Search the Community

Universal Acrylic Thinner & Airbrush Cleaner (HC10001 & HC10003) Hobby Colours Having thinners and airbrush cleaning products for many different brands of paint can be a logistical nightmare, cluttering your spray booth or painting area with extra bottles, and forcing you to keep a track of what you have left for each system, with a likelihood of running out if you lose track. Hobby Colours have taken that on board, and have created their own brand of universal thinners and airbrush cleaners for use with Acrylic paints of whatever brand you might have on hand. Each product arrives in a 100ml translucent plastic bottle with a screw-on cap that matches the colour of the contents. The thinners is clear with a white cap, while the cleaner is a pale blue with a blue cap, which is also useful in telling them apart quickly, using the cap or colour of the liquid to prevent grabbing the wrong one in haste. Universal Acrylic Thinner (HC10001) This clear liquid is useful for any acrylic paint, and can be used to thin for brush or airbrush painting, the latter using the usual ‘consistency of semi-skimmed milk’ as a guide, and working from there. It has a flow improver and drying retarder mixed in, so the paint will dry more slowly, which will be especially useful for brush painters, and for airbrush users on a hot day, when a drying tip can make spraying tiresome, constantly stopping to remove accumulated paint before starting the process again. I’ve used it for several tests, particularly with the Jim Scale paints, and it works beautifully, helping give it a silky-smooth finish. Universal Airbrush Cleaner (HC10003) Tinted blue to differentiate it, this mixture should be used when cleaning brushes or airbrushes, and it has a slight foaming action when agitated, helping to break up dried paint that’s stuck in hard-to-reach crevices. It has also been formulated to be kind to seals and O-rings, reducing your maintenance burden and costs in the long run. Seeing it in action, it lifts away caked-on paint easily, and is very useful, especially if you’re like me and have been known to leave paint sitting in the cup for a few days by accident. Conclusion Keep your airbrush in good fettle, whilst easing painting of your models too, picking up a few bottles of each to ensure you don’t run out. Remember that you’ll almost always use more cleaner, so adjust your purchase upwards. Highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of

Russian Fighters Version 4 Acrylic Paint Set (02.112) Jim-Scale via Hobby Colours Jim Scale is a Russian-based brand of modelling supplies that concentrates heavily on painting and finishing, with a great many products aimed at the modeller of Russian Federation or Soviet subjects, but with a broad range that will suit almost any genre. Their location might cause concerns for some of our members at the moment, but these products have come to us via Hobby Colours from Greece, and might appeal to some of our members around the world, providing that supply doesn’t eventually become a problem. The range contains products that are water-based and alcohol-based, the water-based product codes beginning with 01., and with the colour or product number after the full-stop. This is good to know, as the packaging is written almost entirely in Russian, which isn’t a language many native English speakers are familiar with. Fortunately, our mobile (cell/handy) phones are becoming more competent with every generation, and translation from one language to another is the work of moments, simply aiming your phone’s camera at the text and tapping translate. This set provides three colours often seen on Russian fighter aircraft, particularly the Su-34, which is mentioned on the rear of the set, along with a profile and a few details about the aircraft. It arrives in a bubble package with a cardboard backing card, a clear vacformed front holding the paint bottles in place until you slide the card out from behind. Each bottle contains 18ml of paint, and is topped off with a dropper tip and yellow cap that screws onto the nozzle, preventing leakage. There is also a hefty shaker ball inside each bottle to assist with mixing the paint before use, and we are told that the paints can be sprayed or brushed just as easily. The 01. code tells us that this is a water-based acrylic, and there is little to no aroma from the bottles, unless you place the nozzle just under your nose. The three colours are as follows: 01.189 Light Blue (Su-34) 01.192 Light Blue 01.193 Green Blue (Su-34) As is usual with my tests, I used plastic spoons that had been prepared by a light roughening with a very fine sanding stick, and the bowl was sprayed with primer to prepare and harmonise the surface. Based upon the results of other tests that I have run with this system, the paint will adhere equally well directly to the spoon without primer, with no discernible difference