit harder than Iwata needles.
Where did you get your Olympos from?
 
A few are from the artist I bought the MP200-C from. The rest I bought from European Olympos retailers like obleeks (I think that's the spelling). Olympos-airbrush.onck.net shows the old-style needle cases on the "parts" section, so they may be NOS.

I bought olympos from Olympos-airbrush.onck.net, Needle from that needle case is that i bent against iwata needle. olympos more stronger/harder :)
 
I got it from Painthuffer-airbrush (Frank Artale) on Ebay.
I came across his website and some of his YouTube videos a while back. He definitely likes that SP-B. Lol. (Not that I'd mind giving one a go...)

I wonder why the disparity, and which airbrush lines are effected. Like I mentioned earlier, 5 years ago a used MP200-C would easily sell over $500 on eBay. An MP200-B would start international bidding wars. I saw at least one go for $700. Now, a brand new MP200-C is less than $200? It just raises my eyebrows a bit, you know?
To be clear, I'm not disparaging Frank at all. He seems like an honest salesman, as far as I know.
 
Hi, Sorry I haven't checked in yet, But hello everyone! My name is Vince and I love air brushing 1/16 thru 1/1 scale figure kits. I have been following all of your Olympos threads Because I was curious as to the authenticity of these current brushes. I happen to own a MP-200c from the 1980's that was given to me by a friend. I use it For detail work.I feel It gives me a little better paint control than my Iwata Hi-Line brushes. I also own several other brands and I like the Iwata and Olympos the best! The reason I have been lurking (following) Is I wanted to get a spare MP-200C. So I took a chance and ordered one from Pacific Airbrush. I was concerned it might be fake. I did a as much research as I could before ordering. Here is what I believe is the story:
The current batch of Olympos is not new. They are left over stock from when they closed op shop in the 80's. I think it is the owners son selling off everything left in inventory from a Japanese website. The brush I received from Pacific is identical to the original I was given 5 years ago. inside and out. I have a theory about the needle problems... They have been sitting around for almost 30 years and metal doe's oxidize and possibly weaken. As for Frank Artale I have ordered 2 brushes from him plus extra parts. I really enjoy the SP-B he sent me and just ordered a HP-100SB so I have a side feeder! He is a honest guy who has good taste in air brushes. The Olympos brushes are the best deal going and the prices will go up as the inventory runs out. They are still out of business and are not currently manufacturing anything.
 
Hi Vince thanks for adding your info :) Now you've stopped lurking I hope we see you around some more :)

I have heard the same thing, that they are 'new' as in unused - old stock. As for needle issues as Vince says they are 30 years old, technology production and alloys have moved on, so what was awesome for the time, is not holding up in comparison now. But the deterioration could be a factor.

Are there no modern needles that would fit? Also I was wondering about seals etc, rubber also degrades/hardens over time, and I like the Teflon seals of modern needle packing.
 
Are there no modern needles that would fit? Also I was wondering about seals etc, rubber also degrades/hardens over time, and I like the Teflon seals of modern needle packing.

After giving the right angle for the tip of the needle for those small hole Olympos nozzles, needles of HP series (those with 0.2mm nozzles) of Iwata fit perfectly, also 0.2 and 0.3mm chinese knock off needles work, I tried from Fengda, they're real working, though can't say how long that work will last, time will show. But still, they work! So there's no need to search for original needles. Some skills and there you have it:)
 
I got these for my mp-200c and they work fine for me. They arrive loosely in a box from China. My boy got the mail the day they arrived and brought them to me. He was shaking the box saying "man they sure didn't pack this well whatever it is":eek::eek:

The original Olympos needles I have would never have survived that trip unsecured in a box and then the shake test from my boy. I can sneeze and bend the originals. It might be a hit and miss proposition for some people on these needles but they are only $7US for five needles.
I'm still going to polish them.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00E5XTD6K/ref=ya_aw_od_pi?ie=UTF8&psc=1
 
Back
Top