Find something to practice on.

Before painting that shell, I would find something to practice on first.  See what happens to your paint job.  That is the only way you will know.

Den

" Can anyone lend some wisdom

    I painted for many years using a large shop compressor before downsizing to a smaller one. Just get a cheap inline oil/water filter and you'll be fine. Disposable filters cost about $5 and last a long time airbrushing models.......DaveB

Agree on filter

I agree that an oil/water filter is essential for any compressor that is lubed with oil. No matter how good it is some oil will get carried along with the air. Ona large job sometimes this is no problem but on the small jobs we use them for a little oil can be a BIG problem. It could ruin a paint job. Also any time air is compressed it "squeezes" the moisture out of the air, thus another reason for the filter. Be sure you have enough piping between the tank and the filter to allow the air to drop the moisture in the filter. Also be sure to drain the filter, it should be a see thru filter ideally, and the tanks drain valve to rid it of condensation and prevent rust from forming in the tank's inside. This all becomes habit when you use the compressor a lot but if you don't know about it, it will affect your paint jobs. Hope this helps you out.

Good stuff

I have 2 filters. One inline looks like a gas line filter and another that is clear that I can drain. I'm going to fire it up tomorrow if I can get some other work done first and do some test painting with cheap acrylics before I get out the good stuff to spray on my model. It's a simple, one color job to get my skills back. I always used an oil less compressor before.

Oil compressors are great

Greg.

Oil compressors are great.  They are silent (compared to oiless) and last longer if you keep oil in them!    In addition to the filters you should add a water separator.  A bigger tank like your 10 gal can accumulate water pretty fast, and you don't want it going into the airbrush.  You can pick one up at the CTC eh!

Use the compressor to fill

A separate stand alone air tank.  This is how I use my air brush all the time.  Equip your air tank with a filter, regulator and an air gauge along with a good quality braided air hose and your set to paint with out worries.  By filling an air tank separate from the compressor, you can eliminate 99% of any chance of contaminates getting through your air brush.  I usually fill my tank once per session that I paint, usually just before I'm ready as that give time for the air to "settle" and any moisture will fall to the bottom of the tank with the rest being trapped by your filter.  Air being compressed gets warm and quite moist leading to potential problems painting.  I know the second tank sounds redundant but this has been working for me for quite a number of years now without issue.

Nelson That is a great idea.

Nelson That is a great idea. It also has the advantage of being very quiet and immensely portable, particularly if your compressor is the size of mine.

Air Tank vs small hobby air compressor

I have a couple of small hobby air compressors I've picked up intending to learn to air-brush - just never got around to it yet.  Someday.  But I also have a air-tool compressor I do use, noisy thing though and a bit cumbersome.  (not really that big, it is a smaller portable version of the tool compressors).  

My question is whether this idea of getting an air tank and using that is preferred to the small hobby style compressors designed for air brushing.  

I have the Testor's little blue one, don't waste your money, and a larger (but still small) old one that is much better.  

How many gallons do you need?   

But I sort of have a tank?

Is there any real difference between a seperate tank to hold air and the tanks that are part of my compressor?  This is the compressor I have: 

Campbell Hausfeld 2-Gallon Mini Twin-Stack Air Compressor 

Looked the hardware store today - they had one separate air tank - a 10 gal one for $70.  Might find a smaller one somewhere cheaper but I wonder if there is any difference between just pumping up the air into the tanks on this compressor and running with the power off until the pressure drops and then reload.   ?? 

Our hobby seems to attract

Our hobby seems to attract people that sweat the details, me included.  Try out what you have and see if you have problems, then solve the problems.  All to often we worry about problems that never materialize which leads to procrastination.

With air brushing, Google is your friend so make sure you Google the paint you are using to see what thinners and cleaners are appropriate.  Vary how thin your paint is if you have flow problems from the brush.

If the worse case scenario happens and your paint job is crappy, soak the body in 99% alcohol over night and scrub off the paint with a tooth brush and other various sundries and have another go at it.  I think our hobby scores on the high scale when it comes to "do overs."

Tall tales in airbrushing.

I just have to throw this one out there because nobody else mentioned it.  So, don't shoot the messenger.  Now, i don't hold much for this story, but I have heard of the poor man's tank for airbrushing to be a spare tire.  Of course you have to tote it down to the station for a refill when needed.  I have heard this one many times.  Necessity is the mother of invention.

Den

An Old Inner Tube might do?

And it can be pumped up by hand or outside with any tire inflating compressor you have. .... interesting idea, ... appeals to this poor man. 

Tank vs compressor:

using a separate tank you get rid of the pressure pulses that the compressor sends thru the line. A filter and pressure regulator is always a good idea. And practice. Your never can practice too much. Jose.   

When I was in my teens

I used an old tire for airbrushing. I pumped it up by hand. I was much more energetic then than I am now.

Inner tube

Will not provide enough pressure to effectivly use an air brush, that's why many used an old spare tire.  Most tires have a MAX PSI rating of around 40 to 50 PSI.