between the finishes. I can also confirm that the paint brushes out well, reaching opacity in 2-3 thin coats using a flat brush to minimise brush-marks, which were negligible and could have been a result of my inexpert application, as I’m unused to painting large areas without an airbrush. Spraying was carried out by first laying down a medium coat now that I am more confident with the system, which was given a few seconds to gas off before adding another heavier layer, repeating extra layers as necessary to improve vibrancy. The paint went down very well with no spluttering, stoppages, or other issues, and as it dried the surface became very smooth with a slight sheen visible from some angles after initial drying had occurred. The patterning I had experienced previously during the mist-coat stages didn’t occur this time, as I had brushed the surface to remove dust with an anti-static brush by Tamiya, and was more aggressive with application. After several hours of drying, the paint had taken on a matt sheen that is pleasing to the eye, across all colours in the set. Two days after spraying paint on both primed and un-primed sides of the original tests, Tamiya tape was applied to all surfaces, burnished down firmly, and torn off 20 minutes later, with absolutely no caution whatsoever. This paint is as tough as old boots, and there wasn’t any lifting of the tape, regardless of priming or otherwise, so you can paint and mask to your heart’s delight and it won’t let you down if you prepare your model’s surfaces. Conclusion Now I have tested their primers and two paint sets, this system is really growing on me. It goes down well, doesn’t lift on removal of masking, the finish is excellent, and the sets aren’t expensive. I can live with the slightly longer curing time for the paint, as my modelling is sporadic anyway, and there is always something else to do in the meantime. Highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of

T-90M ‘Breakthrough’ Main Battle Tank Acrylic Paint Set (02.124) Jim-Scale via Hobby Colours Jim Scale is a Russian-based brand of modelling supplies that concentrates heavily on painting and finishing, with a great many products aimed at the modeller of Russian Federation or Soviet subjects, but with a broad range that will suit almost any genre. Their location might cause concerns for some of our members at the moment, but these products have come to us via Hobby Colours from Greece, and might appeal to some of our members around the world, providing that supply doesn’t eventually become a problem. The range contains products that are water-based and alcohol-based, the water-based product codes beginning with 01., and with the colour or product number after the full-stop. This is good to know, as the packaging is written almost entirely in Russian, which isn’t a language many native English speakers are familiar with. Fortunately, our mobile (cell/handy) phones are becoming more competent with every generation, and translation from one language to another is the work of moments, simply aiming your phone’s camera at the text and tapping translate. This set is for painting the T-90M Breakthrough, an uprated variant of the T-90 tank, and arrives in a bubble package with a cardboard backing card, a clear vacformed front holding the paint bottles in place until you slide the card out from behind. Each bottle contains 18ml of paint, and is topped off with a dropper tip and yellow cap that screws onto the nozzle, preventing leakage. There is also a shaker ball inside each bottle to assist with mixing the paint before use, and we are told that the paints can be sprayed or brushed just as easily. The 01. code tells us that this is a water-based acrylic, and there is little to no aroma from the bottles, unless you place the nozzle just under your nose. The three colours are as follows: 01.138 Syrian Sand 01.258 HU-1200 01.274L Old Tires The old Tires bottle is slightly different from the others, having a different cap and sticker around the bottle, but otherwise the product is identical in use, other than the colour of course! As is usual with my tests, I used plastic spoons that had been prepared by a light roughening with a very fine sanding stick, and the outer face of the bowl was sprayed with Tamiya primer from a rattle can for purely practical reasons. The inside of the spoon’s bowl wasn’t primed to give those that don’t usually prime their models an indication of how well the paint sticks to bare plastic. Spraying was carried out by first laying down a light exploratory mist coat, which was given a few seconds to dry before adding another heavier layer, repeating extra layers as necessary. The paint went down very well with no spluttering, stoppages, or other issues, and as it dried the surface became very smooth with a slight sheen visible from some angle after initial drying had occurred. The inner face of the bowl sprayed