Help me save money with science!! Airbrushing!

[Bells]

I was going to put this on our Art subsection, but it isn't really about the art itself, it's more about the Technology and the mechanical part of it... so i placed here.

So, as a few of you already know, i loves me some model kits. Ever since i took the hobby i was "seduced" by the idea of doing custom paint jobs. I mean, some of these kits look really awesome out of the box, and i'm a bit of a purist that doesn't like to mess around too much with the kits... but i love the idea of doing some really kickass paint jobs and a custom kit sometimes..

But the entry fee into this world is a rather steep one for a hobby, with all the chemicals and preparations and control and waiting and the costs of both having and maintaining the equipment! So that kept me away...

But lately i had a little spark in mah brain about cheaper, homemade solutions that could work... so i want you guys to wage in with some knowledge.

As some of you may know, to use a proper Airbrush, aside from the Airbrush itself, you need a constant, controllable, stream of air. This comes usually from an Air compressor. These can get expensive.

So, i'm shooting for the dirt and keeping it low tech and low cost. Do you think an Aquarium pump would work? I mean, it is still a stream of air from a pump through a tube, right? Does it really matter if it's an airbrush or a body of water it finds on the other end?

How about those electric Bike Tire pumps? Would need some adaptations, but could work, perhaps?

Now, i understand what i'm sacrificing for these savings on flow control and product specifications. But a decent Air Compressor would run me about $60 plus shipping... but i can get a decent Aquarium pump with $10 (with shipping!) and a Tire Pump with just under $20 (also with shipping!). Those are not A Grade materials, but i'm not opening a paint shop here... and it's just for occasional use. Simple, hobby stuff. I Know i can probably get a can of Air to use with the Brush, but those would be as effective as the aquarium pump, only that i would have to buy another each time... so it's still the worst option.

So, Shoot me some ideas here... anybody here has an Aquarium? What am i looking for? An Water pump or a Air Pump? What is the air pressure coming out of that thing?