1.) I use a Napa portable air tank plumbed with a regulator. I fill it up using my garage compressor. This enables me to have a quiet modeling session with occasional (weekly or so) fillups in the garage.

2.) Napa air tank $45, garage compressor $450 (if you count the garage compressor as a modeling purchase. I had bought it for working on my Jeep and for other jobs after I left the mechanic's business.)

3.) Been running this setup for 12yrs or so now.

1.) What air source do you use?

=> Iwata Smart Jet + Sparmax 2.5L tank.

2.) How much did it cost you?

=> Less than $300

3.) How long have you had it?

=> 3 years.

4.) Is noise a consideration where you live? (For me it is a little. But lucky I only share the ceiling with the person above me. No walls or floor.)

=> I HATE noise.  The Smart Jet is quiet.  

Scott, welcome back.

I have had a Sparmax AC-100 (now replaced with the AC-101) for about 2 years. Paid around $180 at Hobby Lobby.

Noise level is important to me, and it is very quiet. (disclaimer, I don't have a lot of varied experience with home/hobby compressors, there may be quieter ones out there.

Were I buying a compressor again, it would probably be the Sparmax TC620X that Bick mentioned, for the addition of the tank. I think the number may be slightly different now though.

Noise is a factor for me, just for personal comfort.  I used to have a compressor up in the garage, with pipe fed into my basement workshop, with a regulator and airbrush adapter on the end of the pipe.  But it eventually wore out, plus I always hated running upstairs to turn the compressor on and off at beginning and end of painting sessions. So I bought a cheap pancake 2 gallon compressor for the workshop- it was so loud I had to wear ear protection when using it.  I finally bit the bullet and paid 140+ for an Iwata Silver Jet.  Quiet!  I can enjoy the music on the radio. It will ordinarily only put out a little over 20 psi with my airbrushes, but I find that adequate, as I spray in the range between 15 and 20 anyway.

Scott,

1) I use a Sparmax TC620X

2) Bought it from Dixie Art for $299 delivered.

3) Have had it for a couple of years now

4) Noise was a consideration only for me personally - nothing like having a pancake compressor come on when you're doing fine detail work and startle you.