Airbrush Questions

[WebBASSter]

OK, so I'm kicking around the idea of getting an airbrush.  I'm no artist, by any stretch of the imagination, but I am pretty "crafty/creative."  With the use of some templates and some practice I think I might be able to turn out some decent baits.  I've been tying trout flies for myself and friends for about 10 years I caught a few bass on some big bucktail jigs I tied up last year (the hand poured craw trailer I bought online prolly did most of the work  ).  I know nothing is more fun/gratifying than catching fish on your own creations and I'd like to take my bait making to the next level.  I have a few airbrush questions:
I know I need a double action brush right?
Do you guys prefer gravity feed or bottom feed?
How important is the compressor?
Iwata, Master, Paasche, Is one as good as the other?
Should I get a kit or just part it together?

Thanks for any tips and advice.

[J B]

Here ya go.. I have one of Airbrush City's brushes I really like it ..They have a great web site and low prices.You can get everything you need from them.Make sure you get a duel action pen.Unless you are going to do a lot of air brushing you dont need the best to do a great job.Airbrush city,s pens are designed the same as the high dollar pens and work great at a much lower price.Check them out.OH they also have complete sets with everything you need to get started and a how to video.
http://www.airbrushcity.com/
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[whittler]

For painting cranks, the gravity feed brush (Iwata) is my choice, they are easy to change colors and they will require less paint when shooting details. Any compressor that will supply the needed pressure will work but it is important to have a good pressure regulator and moisture trap/filter. I use my large shop compressor and have no experience wih the airbrush type compressor but if you use the pancake/oiless compressors they are very noisy, if that is a consideration.

[javelin225ho]

i use a pache brush.  i love it.  i turn it over and put in a small amount of paint, open the brush up a bit to get it going and then i paint.  i waste virtually no paint.  i take my laquer bottle and squeeze it into the opening and am ready for the next color.  i would recommend sticking with laquer paints though.  water based paint will gum up your brush and will also take more time to dry thus more than doubling the time it takes to paint.

[J B]

i use a pache brush.  i love it.  i turn it over and put in a small amount of paint, open the brush up a bit to get it going and then i paint.  i waste virtually no paint.  i take my laquer bottle and squeeze it into the opening and am ready for the next color.  i would recommend sticking with laquer paints though.  water based paint will gum up your brush and will also take more time to dry thus more than doubling the time it takes to paint.

For me I have found the opposite to be true.It is much easer to clean up water base paint than lacquer paints.I use water base paint and then I use a final clear coat of Devcon 2 ton and brush it on.