Item: GREX Genesis Model XN and XT Double Action Airbrushes

Manufacturer: GREX
Stock Number: GX-XN, GX-XT
MSRP: XN $139.98  XT $199.98
Ordering Information: www.grexusa.com
Reviewed by: Floyd S. Werner, Jr.

Advantages: Sturdy construction, gravity feed, fine spray pattern, quality engineering, sturdy carry case

Disadvantages: No Access to needle from front of airbrush body (XT)

The Grex XN and XT
Straight out of the box these airbrushes have the heft and feel of precision Tools. I will talk about the two of them as a pair at first because together they are all the airbrush I would need for any modeling project.
The nickel chrome plating on these fine airbrushes makes cleaning (the key to painting happiness) a breeze. Removing the dried paint from the edges and rim of the cups is a little like cooking on Teflon… a thinner soaked Q-tip easily lifts the dried paint. The Grex brushes use the Iwata style brush to hose connectors.

The Grex XN
This internal mix, double action, gravity feed air brush has the heft and feel of a fine precision tool. It’s a twin to my Iwata HP-C (at half the cost!). The parts seem interchangeable. The fluid nozzle is .2 mm which allows laying down a pattern from a hairline to winder than ½ “. For me use of this small nozzle requires liberal thinning of model paints by as much as 50/50. Generally I look for the consistency of skim milk. The small paint cup (1/20 of an oz.) holds enough paint for detail work and will in fact cover the top of a 1/48 scale P40 or both sides of a 1/72 scale single engine fighter. This brush lays down a beautiful pattern with soft speckle free edges and is just the ticket for free hand camouflage.

The long taper on the point of the needle makes for a nice long trigger pull for good control of paint flow. The knob on the end of the brush limits the trigger pull and paint flow to a preset maximum. The idea is to help with consistent coverage. That’s not always a good thing because as paint dries on the needle (a bigger problem with acrylic paint) one needs to pull the trigger back further and further to allow for a constant pattern.

The instructions call for air pressure settings from 14 to 80 psi. I started out at 14 psi using 60/40 diluted Tamiya paint and it worked better than I thought it would but I got better results using slightly less pressure.
This is a great second airbrush and coupled with the XA or XT you have a dynamite combo to cover (pun intended) all of your modeling needs.

The Grex XT
The unique trigger design offers a great compromise between double action and single action brushes. I liked it a lot… if that’s enough, or you’re an impatient reader jump to the end, look at the price and you’ll see that it’s great bargain to boot. The Superb fit and finish gives the XT the heft and feel of a quality instrument and it’s based on a proven Iwata design. The nickel chrome plating makes for easy clean up… a little like cooking with Teflon. That’s a very big deal because many of the airbrush problems that are brought to my attention have to do with dried paint somewhere in the brush.
The design of the XT makes it very easy to apply consistent patterns of uniform coverage which is ideal when applying primers or clear coats. Moreover, the trigger design aids in keeping the angle of the brush perpendicular to the work and the airflow consistent making it easy to produce consistent repetitive patterns.

The needle and nozzle cap are of a design that permits back flushing for cleaning the paint passageway. Just fill the cup with thinner or solvent, cover the needle cap with finger or rag, push the trigger down then pull it all the way back thus forcing the thinner around all forward portions of the needle and through the paint passageway. This is a lot easier than pulling the needle all the time and using pipe cleaners on the paint passageway. Speaking of pulling the needle, it must come out the back of the brush. It’s one of the few downsides of this design. Be sure to clean the needle before pulling it back through the brush. If you don’t it pulls paint back into the trigger and air valve mechanism. Dried paint build up back there will eventually inhibit free movement of the needle back and forth and the operation of the trigger up and down to activate the air valve. This dried paint will necessitate a complete break down and cleaning of the brush and it’s a good idea to keep those as infrequent as possible. Actually I do a practice break down on a new airbrush design before I start using it because I can tell how the action is supposed to feel before it is clogged with paint. If the paint build up is slow I sometimes forget how smooth it was when new.

The needle cap protects the tip of the needle and you don’t have to be as careful of protecting the point or use an additional cap when the brush is not in use. The down side is that you need to remove it to get close enough for a really fine line.
The internal mix and fine craftsmanship associated with this line of airbrushes makes for a beautiful consistent spray pattern and ease of use.

Highly Recommended

KPL Systems carries the entire GREX line of airbrushes. Contact Ken LaSala at kplsys@verizon.net for ordering information.

GREX Genesis.XT
Trigger Style- Double Action- Side Gravity Feed Airbrush
Item # Genesis.XT
MSRP# $199.98
Reviewed by: Floyd S. Werner, Jr.
IPMS# 26266

Have you ever been painting a model and had your trigger finger cramp up.  I have, especially when doing Luftwaffe modeling, maybe what you need is a better way to airbrush.  Enter the GREX Genesis.XT.  I first saw the GREX product line at the IPMS/USA Nationals.  Emblazoned in the lime green booth were some excellent products for you to test drive.  I was immediately impressed with the feel and action of all the airbrushes.  The Genesis.XT was the first time I’ve had the pleasure to use a trigger style airbrush. 

Amazingly, the Genesis.XT can do everything from a fine line to larger area coverage.  Fitted with a .35mm nozzle and a 360 degree swiveling paint cup the airbrush is ideal for model painting.  The action is easy enough, just pull back like a gun trigger and you are painting.  The more you pull the more paint, typical double action.  The further away you get from the model the larger the area of coverage.

The action of the trigger demonstrates the precision that is a hallmark of the entire GREX line.  I also picked up the Genesis.XN ($139.98) and had great success with it as well.  The GREX line works with the same style of hose as an Iwata.  Everything about this airbrush exudes quality.  The airbrush shows up in a lime green box encasing a plastic case with the airbrush including two reservoirs, paint cup cover, a wrench for disassembly and the instruction sheet.  Everything is protected by foam packaging. 

Looking nice is one thing performance is another and the truth is in the usage.  The most difficult thing I can think of is Luftwaffe mottling.  I ran mine at 5-10 psi and had no problem with either enamels or acrylics.  I was able to do Luftwaffe mottling and also the gloss and flat coats.  I really enjoyed the ease with which I was able to do the clear coats.  It is unrivalled with how well it worked for this application.  Also, and this is the best part, my fingers didn’t cramp up even after all the testing and painting.

This airbrush, along with the traditional XN, has a prominent place on my paint bench.  That is the best recommendation I can give.  Just like every airbrush, the more you work with it the better you’ll get.  Practice, practice and some more practice. 

The Genesis.XT is an exceptionally good airbrush that is a great value.  What more do you need to know.  If you are looking for a new airbrush consider the GREX Genesis series.  You will not be sorry. 

Highly recommended