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My Luxumbra Airbrush suitcase sits on the shelf unused:


I know this isn’t the best airbrush out there, but it seemed like a good entry point & it came with a decent selection of paints.
I have a huge stack of unpainted infinity minis languishing in their boxes due to my indecision over buying a compressor.

I need advice picking a compressor to buy.
Sparmax ACHIEVE TC-501N seems like a reasonable price for something that’s not top of the line, but is also not utter junk.

Goes for $200 on amazon.

Of course Angel Giraldez recommends something that’s 2x or 3x as expensive in his book, Aero-pro HTC 20A:


This Iwata-Medea Studio Series Power Jet Lite kind of occupies the middle ground between the two:


How much of a difference would it really make to a your humble average hobbyist? I know jack about compressors.
I would appreciate any input in as much detail as you can provide.

Get the masters compressor with a tank from amazon or tcp global - $100 and extremely good



Automatically Appended Next Post:
I suppose I should go into more detail for you though.

There are effectively two types of compressors for us - tankless, and tanked. Having a tank gives a few benefits, the first is that your compressor will not run the entire time meaning that it will last longer, and will not suffer as many heating issues (a big deal if you live in a hot climate - heat = hot air = moisture = bad times). Second, and probably most important, a tank will give you much more consistent air delivery - a compressor pumps air in a stuttering motion, a reservoir (or tank) will remove the stutter, allowing you to do finer lines and get a more consistent result.

Brands are irrelevant - they are all made in the same place by the same people. The AS186 is the main compressor you will see out there, and is rebranded as the "masters" brand in the US. It is dirt cheap, will last a long time, and has everything you need.

My first compressor was the Iwata smart jet lite (i think, it was a tanked iwata like your last picture, and $500) - I would have been far better off with a better brush and an AS/AF186 compressor.

That H&S Ultra is a solid entry brush, with a decent compressor it will take you a long way.

+1 to what kb lock said. I got a compressor without a tank when i started airbrushing and wished i hadn't . You should be able to get a decent compressor with a tank off ebay/ amazon without it costing an arm and a leg. And the Ultra is a decent airbrush. I got one with one of the vallejo airbrush paint sets and have even used it to paint some Infinity minis!

I use an air tool compressor with a 1.5 gallon tank. This way it can double for airing up the tires, blowing out the garage, using pneumatic tools, nail guns, etc. They are super rugged and cheap - you can get one at a discount freight/tool store for about $60. Just make sure to have a good inline moisture trap.

I think I’m down to either Iwata smart plus jet tubular


Or the regular smart jet pro

Are you going to read anything we have written? If not, then follow your dreams

 Bladerunner2019 wrote:
I think I’m down to either Iwata smart plus jet tubular


Or the regular smart jet pro

Do you realise that the smart jet pro does not have a tank? You should also note that the tubular does have a tank but it's really quite small (the handle is the tank, very odd).

 MDSW wrote:
I use an air tool compressor with a 1.5 gallon tank. This way it can double for airing up the tires, blowing out the garage, using pneumatic tools, nail guns, etc. They are super rugged and cheap - you can get one at a discount freight/tool store for about $60. Just make sure to have a good inline moisture trap.

I did the same thing. Got a small Mastercraft compressor from Canadian Tire; does the job I got it for, but it's as loud as a Slaaneshi lullaby when it's running.