Airframes
Benevolens Magister
If you've got a couple of quid Keith, go to B&Q (or similar), and get a 2 litre container of White Spirit. It should only be about £2 to £3 max, if I remember, and it'll last you ages. It will be ok for thinning and cleaning the brush, if using enamels of course. But, at around £7 a throw for a can of air, that's what's going to cost you. You might get two, maybe three, 1/48th scale models done per can, allowing for preparation, trial spraying and cleaning. The bit that's left in the can won't be worth risking for spraying a model, in case it runs out part way through, so save the nearly- empty cans for cleaning or preparation work. The price of 6 cans will get you a compressor, when you can afford to. I wish I could help you out, as I know what it's like when you want to get on with something, especially a 'new toy'! But I'm in a similar boat to you mate!