I'm a self-confessed lover of gadgets and gizmos, but I'm also the first to admit that it's frequently the humblest things that turn out most useful in the long run. So it is with modelling tools and accessories, and I think one of the latest items from the Airbrush Company will prove almost indispensible - their airbrush cleaning kit.

I've been looking for something like this for years! Instead of struggling with pipe-cleaners that are too thick and leave bits of fluff behind, here's a set that's purpose-made for cleaning an airbrush.

The set comprises 5 x miniature bottle brushes on a key-ring which are perfect for cleaning the interior of the airbrush body and tubing. They are graded in size so you can easily find a suitable diameter for your particular airbrush. Each brush is about 3cm long and has a steel stem approximately 6cm long, which gives plenty of reach. The bristles are synthetic so, unlike a pipe-cleaner, they are easy to clean for re-use. The bristles are stiff enough to shift even stubborn, dried-on paint - as I found to my shock when I saw just how much gunge they got out of an airbrush which I'd previously thought was reasonably clean! (Caution: although the stem of the smallest brush is only about 1mm in diameter, that's still far too thick to risk using inside an airbrush's delicate nozzle - a tiny interdental brush or a sharpened cocktail stick is a safer option in this case.)

Conclusion

It's not often I describe something as indispensible but, basically, if you use an airbrush, sooner or later you're likely to need a cleaning kit like this. For little more than the price of a couple of pots of paint, here's a set of cleaning brushes that will be an essential part of my painting set-up. It's cheap and simple, and should last for years, and will help ensure you're getting the best performance out of your airbrush. Highly recommended.

Please remember, when contacting retailers or manufacturers, to mention that you saw their products highlighted here - on AEROSCALE.