Tamiya Acrylic Paint Review

- Gunpla Supplies -

Tamiya Acrylic Paint

Hey guys, like I said in my previous post, i'm really keen on getting back into the blog and increasing my activity and content here. So without getting off topic (for now) here's a review of the Tamiya Acrylic Paint Series:

 A small collection of Tamiya Acrylic paints.

Now to get things started, I will say this: The Tamiya paint series, whether it be the acrylics or the enamels - they are made to be airbrushed. If you are planning to handbrush the entire model kit; the paints will still work but may be a bit of a hassle as they are made specifically to be airbrushed. For those modelers who wish to get into handbrushing; I would recommend you look into the Vallejo Model Color range as they are specifically targeted for handbrushing.

Handbrushing smalls details however should not be a problem as long as it is not as diluted as the mix you use for the airbrush. If you are planning to use the Tamiya Acyrlic range to paint the entire kit, I would recommend you thin the paint for airbrushing then detail the kit with the paint unthinned. That means just dip our brush into the jar and then apply the paint. This will ensure that the paint will stick to the surface, will only take one coat and will also reduce the risk of paint dripping off and ruining the model.

Now the next question might be: "Should I use the gloss colors or the flat colors for my kits". I believe that it is preference. Some modelers say that using the gloss will reduce the amount of paint used for the kit but I have personally seen no difference. The only recognizable difference is the varnish. The flat paints generally look a little grainy when painted on whilst the gloss paints look smoother. I guess this is what gives it the different looks. However, although saying this, the complete result will look the same whether you use the gloss or flat. The reason is because after painting on the surface, you are most likely going to apply a topcoat of some sort (most likely gloss due to panel lining and applying decals) which will change the varnish or look of the paint's surface. The effect of putting a topcoat on a flat surface or a gloss surface will not look any different. Therefore, the decision of whether to use a flat paint or a gloss paint is entirely up to preference.

NOTE: The flat and the gloss of a particular colour, (e.g. blue) usually varies ever so slightly. This means that a flat blue against a gloss blue will not look exactly the same in colour. The difference is very small but the shade of color may influence your decision in buying a flat vs a gloss.

All paints bearing the XF prefix are all flat based colors

All paints bearing the X prefix are gloss based colors

All metallic colors have the X prefix

The metallic paints from the Tamiya Acyrlic line were (to be completely honest) a little disappointing. The way they came out just seemed a little cheap when compared to other metallic paints such as the ever so popular Alclad II chromes (Laquer paints) or even the Gaia metallic paints (also Laquers). This is because when spray painted on, or even hand brushed on -  the paint appears to separate. By this I mean that the paint doesn't look consistent. It looks as if the sparkles/glitter product they use to make the metallic finish separate from the base colour and ends up looking a little cheap. From far however, it looks pretty nice and consistent. This observation however seems a little inconsistent because the metallic blue seems very poor in finish when compared to the gold. The gold looks pretty nice and that separation was not really present. This could be because of the different thinners I used for the two colors or perhaps it could be due to the amount of coats you apply to the surface. With the gold, I applied perhaps 4 coats of paint thinned with the Tamiya Acrylic thinner whereas the metallic blue was thinned with 70% Isopropyl Alcohol and applied only 2 or 3 coats. If you have some supply of Tamiya Acrylic Paints, please test this out and see if there is a difference in finish. But for now - to achieve the best reflective chrome finishes you can use Alclad II, Gaia paints or for the absolute best chrome finish -Kossutte Gin San. Kossutte is a very very fine graphite powder that you rub onto a surface which gives a very nice reflective effect.

If you can get a hold of some, use the Tamiya Acrylic thinner for the best look. The Tamiya thinner is designed by Tamiya specifically for their Acyrlic paint line so it yields the best consistency. And of course use a pipette to collect and drop the thinner into the paint.

Windex Glass cleaner to clean surfaces from acrylic paints 

Acrylic paints are very easy to clean when compared to enamel and laquer paints. You can use either Isopropyl Alcohol or for the best and cheapest option, you can use Windex Glass cleaner to remove the paint. I use Windex to clean my airbrush, paint stirrer and mixing tray and it comes right of no problem. Just use a Q-tip to gently rub it off the surface. This can also be used to clean off paint off the piece if you wish to start again.

Note: Windex can be diluted 50% and still remove acrylic paints with no hassle. The bottle of Isopropyl Alcohol in the picture contains Windex as I ran out of Isopropyl Alcohol and just use it to squeeze Windex into the cup of my airbrush to clean it.