similarly well, but with a slight patina during the early stage due to static charge lingering on the un-primed surface, which disappeared under subsequent coats. After several hours of drying, the paint had taken on a matt sheen that is pleasing to the eye, across all colours in the set. Sprayed on a Primed Surface Sprayed on a un-Primed Surface Two days after spraying paint on both sides, Tamiya tape was applied to all six surfaces, burnished down firmly, and torn off 20 minutes later, with absolutely no care whatsoever. This paint is as tough as old boots, and there wasn’t any lifting of the tape, regardless of priming or not, so you can paint and mask this paint to your heart’s delight and it won’t let you down if you prepare your model’s surfaces. In fact, if I had thought of it at the time, I’d have sprayed it onto an un-prepared spoon, and I suspect it would have stuck to that too. That’s for the next set though, so keep an eye out. Conclusion The paint is very tough, and results in a smooth matt surface, with the trade-off being that it takes a little longer to cure than some more delicate brands. If you’re not a modeller in a hurry, this shouldn’t be an issue. I’m impressed. Highly recommended. This set is currently out of stock, but a new batch is inbound this month, so check back soon Review sample courtesy of

Norden Bombsight Early & Late (3DF48002 & 3DF32002) 1:48 & 1:32 3DF via Hobby Colour During WWII many Allied bombers used the Norden Bombsight to guide their free-fall bombs onto target, using a mechanical computer to stabilise the view and estimate the likely landing point for their munitions. They weren’t as accurate as modern weapons however, and crucially relied entirely on the bombardier having a clear line-of-sight to the target, and at low altitude they weren’t at all useful, often being replaced by more simplistic sighting mechanisms in the field. Later variants were improved and used a larger mount in order to increase accuracy further. The sets utilise the latest 3D Printers that use SLA processes to create highly detailed resin parts from UV-curing liquid resin. The finesse of SLA printing has improved immensely of late, and this has led to companies creating 3D printed parts that are ready for market without any further preparation, which saves time and gives the modeller the sharpest replica possible, which thanks to the method used in printing means that the part count is reduced without affecting the detail. Each of these sets arrives in a compact cardboard box with a push-through tray, with the parts cocooned in bubble-wrap inside, and further padded by the folded instructions within. 1:48 (3DF48002) 1:32 (3DF32002) Each set is identical in parts count, although the 1:32 is of course 1.5x the size of the smaller 1:48 scale set. That difference aside however, they build in exactly the same manner. The early sight has the stabilising mechanism fixed to a narrow mount, with the aiming ‘football’ and the adjustment mechanism slotting into the stabiliser via a peg. The later sight has a larger rectangular mount for the stabiliser, and an additional part that attaches to the right side of the football section over the adjustment wheels. Each set allows the modeller to make two of either type or a mixture of early and late, using the requisite parts from the printing base. There aren’t many supports to cut away, and their contact points are very small, making removal easy for the modeller. Conclusion Beautiful detail as we’ve come to expect from 3DF, whose motto is “Precision to Perfection”. Choose your scale and type, then get the nippers and sanding sticks at the ready! Very highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of

SR-71 Blackbird Exhaust Nozzles & Wheel Set (3DF48003 & 3DF48004 for Revell) 1:48 3DF via Hobby Colours Revell released a brand-spanking-new kit of the magnificent SR-71 Blackbird in my favourite scale, 1:48 recently that made a lot of campers very happy. New Greek company 3DF have not been idle, and released these two sets to enhance the detail, using the latest 3D Printers that use SLA processes to create highly detailed resin parts from UV-curing liquid resin. The finesse of SLA printing has improved immensely of late, and this has led to companies creating 3D printed parts that are ready for market without any further preparation, which saves time and gives the modeller the sharpest replica possible, which thanks to the method used in printing means that the part count is reduced without affecting the detail. Each of these sets arrives in a compact cardboard box with a push-through tray, with the parts cocooned in bubble-wrap inside, and further padded by the folded instructions within. Exhaust Nozzle Set (3DF48003) Comprising just two parts that are separated by sheets of foam to protect them from each other, the exhaust parts are just incredibly detailed, and supported on a ring-shaped