Anyone try the Takumi Micron yet?

Kim McCann

Mac-Valve Maestro!
They just dropped and I've been eyeballing one. Of the dozens of brushes in my collection, the CM SB is my number one, and Eclipse is my second go-to. I love my SB, and am wondering if this is worth the rather pricy upgrade.

Anyone try one yet, and have any thoughts to share?

I saw @DaveG 's great review of the Takumi Eclipse. Wondering if the same observations are applicable to the Takumi micron. I'm also wondering how interchangeable parts might be in the real world (minus marketing fluff). I have a stock of SB needles, nozzles and head assemblies on hand, and it would be wonderful if they were 100% compatible.

So any intel out there on this brush. Is it worth the upgrade?
 
I will have to sell some stuff before ordering the Micron version :cry:

For practical purposes they are the same brush they have always been. Heads, nozzles, trigger bits, needle chuck, handles, everything but the body is the same as they have been. The needle is shorter, but the same shape as the v2, so they can easily be clipped from the back if need be (-7mm - same as the body).

You have several vintage brushes, particularly the Wold, and TC A's - so, are familiar with the advantages of a brush with a short front end. The reduction in distance from trigger to tip moves the hand closer to the work piece... Some people work with long pencil tips, or hold a pencil further up the barrel for detail work, but the vast majority sharpen the point, and get right up on the tip for detail. Same deal with the shorter front end on the brush. I am one that prefers to get right up on that point ;).
 
You have several vintage brushes, particularly the Wold, and TC A's - so, are familiar with the advantages of a brush with a short front end.

I do love the short throw on the vintage brushes, but I have never liked the shorter bodies (like the T&C). I'm an unusually big guy with gorilla hands, and not having the body quite long enough to comfortably fit in the crook of my thumb is an annoyance. My holding style for comfort kind of relies on that to stablize the brush for detail work. So I like the idea of a more vintage feel, but I am a little concerned about the body length.

If the parts are compatible with the same threading, I can pop the handle off one of my CM-C and swap that out.

I'm not above making a "frankenbursh". LOL.

Hmmm...

I think you've helped me make up my mind. Gonna probably order one this week.
 
I am so used to my CM SB V2 by now I dont have o think about how to hold it or how close I am to the substrate so I wont be spending any cash on the Takumi version but I would love to get my hands on the old V1 version again as I loved that airbrush and still regret selling it
 
I do love the short throw on the vintage brushes, but I have never liked the shorter bodies (like the T&C). I'm an unusually big guy with gorilla hands, and not having the body quite long enough to comfortably fit in the crook of my thumb is an annoyance. My holding style for comfort kind of relies on that to stablize the brush for detail work. So I like the idea of a more vintage feel, but I am a little concerned about the body length.

If the parts are compatible with the same threading, I can pop the handle off one of my CM-C and swap that out.

I'm not above making a "frankenbursh". LOL.

Hmmm...

I think you've helped me make up my mind. Gonna probably order one this week.

From the center of trigger (air valve) back, they are identical in length, size, threads, etc to the V2 CM-SB. All of the length was taken out between the front of the air valve casing and head. This is actually the only physical change made to the brush.
 
I am so used to my CM SB V2 by now I dont have o think about how to hold it or how close I am to the substrate so I wont be spending any cash on the Takumi version but I would love to get my hands on the old V1 version again as I loved that airbrush and still regret selling it

I have a V1 in box with a spare head, the same way they used to come from Olympos - unfortunately, I don't think I could bring myself to part with it, because chances of finding another one complete with an unused spare head in original packaging is pretty slim :cry:.
 
They just dropped and I've been eyeballing one. Of the dozens of brushes in my collection, the CM SB is my number one, and Eclipse is my second go-to. I love my SB, and am wondering if this is worth the rather pricy upgrade.

Anyone try one yet, and have any thoughts to share?

I saw @DaveG 's great review of the Takumi Eclipse. Wondering if the same observations are applicable to the Takumi micron. I'm also wondering how interchangeable parts might be in the real world (minus marketing fluff). I have a stock of SB needles, nozzles and head assemblies on hand, and it would be wonderful if they were 100% compatible.

So any intel out there on this brush. Is it worth the upgrade?


I can’t imagine it’s a whole lot different from using a CM-SB. But who knows.
 
