I used to use Humbrol paints, back when I hand-brushed everything. It wasn't until the summer of 1997 that I bought an airbrush and compressor and started using Xtracolour paints. I used these for about eighteen months before switching to Tamiya acrylics in spring 1999. A couple of months after this I tried Lifecolour acrylics. I know tend to use the Tamiya acrylics as a first choice, followed by the Lifecolour acrylics and Xtracolour enamels for specific shades, with Humbrol enamels for hand painting details. I use Shell ready-mixed screenwash (it contains isopropyl alcohol rather than the methanol in other makes) as a diluent for the acrylics, and white spirit for the enamels. I've also got a 50:50 mix of toluene:xylene that I use for cleaning out my brushes and airbrushes. For washes, I use R-Downey oils diluted with white spirit. The white spirit I use is just bog-standard stuff, purchased from a local hardware store in 1.5 litre containers. I've recently tried 100% isopropyl alcohol (IPA) as a spraying medium, and doubt I'll ever go back to white spirit (it's much less offensive and IPA can be used with enamels or acrylics), though securing a cheap source is likely to remain the problem to most modellers.