discussion AK Real Color, what paint is it really

[slupanter]

Hi all

AK Real Color, I am planning to test some but I wanted to ask if it is a Tamiya/Mr Color Aqueous or Vallejo paint?

 

[Wouter]

Hi chap, they are similar to the Tamiya/Mr. Color ones. So they can be thinned with Lacquer Thinners if I'm not mistaken.

Cheers

 

[Dave Ward]

I used the AK Real Color Modern Russian set on my Zvezda MSTA-S recently - I used normal tapwater to thin & spray itView attachment 320111View attachment 320110
Dave

 

[Si Benson]

I hadn’t heard of these before so just took a google.



Very interesting, might have to try them out myself :nerd:
View attachment 320112

 

[Dave Ward]

Ummm,
I never thought that the Real Colors were anything but waterbased! I went ahead and used them as normal acrylics - they are fairly thick, so need a bit more thinning than say, Vallejo Color, but once you get the ratio right, spray and cover nicely..................
Dave

 

[Wouter]

As far as I know they are the same as Tammi's...and though they are called acrylics, the smell tells you otherwise. Best ones to spray though. And use a mask with decent filters because it's nasty stuff.

ps: good to read you back Si ^^

Cheers

 

[slupanter]

Hi all, thank you for your feedback, I will grab some and have a go.

 

[slupanter]

As far as I know they are the same as Tammi's...and though they are called acrylics, the smell tells you otherwise. Best ones to spray though. And use a mask with decent filters because it's nasty stuff.

ps: good to read you back Si ^^

Cheers

@Wouter Hey mate,
I am hearing that small just like Tamiya

 

[Guest]

10ml for £2.30. Tiny amount (of paint).

 

[Guest]

though they are called acrylics, the smell tells you otherwise.

How do you figure that? Because Tamiya paint smells, it can’t be acrylic?

 

[Tim Marlow]

In broad terms paint is made of pigment, binder, and solvent. There are other minor additives, but these are the basics.
Pigment is the colour. Binder is the part that forms a matrix and allows the pigment to adhere to the surface. Solvent is the part that mobilises the pigment and binder to allow the paint to be spread or sprayed.
The term “acrylic” comes from the binder, which in most modern paint is a vinyl acetate resin polymer. The smell comes from the solvent. The acrylic binder can be water borne (no smell) or solvent borne (smelly). Tamiya paint and it’s ilk are solvent borne acrylics. Others, such as Vallejo, are water borne acrylics. They are all acrylics though.
Cheers
Tim

 

[slupanter]

Smell like Tamiya, I hope they spray like Tamiya.
I cant wait to get a spray test going

 

[Tim Marlow]

Solvent borne usually has higher pigment density as well, so should give good coverage....keep us informed :thumb2:

 

[Guest]

Just tried real colours olive drab with a VMS acrylic thinners - turned to a gluey gel. So do not recommend this mix. Will try again with water.

 

[slupanter]

Solvent borne usually has higher pigment density as well, so should give good coverage....keep us informed :thumb2:

Hi guys

I am going to test to tonight and feed back. Plan to test Mr Color Leveling and Tamiya thinner.

Just tried real colours olive drab with a VMS acrylic thinners - turned to a gluey gel. So do not recommend this mix. Will try again with water.

Good to know, keep updating chap.

 

[slupanter]

NEWS!
They spray well like Tamiya and Mr Hobby Aqua and I mixed it with Hobby Aqua leveling.
Needs to be shuck and steered really really well, and thinned to about 60% at 15PSI.

The pigments seem nice quality but Its more Mr Hobby Aqua than Tamiya as it seems thicker but at £2.30 a jar I will be sticking to £1.60 Tamiya and £2 Mr Hobby Aqua.

 

[Si Benson]

Got myself these yesterday and gave them a try last night....


View attachment 322610

first I tried thinning with distilled water, it immediately coagulated. Vigorous stirring did little to improve this.
Next was tap water.....same result as distilled water.
Then I used Tamiya X20A, the alcohol based thinner...coagulated, same as with both of the water tests.
Tamiya lacquer thinner (yellow top)...mixed well and sprayed well. Once dried I found it was too matt for my liking.

Looks like I’ll be sticking with Tamiya paints for a while then

 

[Wouter]

If it's too matte I'd say add some X-22 clear with it ^^

 

[Si Benson]

Hi Wouter,
Yeah, I’ll add clear to it to get it used up, which is what I do with my Tamiya mixes.
I really want to get away from using the lacquer thinners so was hoping that the AK stuff would thin with water, like advice from AK says!

I used the AK Real Color Modern Russian set on my Zvezda MSTA-S recently - I used normal tapwater to thin & spray itView attachment 320111View attachment 320110
Dave

Dave W says he got it to thin with water...:thinking:

 

[Dave Ward]

Yup!
I bought these....................View attachment 322653
specifically to make this....................View attachment 322652

I only used tapwater ( it's pretty soft water here ). I never considered using anything else - in fact I don't have any other thinner for acrylic. The Real Color needed more thinning than other paints ( about 5:1 ), but had no problems in spraying.
Dave