So finally to conclude this review I just want to say that I previously had alot of trouble looking for reviews on the Tamiya Acrylic paints and the information regarding the paints I have been found to be a little dated as Tamiya has since changed their formula from 2007 (I believe from memory). So I just wanted to have an updated review of the paints for all those modelers that want to give it a try or perhaps just curious. I hope that you were more informed by the conclusion if the review and hope you enjoyed it.

Well that about does it for this review guys. I hope this helps all of you out there and as always, thanks so much for viewing and tune in again soon for more updates, reviews and gunpla related content. Enjoy!

If your a member on the new hobbylinktv site, click on the link to see my profile. 

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If you guys are interested in buying some of the items shown above, please use the links below from amazon. It would really mean alot to me and doesn't cost you an extra cent. Just a few suggestions if at all interested. Many thanks guys and all the best!

Tamiya Plastic Scriber II Review

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Tamiya Plastic Scriber II Review

Hey guys, its been a while since iv'e had any activity on here. So lets start it off with a new review of the Tamiya Plastic Scriber II. Now as you may be able to tell from the picture below, the plastic scriber is also a member of the Tamiya Craft Tools just like the Tamiya Design Knife that I reviewed a bit over a month ago. Just some extra information if your interested - This tool is made in Japan by Tamiya and the blades are from OLFA.

 

 The front tool still inside the retail packaging. On the front side of the item informs you of the following:

• Ideal for cutting plastic/acrylic boards and scribing panel lines onto plastic models.
• 2 spare blades included.
• Retractable blade enhances safety.
• Narrow blade edge enables easy access to hard to reach areas.

A shot of the back of the packaging. The back instructs you on how to use the tool as well as some caution notes.

The instructions are as follows:

1. Gently scribe repeatedly until a groove halfway through the board is formed.
2. Bend outwards to result in a clean break.
3. Afterwards, use the back of the blade to clean off the edge.

Scribing Plastic Models

• Use a thin plastic board as a guide

<<CAUTION>>

• Do not touch the sharp parts of the blade.
• Retract blade into body when not in use.
• Keep out of reach of small children.
• When cutting clear or brittle plastic, scribe deeper lines to avoid damage.
• If the blade comes into contact with water, dry immediately. 

Front and back shot of the tool itself. As you can see, the body of the tool is made entirely out of plastic. The only metal parts are found in the retracting mechanism and its body as well as the blade itself. The main body consists of a semi-gloss textured plastic with the exception of the spare blades door which has a clear smoke grey look to it. It is a semi-transparent plastic coloured in the same smoke grey colour as the action base that comes with the 'Wings Of Light Expansion Set' for the RG Destiny Gundam. However, just like the rest of the plastic, it too is textured.

- SPARE BLADES -

The two spare blades are held in this compartment where they are stored straight out of the box. The blades are relatively thin which allows you to be able to store many more blades. This will be quite helpful if you purchased the blade replacement - in which case, you will be able to store the new blades in here to save time for added convenience.

IS THIS THE SCRIBER FOR YOU?

This tool brings a very welcome change and upgrade from the previous Tamiya Plastic Scriber that was orginally released in 1997. The old scriber had a very hefty look to it and is clearly not as ergonomic as the current design of the ver. II. This tool was released in 2009 and still looks appealing without sacrificing build quality.

The textured feel of the scriber feels substantial but still feels a bit slippery. This however may be due to the semi-gloss of the plastic and may have been omitted by use of a matte texture and look to the plastic. However, with all this said, Tamiya has in fact placed grooves on the top portion of the scriber where the index finger sits as well and the bottom end where the tool sits in the arch of your hand. This was a very nice addition and adds alot to the ergonomics of the tool. By doing so, your hand and finger will be able to rest easy while still applying pressure to scribe your desired lines.

Tamiya has been updating their tools and supplies as of the past few years and the new design and additional functionality to the scriber is a very welcome change. With this said, there is only

one design colour for your tool and that is the one featured in this review.

There are countless other alternative scribers for your model kits from countless brands that have countless different form factors and colours but I can assure you, the design of the Tamiya Plastic Scriber offers one of the most comfortable and natural feel among the alternatives.

Overall, the scriber is a very nice addition to the collection of tools and while priced at around $6 AUD, its definitely an affordable tool. If your still uncertain if this is the right one for you, there are myriads of other alternative tools and brands that offer the same function. OLFA offers a 'Scriber S Type' that looks identical to the Tamiya Plastic Scriber II with the exception of a minute design change of the blade and featured in a yellow form factor rather than the Tamiya black and smoke grey variation. Priced just about $1 less than the Tamiya Scriber, the OLFA route might be the way to go. But if your keen on the Black and smoke grey look, an added $1 for the Tamiya is a very nice choice. Brand design might be your thing and if so, the extra $1 couldn't possibly hurt (...could it?). But if your on a budget and don't want to sacrifice the comfortable feel, the yellow OLFA model is still a very nice addition to the tool tray and offers just as much bang for your buck.

