$200 Compressor

Yeah go for a real one. Aside from other uses, and price, the fact you can sharge it, turn it off and use it for hours is great. Only downside is the "can't pick up in one hand size".

I bought one of the dedicated hobby air compressors and latter found out I could have bought a "real" air compressor for the same amount.  I don't really worry about the noise and if you don't get a "real" one and then you can use it for many other things.

Grizz

If you want it for airbrushing only then these are good choices:

http://dixieart.com/Silentaire_Scorpion_Compressors.html

http://www.bearair.com/prodinfo.asp?number=120117

If you want one that you can use to fill your car tires, etc also then something like this will do fine:

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?cat=Compressors+%26+Air+Tools&pid=00916726000&vertical=TOOL&subcat=Air+Compressors+%26+Inflators&BV_UseBVCookie=Yes 

With that 17 gallon tank you could fill it till it stopped and shut it off and have enough air to paint any model you will be working on and clean the airbrush also.

if noise is not an issue, then you can get a "pancake" or "hot dog" compressor for under $100 US.

i have this hot dog http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?cat=Compressors+%26+Air+Tools&pid=00915310000&vertical=TOOL&subcat=Air+Compressors+%26+Inflators&BV_UseBVCookie=Yes 

however i live in an apartment, and now my new neighbors are home all the time and have already complained once about the noise .  i was going to go the CO2 route but i think i'll lay down the cash for a hobby compressor instead.

 

 

I went to an autoparts franchise and got a full sized compressor witha 2.5hp motor and 40 litre (10 gallon I think). Cost me A$150 (about US$120) with a free hose. All you need for your compressor is that your airbrush hose has a 1/4 inch fitting on the compressor end. It isn't something you pick up with one hand but hey, I can pressurizer the tank, and turn the unit off and there is enough air in there to paint for a couple of hours as airbrush pressure and volume... Nice and quiet...

Hey George, welcome to the boards.

It really depends on the kind of compressor you're looking for.  If you're looking for a dedicated airbrush compressor (i.e. one of those silent tankless types), I'll let the experts give their advice on those.

I went with a small 3.5 gallon Craftsman compressor.  It has a highly adjustable output (I can manipulate it to within  half of a PSI) and because of the tank, usually only fills once every other use.  Nice thing about it is that it can also power small air tools like nibblers and sanders.  It's a bit noisy on fll up, but that only takes about 30 seconds.  It cost me about $100 about 2 years ago. 

-Fred