I have found some good deals… airbrushes don’t tend to wear out – except some of their seals…
Paasche and Badger are good, and not too expensive. The differences are mostly a mater of personal preference.
I have some notes on air-brushing here… http://www.naplak.com/modeling/tips/air-brushing.htm
You might sind something useful there.
Hey,
If you don’t have a place to do this go rent one of those storage places & get a workbench . Most have a electrical outlet & you can have ventilation. There you won’t be bothering anyone with your hobby.
Meredith-
I spent the last 3 1/2 years modelling in a condo so had similar space/noise constraints. The simple compressor I used is pretty small, maybe 6"x9" and 5" or so tall. It’s not TOTALLY sient but the vast majority of the racket comes from having it on the floor or next to a wall, so sitting it on a piece of foam made it quiet enough not to bother the neighbors. It DOES lack a regulator but that hasn’t bit me… yet 
As I mentioned before, not exactly top of the line but it works for what I need and it’s economical!
Hey Meredith
I too live in an apartment on the top floor. When I was looking for a compressor I first checked the price of a hobby compressor and found that they were in the range of $250 Canadian (no regulator or moisture trap). I then went to one of the local hardware stores and purchased a small commercial compressor with a tank and regulator for $139, for another $10 added a moisture trap. As far as noise level goes, I placed a piece of carpet underneath the unit to reduce vibration and noise. Because it has a tank on it, it takes a minute to charge the tank and then I have approximately 10 minutes of spray time before it cycles to fill again. I do all my spraying in the afternoon and early evening to ensure that I don’t bother anyone. But to truly honest, my vacuum is louder and my landlord has stood outside my door with the compressor running and never heard a thing.
Ok, first thing first…
What do you mean “cheap”? Cost-wise? Quality-wise? What? For, you see, “cheap” does not necessarily mean “bad” or “inferior”. Same goes to “no-name”, albeit buying a well-known brand airbrush is usually associated with better quality and tech support. Ok, ok, I’m aware of that good ole “bying-cheap-can-be-expensive” proverb but it just doesn’t always apply, does it?
I see you’ve failed to comply with a major rule of thumb here: Never, ever, perform tests on a model. What styrene sheets are for? [:D]
Well, then, try to think positive. After all, you did get the best that your money could buy. So, why not try to get the best out of it as well?
Ooops… Not so fast… I think that you should go easier on that poor old airbrush you have… What I mean is that there are so many factors that should be taken into consideration before an airbrush is declared as being crappy: Defective regulators, inferior quality air can, clogged air outlets, insufficient airbrush cleaning, low pressure in the can, improperly adjusted output pressure, bad paints, inadequate thinning, incompatible thinners, lack of experience, doing things in a hurry, just to name a few… Do you want an example? What if you bought a “cheap no-name” car (instead of a Rolls) and filled it up with crude oil instead of gasoline? Should you blame the car if it didn’t move a bit? Not to mention that a Rolls would have had the same “luck” with crude oil as well… Need I say more? [:D]
LOL Meredith, that bad, uh? [xx(]
Odds are that you’re gonna be a fine scale modeler as well. Provided that you’re gonna stick with it passionately, patiently and methodically. Experience is always hard to obtain but it sure goes a long way and pays back in the end. Just remember the first time that you got your hand on that little Photoshop virtual airbrush. It sure wasn’t that easy back then, was it? Nevertheless, I bet you didn’t blame it on Photoshop, did you? [;)]
Conclusion: Don’t give up on your airbrush. Try to get the best out of it instead. Keep on experimenting and feel free to ask your way around anytime you feel that you have to. After all, what we forum friends are here for?
Best of luck,
I would tak in all of the above, some really good advice there, but if you want a cheap place to get quality airbrushes, ebay is the way to go.
One more comment from the bench…
If you’re at all ‘handy’ and willing to experiment, check the web for articles on building a compressor from an old refridgerator compressor. I got mine from an appliance repair shop for pretty cheap ($10). Hook it up to a tank of some sort and you’re off running. (of course, I highly recommend a regulator, filter, and pressure switch, but that’s why I asked if you were ‘handy’…)
I built mine purely for the ‘silence’ factor and am very happy with it. The bonus for me was that it ended up being very cheap (ie. affordable) as well.