I think you get used to the shorter length quickly.
My cm/b is also longer than the cm/sb.
And I notice the difference in the first few lines. after that no more.
I also have my reservations about the better responsiveness.
When I do detailed work I use the paint that is in the airbrush and not the paint from the cub.
I regularly have to pull the trigger further back to get enough suction power so that there is paint in the airbrush again.
With the new cub that is probably no longer necessary.
But I don't think it matters if it's closer to the front.
In my opinion you can only change the response with your trigger short trigger or long trigger
and the angle of your needle.
Or am I completely off the mark now?
 
I think you get used to the shorter length quickly.
My cm/b is also longer than the cm/sb.
And I notice the difference in the first few lines. after that no more.
I also have my reservations about the better responsiveness.
When I do detailed work I use the paint that is in the airbrush and not the paint from the cub.
I regularly have to pull the trigger further back to get enough suction power so that there is paint in the airbrush again.
With the new cub that is probably no longer necessary.
But I don't think it matters if it's closer to the front.
In my opinion you can only change the response with your trigger short trigger or long trigger
and the angle of your needle.
Or am I completely off the mark now?


Hmmm.... I hadn't considered that. You raise a good point.

When you are really close in doing detail work, like skin texture, eyes, etc... one does tend to rely on the paint that is already in the brush body, rather than cup. You're just sipping the paint already 'in the chamber' so to speak. It's the reason a gravity feed is often more reliable for response and some control, as gravity makes sure there is always paint, even when suction is low.

Problem for someone like me with my gorilla hands, is that the damn cup gets in the way of my finger on the trigger, so I have to really crook my finger and it gets tired quickly. Also, that cup is in the way when looking at my work, unless I look around the side, or will cast a weird shadow on the paper.

So I prefer the side feed models for any long session. Tons of finger room, and I can see things.

Downside is the dreaded stall and surge because on detail work, sometimes you aren't pushing enough air to get the suction to pull new paint into the chamber. Over time enough will slowly build up, and it will start again with a surge, leaving an unwelcome 'spit' or splat on the support.

Over the years I've developed a kind of habit for keeping paint flowing at super fine detail. I have a cheap paper sketchbook beside me and just sort of auto blast the page on it when the paint starts slowing down.

Maybe with the Takumi cup feed being higher and taking advantage of gravity, and in theory at least, a shorter paint path.... those changes might tame that particular beast. It looks like it might provide the best of both gravity feed dynamics as well as a cup that is out of the way of my finger and eyesight. It would be a welcome change.

Guess I am going to need to pick one up to see.
 
Iwata took so long getting these out very few have feedback. I imagine alot of people who give their opinion without trying one... can't push a Micron to it's limits anyway.
 
Hmmm.... I hadn't considered that. You raise a good point.

When you are really close in doing detail work, like skin texture, eyes, etc... one does tend to rely on the paint that is already in the brush body, rather than cup. You're just sipping the paint already 'in the chamber' so to speak. It's the reason a gravity feed is often more reliable for response and some control, as gravity makes sure there is always paint, even when suction is low.

Problem for someone like me with my gorilla hands, is that the damn cup gets in the way of my finger on the trigger, so I have to really crook my finger and it gets tired quickly. Also, that cup is in the way when looking at my work, unless I look around the side, or will cast a weird shadow on the paper.

So I prefer the side feed models for any long session. Tons of finger room, and I can see things.

Downside is the dreaded stall and surge because on detail work, sometimes you aren't pushing enough air to get the suction to pull new paint into the chamber. Over time enough will slowly build up, and it will start again with a surge, leaving an unwelcome 'spit' or splat on the support.

Over the years I've developed a kind of habit for keeping paint flowing at super fine detail. I have a cheap paper sketchbook beside me and just sort of auto blast the page on it when the paint starts slowing down.

Maybe with the Takumi cup feed being higher and taking advantage of gravity, and in theory at least, a shorter paint path.... those changes might tame that particular beast. It looks like it might provide the best of both gravity feed dynamics as well as a cup that is out of the way of my finger and eyesight. It would be a welcome change.

Guess I am going to need to pick one up to see.

I ordered one this morning - should be here before the end of this coming week.

The new cup is exactly like the gravity feed, once you have the paint path primed. I can tell you using them back to back, I can easily identify the difference in the Eclipses (regular SBS and Takumi) - which is somewhat negated when using the Takumi cup on the SBS. I find the shorter brush easier to control in the fine detail department, and am really looking forward to driving the Micron version.
 
