[2Bad4Ya]

"Anyone have an idea what something like this would cost in a 2 stage system ? I've seen other threads where it looks like about 4 - 5 K just for materials needed."

You can spend 4k if you want on dupont or ppg, and some do because they get used to a paint system and stick to it and never try anything different. However you can spend around 1k on SPI or even house of Kolor and get as good if not better paint job imo.

The BIG paint co's cater to the automtive refinishing system as their bread and butter, smaller co's like SPI & HoK are not bound to the refinish industry as much and are perfect for the small shop or shadetree.

Then if you want to spend even less you can hit tcpglobal and get the restoration shop brand and come out around 500.00, these paints are similar to the omni, nasson line of paints.

" was seriously considering going with the Duplicolor Paint Shop products. Premixed primer, color, and clear. Not going to say it's the best product you can buy, but for what I need, I'd think it'd be perfect."

Dont do it, look at SPI single stage or hell even Eastwood co. single stage. Duplicolor is laquer that has been reforumulated so it passes environmental rules. SPI & even Eastwood are acrylic urethane paints. Urethane is alot more durable than laquer in my opinion. I mean clearcoats are urethane after all.

He could get away with shooting a SS as base then come over it with a 50/50 mix of clear & SS with his little compressor perhaps? I know alot of guys will do that for the last 2 coats simply to add more uv protection.

As for a paint gun you can get away with a northern tool/lowes gun for doing solids, but I would not risk that on a metallic shot. The issue with your compressor is your tank is only 26 gal, that will empty pretty quick so you may get a panel done at a time, but doing long spray runs across an assembled car from bumper to bumper would not happen.

It it were me and I was going to try it with your compressor...
Disassemble the car (front end, doors, trunl lid, spoilers, ec.. off the car) and:

shoot driver quarter/door jamb
shoot rear valance
shoot rear deck
shoot driver sail panel
shoot roof
shoot pillar arms/cowl area
shoot passenger sail panel
shoot passenger quarter
shoot parts you removed

Repeat process until full coverage and done. Since its disassembled you take care of door jambs, cowl, trunk edges when painting car. However for the things like underside of trunk/hood/inside doors/etc... I would shoot them a day before I did the car.

Now someone else may correct me, but if in a pinch that would be how I would try to tackle your problem.