Paint your own car? What tools?

[drift into a curb]

I was getting into painting my own parts. As I've become quite the rattle can expert hah. I'd like to know what's recommended for a decent paint spray gun and compressor. Recommend rated pressures for the gun? Size nozzle? What is the difference between suction and non-suction feed? Compressor size I should be looking at? I don't need something top-of-the-line expensive, but something that will allow me to practice and paint body pieces.

I realize most of the hard work is in prepping the body pieces. So I wanted to know what's the recommended sand paper grits when working on metal panels (fenders and panels) and plastic pieces (such as abs plastic bumpers).

I'm going to be taking some automotive paint classes over the summer, but I was hoping I could get a jump start at home.