Gaahleri is a very prolific Chinese airbrush manufacturer that focuses on quality and proprietary designs, rather than cheap knock-offs. And all of this at very competitive prices. Find out what’s behind it in this review, for which I tested two of their most popular airbrushes as well as the GT-918 compressor.


GHAC-98D Ace Series Airbrush unboxing
The GHAC-98D has an RRP of around $60 and sits in the mid-range of Gaahleri’s product line. The design of the dual-action airbrush is classic with no unnecessary frills, but unfortunately, it doesn’t have an adjustable air control. Apart from that, the airbrush can be easily disassembled completely, and even the cup can be unscrewed, making cleaning easier. You can switch between a 0.35 and 0.5 mm needle and nozzle, and the box includes additional O-rings and a small tube of lube. That’s quite something at this price point.


Gaahleri Premium Series GHPM-Mobius 0.2mm unboxing
The design of the more premium Mobius airbrush, priced at around $70, is very sleek. Gaahleri has developed a unique design centered around the spiral-shaped ‘Micro Air Control’ nozzle, setting it apart from other manufacturers.
The Mobius comes in a version with 0.2 or 0.3mm nozzle, I tested the 0.2mm version. The airbrush comes in a presentation box, and just like with the GHAC-98D, there are also spare O-rings and lube included for free. The build quality feels higher than other budget airbrushes, but not quite on the level of $150+ airbrushes. The high-gloss finish of the airbrush had a few minor scratches here and there in my case, perhaps because Gaahleri tests every airbrush before it leaves the factory.


The airbrush is very easy to disassemble for cleaning and is very modular. The paint cup can be unscrewed, as can the entire front section including the nozzle and atomization chamber. The trigger pull feels good, but not quite as direct as my more expensive Mr Hobby PS-289.
My experiences with the Gaahleri airbrushes
Moving on to the test, I initially had trouble producing a smooth spray pattern with both the GHAC-98D and Mobius 0.2mm. I tested regular acrylic paints, which I thinned with a mixture of Vallejo Airbrush Thinner and a bit of Flow Improver, as well as dedicated airbrush acrylics like Warpaints Air and Vallejo Game Air. However, the paint dried quickly on the tip, and the spray pattern had splatter. You can see it on the zenithal basecoat on Horus’ display base, as well as the red glow I sprayed on Horus’ face and claws.




Then I experimented with different thinners, and eventually settled on the thinner with retarder from the Ionic Smart Paints series, which as the name suggests, extends the drying time. I also increased the amount of thinner and raised the pressure to slightly over 30 PSI, and with that, I was finally able to achieve nice, smooth transitions, as you can see on the Skaven below.


Gaahleri Dual Drive Series Airbrush Kit Compressor GT-918 review
For this review, I also tested the GT-918 compressor, priced at $110. Previously, I had the popular Fengda FD-186 compressor, which I have nothing but good things to say about. I had it under my desk, but since I recently replaced my desk with a height-adjustable model, I was looking for a more compact compressor to give me more room for height adjustments.


The Gaahleri GT-918 has a nice, compact design, encased in a black housing with a carrying handle. The compressor has a 1-liter air tank as a buffer, so it doesn’t have to constantly pump air. This is smaller than the 3-liter tank of the Fengda FD-186, so it needs to pump more frequently, but it’s still better than many other compressors of this size that don’t have a tank at all. In practical use, this hardly bothered me, which is also due to the fact that the operating noise is slightly lower than the Fengda.
An additional feature is the dual outlets, so you can operate two airbrushes at the same time. This can be practical if you want to switch between two colors quickly, or between airbrushes with different needle sizes.
Value
Price-wise, Gaahleri products are above the typical “Made in China” budget airbrushes but significantly below well-known brands like Iwata and Harder & Steenbeck. For the quality offered, it’s fair and worth the price, especially since there are often discounts on Gaahleri’s website and Amazon. Also a positive: on Gaahleri’s website you can also get the complete range of spare parts, also at fair prices.
For a $10 difference, however, I would choose the Mobius over the GHAC-98D if you can do without the interchangeable needle size.
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7.0 Score
Pros
- Unique components and airbrush designs
- Very modular, easy to clean
- Each box comes with free O-rings and lube
Cons
- Struggling a bit with the atomisation of acrylic paints
Final Verdict
I applaud Gaahleri for coming up with their own airbrush designs and focusing on quality over quantity. Their products are all worth the money and are good mid-range tools. However, when it comes to atomization, spray pattern, and trigger feel, it's evident that they can't quite match the twice-as-expensive airbrushes from Iwata, Harder & Steenbeck, and the like, despite their fancy exteriors.