M.
I’ve got an Aztec and it gave me fits at first. some times it wouldn’t draw any paint at all. Then I learned to ignore the instructions and only hand-tighten the nozzles just until they were snug. Now it’s reliable, easy to use and works beautifully. As a rule, I clean it with laquer thinner after every use.
Meredith,
MKish has a great idea just make sure the tank you use can handle
high pressure. If not it could lead to a very nasty suprise or worse. Don’t give
up and keep practicing.
Fuzzy
I don’t know what i’m doing, but now my aztek bit me. Somewhere along the line the thing developed a sharp edge, and now my finger is gashed. Filed the edge off, contemplated throwing the damn thing against a wall, finished the camo on my M1A1, and left the thing soaking in thinner.
Why do the modelling gods hate me?
cader28-I wouldn’t put up with that kind of insolence from that stupid Aztek…Bite it back-THEN throw it against the wall!!
You have my complete empathy on the subject…Hang in there
I say melt the Aztek down and use the resulting plastic for scratchbuilt detail!
As for airbrushes, a much easier and cheaper alternative is:
STICK TO BRUSH PAINTING!!!
It’s not as popular, and most people think it’s “for begginers”, but it IS cheap, it IS effective, and I use it!(matter of fact, it’s the only way I paint!) Brushes may not make feathered demarcation lines, but so what? Like we need realism?!
(NOTE: this post was mostly made to show my hidden jealousy of airbrushers, and my deep-seated longing for the tool of the Modeling Gods, a Paasche H!!)
…obviously contradicting with…
The above propositions both cannot be true (or both cannot be false) at the same time. But then again…
Hahahahaha… my friend, NOW you make sense!!! [:D][:D][:D]
2 things i love about this forum:
In response to everyone’s questions and tips I offer the following:
the cheap no-name airbrush was simply labled “hobby airbrush” and I got it from ebay for 8 bucks to just try the whole thing out…
after being gently reprimanded, i will never test on an actual model again, cross my heart
i will not buy an Aztek airbrush
George Jr., you are great pep-talker
and, here’s the best part, my husband has said that if i’ve stuck to the hobby by Christmas, we’ll buy a compressor and some foam padding and make a quiet set up as recommended by you apt/condo dwellers who know my pain…the upside to this is I know that if i’m clearly still in to modeling by the end of the summer (no question that i will be) I’ll be able to move that Christmas compressor date up to about Labor Day, or at worst, Halloween
Hi Merideth,
I am glad to hear your husband looks after you. Your Airbrush is on the way, just mailed it. Hope it works out for you.
Good Luck 
Andy, you are the greatest. There’s a big box of homemade cookies coming your way!
Thanx for the kind word, Merideth…
Great pep-talker, uh? Well, you see, to raise enthusiasm is half part of my profession, the other half being to raise …doubt!!! (being a lawyer and all that)… [:D][;)][:D]
Merideth,
Take a look at these compressors. They would be great for your application and you won’t need to build a foam-lined box to put over them which can cause overheating and shorten the life of the compressor.
http://www.dixieart.com/TC2000.html
http://www.dixieart.com/Silentaire_Scorpion_Compressors.html
http://www.dixieart.com/Iwata_Studio_Series_Compressors_Main.html
I think the Createx TC2000 is the best bet as it comes with everything you will need.
Mike
I feel a tear coming on. Watching everyone come to the aid of a fellow modeller who needs some help. What a great group of people.
Merideth, as Mike said, do some shopping around for a compressor. There’s lots of choices out there and some of them are pretty loud. You’ve got some time, so do some research and set your sights on the best you can afford.
Good Luck.
Murray
Wow, I’m psyched to see how many compressors there are that are quiet. I just assumed that they’d all be big oily monsters that rattled the floorboards. Hopefully one of these other models will be a good alternative. With luck, one will pop up on ebay at a less-than-retail price. Thanks again to everyone!