If you have a mechanical bent, I have heard that you can build one using an old fridge compressor but I have no idea how to go about it..
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Might make you laugh this, but, in my naivete I moved-up to my "NEW" 2nd compressor, only to be told...... "It's a Bloody Fridge motor"
I bought it around 2000/2001 from Comet-Miniatures in Lavender Hill, Battersea, London.....
....... this , back when the official U.K Tamiya importer & BEATTIES chain-store-owners, were going 'tits-up'.
Even back then, in a "sale" they were going for £225.00 (normal price, circa £349.00), so I snapped it up "NEW" all strapped-up & sealed.
Lovely unit, dead-quiet at night, but scares the Bejesus out of ya, when the 'Air-Tank' gets depleted & then replenishes - But at least it gives steady pressure.
I've also bought, since, (as my family circumstances changed & I became less affluent !), the same kinda compressor that both Airframes & dinger have described
Paid around a bullseye, but mine came WITH a tank (air-tank), which, like the Badger Million-Air-480 that I still own, allows smooth steady pressure/spraying.
Honestly, looking back with the benefit of hindsight, there is/was no need to buy a hideously expensive compressor (aka fridge-motor), like I did **
** (I just put it down to experience, it's no-loss, I still have it, but I don't have the Wife/Kids/Mortgage that I once did, either !)
Those little 'cheap' £50.00ish compressors do the job just fine, but SOME (like my cheapie), did also come with a Water-Trap as well as Upper-Tank.
I bought my cheapie £53.00 one around six-years ago now, as it takes up FAR less space than the 'Badger-branded' flash 480-1 (in the large room I'm in)
I remember that cheap (rubbishy) one that I'd bought out of Hannants Trafalgar.St (BEFORE Oulton), used to shake & jump like a pneumatic drill **
** (Jeeez, it was frightening & quite frankly not well made, unlike these others)
Get one WITH an external or "linked" tank IF you can, as the air-delivery WILL be much more regulated/steady, plus a Water-Trap is a blessing.
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