Time For An Air Compressor

I've owned several compressor starting with a Master Airbrush TC20T, Badger 180-15 without the tank, and currently a Paasche D3000R. I can't speak for Grex or Iwata, fancy CO2 tanks, piston, or screw compressors but I think a diaphragm with a tank is all you need.

IMO you can't go wrong with the Master Airbrush for $90-100. Noise level wise, they're more or less the same. Reliability wise, my Badger and Paasche broke down within the first year of using them and they were replaced by the makers so kudos to them. I break a lot of things I own but there's not much I can do to break a compressor. Frankly, I suspect these compressors come out of one or two factories in China. 

Another benefit is Master Airbrush's 2 year warranty versus most others who only offer 1 year. These compressors are decidely low tech but they run hot so maybe that's why the longevity has been an issue for me. 

When you are in the market for anything like a car, truck, airbrush, etc, anything you can't find info on, you post a thread and hope for the best.  Same with this thread. I posted it and then behold I went back a few threads and there were the responses I needed. If I just took the time intially, I would not have cluttered this forum with my question.

Tcpglobal seems to have had quite a few good feedbacks as far as customer service and quality of merchandise.  I looked at the TC-20T air compressor (thankyou japan617 for the headsup) and after looking at amazon for the same compressor, I went with Tcpglobal.  I know that most compressors are from China, but a leap of faith based upon reviews is helpful to many.  Like so many products we use, the primary assembly is done outside the U.S.A.

I hope to receive it by this weekend, along with the paints I ordered.  I have a 1/48th scale P51D that needs finishing.  It's only been sitting on my shelf a little over half built since 2008.

This is a follow up on my search for a compressor.  I did choose the TC-20T from TCPglobal.  It suits my needs but lack of information or shall I say my lack of deligence in reading and understanding the minimal specs on the compressor lead to a delay in getting all the required equipment to run any of the three airbushes I now have.

I purchased the Badger 105 Patriot initially to use, but was given a brand new Aztec (early generation model) which was never used as well as a Paasche #VL airbrush, which also is in excellant condition.

Now all three airbushes required three separate connections at the connection into each airbrush, which meant more money and time invested into finding these connections.  I got the fittings through TCPglobal and Amazon after spending time looking at hardware stores for said fittings. No luck at the stores, so it was back to the internet. Thank God I finally have all that I need now.  By the way American hardware stores or at least the ones in my area do not carry fittings for compressors in the BSP standard. If it's not NPT or any other American style fitting designation, then the internet is your only hope.

A word of caution.  I have read customer reviews on these compressors and understand that they have had issues, but I hope mine will be minimal at best.  I know these compressors from China may pose a problem in the future, but sometimes we have to settle for what we can find. I finally started up the compressor today and it did was it was supposed to do, fills the 3 liter tank, cuts off and starts near the required psi, so I am somewhat thrilled.

I will start practicing using the airbrushes now so I can officailly be a scale modeler again.

Whatever you buy, just dont get a Testors compressor.