Well that about does it for this review guys. I hope this helps all of you out there and as always, thanks so much for viewing and tune in again soon for more updates, reviews and gunpla related content. Enjoy!

If your a member on the new hobbylinktv site, click on the link to see my profile. 

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I also am currently selling items on ebay so have a look if your interested at all.
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Any questions? Leave a comment if you have one or just wanna say something.

Tamiya Design Knife Review

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Tamiya Design Knife

Hey guys, today I decided to make a review of the 'Tamiya Design Knife' under the 'Tamiya Craft Tools' series. I was in a position where I was still using a box-cutter/craft knife as a modeler's knife alternative and although that still worked very well, I wanted to up my game a little bit and encountered a situation where I wasn't sure which of the myriads of modeler's knives I should buy. When I decided to do some research, there were barely any information on it, just online stores selling the product. So now iv'e decided to write up a review to help assist other modeler's in their decision.

The front and the back of the packaging. As you can see, it comes with a cap, the blades and the body. The back of the packaging has information on how to use the knife and its different purposes as well as informing you of the blade container. 

The safety cap, the body and the blade container

The safety cap will help you from cutting yourself. Although it fits onto the top end of the body, it will not attach to the bottom end. Although this is a very minor issue, you can accidentally misplace the cap or just forget where you had placed it.

The top compartment of the blade container will be use to hold all your new blades. The bottom compartment is reserved for storage of broken or dulled blades. This will help ensure for a safe disposal.

Inside the container is 6 packs of 5 blades. A total of 30 blades.
the blades do last a while and so the 30 blades will last you until forever. However, if you do end up using all of the 30 blades, it is still amazing value for $8. The blades however are all identical so if you are looking for a knife that comes with different angled blades... then this isn't the one for you. However, for most modeler's the blade will serve its purpose and will excel in comparison to a craft knife.

As you can see, the design knife has a very nice look to it and a very nice feel to it as well. The paneled design to the body is very comfortable and appealing as opposed to the tube-like design of the X-Acto knife that may detract from the ergonomic appeal to the knife as well the comfortable feel in the hand. The design is much like a pencil, allowing for a very nice and comfortable feel, assisting the precision of your cut.

A comparison of the design knife with my previous cutting apparatus. Clearly superior in cutting ability and precision control.

IS THIS THE KNIFE FOR YOU?

Although this was originally designed and released in 1997, the design still has a very nice aesthetic appeal to it. It also comes with 30 replaceable blades that will last an eternity. However, if you do manage to use up all the blades, you can always just buy another. For the $8 price tag, it's awesome value, it's something that you don't even have to think twice about spending your hard earned money for. In saying this though, the blades are smaller than some blades out there and perhaps larger than others. The smaller size of the blades however may allow you to gain more control when compared to a design knife with a larger blade such as the newer 'Tamiya Modeler's Knife'. This solely depends on the individual and their preferences.

The golden section of the design knife is not just coated, resulting in a shiny golden color even when scratched and dented. The silver section holding the blade in place however is just plastic coated in silver and although I haven't actually scratched or dented the plastic, it might just be helpful to be wary of this. You may or may not end up scratching the paint off, but only time and use will help determine whether the plastic is just coated or molded in the silver color.

It may be helpful to know that the safety cap is not compatible with the bottom end of the design knife and will only fit only the top end, protecting the blade from damage and moisture. Just be wary of this so you don't end up misplacing the cap.

The pencil like design of the knife is very comfortable and will help you gain more precision in your cutting. However, this is solely from my experience in the transition from a design knife. If you are currently in the same position as I was before, you will not regret purchasing this.

Well I guess that about does it for this review. Like I said before, I decided to write up this review because I know some of you out there are looking for a good modelling knife for your plamo kits and there isn't much information out there regarding this particular product. I hope this helps all of you out there and as always, thanks so much for viewing and tune in again soon for more updates, reviews and gunpla related content. Enjoy!

If your a member on the new hobbylinktv site, click on the link to see my profile. 

http://www.hobbylink.tv/members/baui

Always room for more friends!
I also am currently selling items on ebay so have a look if your interested at all.
http://myworld.ebay.com/bauihobby/

Any questions? Leave a comment if you have one or just wanna say something.