[TR] Painting a car

[Michael Ferguson]

Well, since asking a question here on a cold, ice-stormy day in 
Connecticut, is much more pleasant than working on my restoration in my 
unheated garage, I thought I'd throw this one out there. I am debating 
whether or not I have the nerve to attempt to paint my own car. Assuming 
I ever get that far. I've never painted anything much larger than an oil 
filler cap (well, except my HOUSE), so I have a lot to learn.

Still, since there are multiple layers of things that need to be sprayed 
on the beast, I'm thinking that, at the very least, I could manage 
everything up to the finish coats. However, water, oil and compressor 
capacity are concerns so I was considering one of those HVLP turbine 
kits - no water, no oil and no compressor. TP Tools sells several, 
though they are only two-stage units and I would still need some sort of 
breathing device. Yesterday, I came across a four-stage unit called the 
AXIS Citation that comes with an Accuspray gun (gravity or bottom feed) 
as well as a full head respirator that provides a forced outside air 
supply. Either the TP or Axis kits will wind up costing about the same 
(by the time I buy a similar breathing unit for the TP).

Just wondering if I should...

1) just give it up and pay someone to do this (which would be 
logistically difficult and I have to believe, considerably more expensive),
2) buy a respirator, standard HVLP guns, more filters/coolers/whatever 
and use the 2-stage compressor I already have (though I'm not sure it's 
enough) or
3) get one of these turbines/respirators and have at it.

Do any of you know about either the TP or Axis turbines? Or other 
brands/models that may be preferable? Or are turbines simply not 
suitable, regardless of the seller's claims?

I would really like to be able to say that I did it myself. On the other 
hand, I don't want it to look like I did it with a BRUSH!!! Any 
thoughts, personal experiences, caveats, opinions of the products 
mentioned (or others) would be most appreciated. Thanks!