Alrighty, I've only been modeling for a few months, and I stumbled across the $30 version of Testors cheapo airbrush (plastic with air supplied by a disposable cannister)....

Any tips and tricks with this little baby? Its basically just something to learn on before I go out and drop a couple hundred smackers after Xmas.

Good luck Az!

One tip from me would be to keep your $30 and get a real airbrush for that price and then later a simple compressor. Those canisters can be expensive and go down in pressure quite quickly. There are cheaper airbrushes on the market that are quite good and much better for learning with. For a cheap airsupply get a rubber tyre tube filled and connect it to your brush. lasts longer and can be refilled when needed.
Ultimately if you seroius about the hobby, a small compressor and a good brush are a good investment. That £30 will be wasted as you will lose interest quickly with something that at best only gives mediocre results.

I'm sure there is truth in the last post.
You may later graduate to a more sophisticated one, and use the "cheapo" for washes and your fancier one for details.

I like the testors aztek 470
A LOT of detail enthusiasts here swear by the Iwata's b/c they are so capable.
(They'll do ANYTHING)
I have a badger 200 also - (its fairly cheap) its rugged as a tank
I recommend a badger 200 or 220 or the aztek for a starter.

Single action is easiest to learn but double action if you want to do camo patterns.
HTH
Best of luck

Testors has a package deal out, compressor and airbrush for $179.00, I saw it on Internet Trains. Christmas is coming... I asked for one, now I just hope I'm on Santa's "good boy" list! (:-)

Unless yopu've already bought it, the best advice for that cheapo airbrus is to leave it on the shelf. That was the equivalent of my first one. What I learned form it is that it is only good for one color models, any multi color pattern is going to require masking. The cans wouldn't even do a small 1/72 aircraft before loosing pressure.

AS others have said, save for a real AB and compressor.

The Paasche H is a really good starter brush for jus a bit more than the cheapo-cheapo productions version.

I'll second That one!!!!!

If you are buying it just to practice before dropping a couple hundred after
Christmas i would agree that you leave it on the shelf and go ahead and
get a higher quality brush with a compressor. When i started modeling
i bought the cheapest badger with a propel tank and it worked well for my
needs but i ended up getting an internal mix with a compressor.. the old
badger still works great for washes and such so if youve already bought
the testors hopefully it will be compatible with your Christmas set..