What are some types of media used for media blasting the paint surface rust off of the body panels? What is the best?

 

I haven't used it but from everything I have read, if I were doing a car today, I would soda blast it.

 

If it's rust then don't try to blast it off of there with anything...on a llat or slightly curved panel you may remove the rust but you will likely also warp the panel.

Soda, plastic (and any other "non-aggressive type media) won't remove the rust. Sand and the other aggressive medias will but, again, you will probably warp the panel. Especially on your hood and trunklid.

On small areas where you have curved areas (stiffer metal) you can spot blast but still you need to use reduced pressure. You still risk warpage on these areas when the pressure is too high or you try to blast a larger area.

DA sander with 80 grit pads is a decent choice. It'll be time consuming no matter how you do it.

Also...soda blasting requires some sort of special cleaning after the car is blasted or you risk paint adhesion problems.