I have a Paasche, Badger, and 2 Master airbrushes. The Master brand are the cheap chinese ones, but they have gotten a lot better over the last few years. I say that, but the last one I bought I had to return because of a messed up trigger lever. The 2nd one if I screw the .5mm tip protector all the way down it cuts off the air and nothing comes out of the brush. So I just leave the tip slightly loose, or remove the tip protector completely (which I usually do anyway). So it is doubtful I will buy any more, but for $35, they really aren't bad for what I do.
Iwata is the best brand unless you get into the crazy stupid ones that artists use. If you can get another needle, tip, etc, grab it. Createx says you need a .5mm nozzle, so that is the only real specification you need to worry about. But, not sure what BCN means either.
Badger is not known for being a top end brand, but are actually quite good according to that guy I watch. My Badger is like 30 years old, and I don't even use it anymore. So I can't say for sure.
There are also the trigger type brushes, kinda like a cross between a spray gun and an airbrush, which are made for heavier applications. That might be better for what you are doing, but I have never used them, nor have I sprayed actual metal flake out of an airbrush. So let me know
The pearl flake is meant to be sprayed in between coats, like a clear, then the flake, then the backer. You can spray instead the candy, then flake, then backer. Or you can even mix the flake with the candy and spray together then do a backer. Different backers will give different effects.
I am like you and I do a ton of research. But you will find as you get into acrylics, the recommended directions are sometimes just to get you to buy more products it seems. I am far less technical and just put it in the brush and spray. Like the candy stuff Createx sells - they say you HAVE to mix it at THIS ratio with THESE reducers. My son sprayed that speed shape after I poured some candy in the cup, added a few drops of some homemade thinner, and he went to town.
So grab the pearl flake, some clear, and some candies, and have fun! It is not as hard as the directions make it out to be. You should also grab some transparency paper (clear sheet) and test it out. Or you can buy speed shapes at
www.dipyourcar.com
I meant to add - if you are wanting to do a yellow flake, spray a clear coat and let it dry. Then give it a coat or two of yellow candy, just to make sure all the flake stays under yellow. Then add the flake to some yellow candy and spray. I would try this first. Then back it with another color. Black will make the candy only visible in the highlights, but the flake will make it look yellow sparkly. White will make the yellow you saw in my speed shape, but sparklier. Silver will make it all pop. You could even do some luminescents as the backer for some really crazy effects!
WHEW!