Do not get me wrong. If I don't already have SB the new
TAKUMI is the one I would buy.
And if I need a new head and needle for 1 of my microns
I will probably get the TAKUMI anyway.
And use the sb or b as spare parts.
 
I got in the Micron Takumi today. Lovely brush ;). I appreciate the shorter body, but will say the difference is much more instantly noticeable on the Eclipse version. Could be because they changed the trigger on the Eclipse too, which also goes towards giving it a different feel... I will be working with it in the morning to assess performance. It's a Micron, so I expect it will behave like one.

DSC_0764.jpg

DSC_0765.jpg
 
I have NO IDEA why Iwata thought it was necessary to use such a large cup. How many people that use an SBS need that capacity.. Very very very very very very few. Just shows how out of touch Iwata is.
 
Well, I will start with saying that I know one of the artists responsible for helping Iwata bring these brushes to market. I will couple that with the fact that going by the numbers, the Iwata CM-C+ is by far the the best selling model they produce in the Micron line. So, with these two things in mind, I would say they are anything but out of touch with what the market was asking for. But, hey, you can't please everyone - I can not tell you how many different configurations I have already heard people saying they SHOULD have done. I too chose to get the optional, smaller 2cc cup with mine right off the bat, because I know I will use the smaller cup more often. Oddly enough, I switched back to the larger cup on the Eclipse for a piece I am working on at the moment. The good thing is, that between Iwata, H&S, Grex, and all the other brands that will likely fit the cup base, there is just about no limit to what one could assemble for themselves... without even mentioning that the Aztek cups, old cups, and siphon feed bottles still fit.
 
It would be nice if they, Iwata, brought out a sidefeed H&S with this cup. A nice and short Infinity/Evolution or even AL would have been nice.
This is one of the main reasons I prefer the Hansa brushes from H&S - they are shorter between trigger and tip. I wish they would upgrade/change them to use the same needles and nozzles as the rest of the H&S and Grafo brushes, though. They have a similar setup, with drop-in self centering nozzles, but they are smaller in overall size, and shape than the rest of the brushes...
 
This probably should be with the Eclipse Takumi post, as I used it every bit as much (if not more) than the Micron version - but, here is my first work using the Takumi airbrushes. @12"x16" on a fine weave canvas sheet that was gesso'd and sealed prior to painting - still a work in progress, but should be done tomorrow. The same shark was painted a while back by Silvia Belviso as a step-by-step in Airbrush step-by-step magazine. I chose to search for the original reference photo, and worked off that.

great white tukami illustration1.jpg

I am more than pleased with the way both brushes work. I would say that to me, the Eclipse is the bigger surprise and more notable variation as compared to the CM-SB Takumi. What I mean is that if someone asked if it was worth replacing an SBS they already had with a Takumi, I would say it is worth considering. On the Micron version, of course it works fabulously. Would I replace an CM-SBv2 I was using with one? Probably not. The changes they made are not as noticeable to me, between the two versions. Certainly, if someone had used the SBv2 previously, they would not be disappointed if they then wound up with the Takumi version. The changes to both models are a plus in my book.
 
This probably should be with the Eclipse Takumi post, as I used it every bit as much (if not more) than the Micron version - but, here is my first work using the Takumi airbrushes. @12"x16" on a fine weave canvas sheet that was gesso'd and sealed prior to painting - still a work in progress, but should be done tomorrow. The same shark was painted a while back by Silvia Belviso as a step-by-step in Airbrush step-by-step magazine. I chose to search for the original reference photo, and worked off that.

View attachment 66094

I am more than pleased with the way both brushes work. I would say that to me, the Eclipse is the bigger surprise and more notable variation as compared to the CM-SB Takumi. What I mean is that if someone asked if it was worth replacing an SBS they already had with a Takumi, I would say it is worth considering. On the Micron version, of course it works fabulously. Would I replace an CM-SBv2 I was using with one? Probably not. The changes they made are not as noticeable to me, between the two versions. Certainly, if someone had used the SBv2 previously, they would not be disappointed if they then wound up with the Takumi version. The changes to both models are a plus in my book.
Great review @DaveG . Thank you. Been trying to order one, but nobody seems to have stock. Where did you order your Takumi micron?
 
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