base with short fingers supporting it from beneath, giving it the look of a squat cooling tower in miniature. The detail on the inner surface is stunning in its complexity, and although the outer surface is simpler, the quality is just as crisp. Other than cutting it free from its supports, they’re a drop-in replacement for the kit parts, bringing a huge increase in detail to the rear of your Blackbird. Wheel Set (3DF48004) This set has a larger number of parts due to the fact that the Blackbird had eight highly specialised wheels in total, all of which were impregnated with aluminium powder to cope with the extremes of heat that were encountered when the aircraft was flying at speeds in excess of 3,000mph where the passing air created huge quantities of heat through friction. There are eight cloud-shaped printing bases that each hold three parts, and are of four different types as shown by an embossed A-D letter on the base of each one. The nose gear has two wheels, which are each made up from the tyre and two hub parts, while the main gear legs have a triple-layer of wheels that are slightly larger than those of the nose. There are two each of inner, mid and outer wheels, which have different hub details as befits their position in the pack. The tyres each have those strange depressions at regular intervals on their contact patch, plus infinitesimal maker and data stencils in relief, into which the hub parts fix, sharing the same level of detail throughout. The attachment fingers have been carefully placed away from the detailed surfaces, appearing inside the carcass of the tyre, and on the back of the two hubs, so that cutting or sanding them flush is all you need to do. There is a small flat-spot on each wheel, and the opposite surface has a few visible layers where the printed finished them off, but under primer and paint they should just disappear, possibly with a few swipes of a fine sanding stick if they persist. Conclusion The detail is eye-popping on these parts, and their ease of integration with your model should make them even more appealing to your average modeller with a soft-spot for the old Blackbird, which still hasn’t been bettered in aviation terms, that we know of. The price of the parts is also appealing, so they should sell extremely well. Very highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of

Martin Baker GRU-7A Ejection Seat for (3DF48001 For Tamiya F-14A) 1:48 3DF via Hobby Colours Martin Baker have been saving pilot lives since just after WWII, due in part to the sad death of Mr Baker during a test flight of one of their prototype aircraft, although they were already investigating the possibility of emergency escape systems for aircraft. By the 70s the seats had progressed markedly from the rudimentary seats that were initially used, and were zero-zero rated, enabling ejection from a stationary aircraft by means of a rocket motor that automatically oriented the seat so that it gained sufficient altitude to allow successful separation and ‘chute deployment, bringing the pilot down safely with a bit of luck and some flat ground. This set is from a company that is new to us, called 3DF with the motto 'Precision to Perfection' from Greece, who have been brought to us by our friends at Hobby Colours who are also Greek. They create their products in 3D and print each one out using high-definition 3D SLA printing, which guarantees exceptional detail and quality, using minimal parts. SLA printing requires the parts to be supported by fine tendrils of resin during printing until after the resin has been fully cured, or you’d end up with a rather saggy-looking product. These fine ‘fingers’ vary in width, and are easy to remove with a pair of nippers, taking care not to damage the part itself, although the resin is surprisingly rugged during handling. Arriving in a cardboard box with a push-out inner tray, there are two seats inside with instructions, cocooned in small sections of bubble-wrap, and attached to their printing base by the aforementioned fingers. The F-14 was a 2-seater, so you have one for each cockpit, and once you have removed the supports you have two parts for each seat of incredible finesse. The main part is the seat, which has all the details moulded-in, including the crew belts, fine hoses and controls for the equipment of the seat. The ejection handles for the headbox are separate, and are mounted on a wedge-shaped sliver that slots easily into the corresponding slot in the front of the headbox. It’s difficult to see the detail with all the supports around them, so I removed one and put it together, which didn’t take very long at all. Because of the slightly translucent resin used and the finesse of the parts, the detail photographs a bit “funny” (technical term), and bear in mind the actual size of the seat when looking at the photo below, so I have duplicated the photo at nearly actual size in the corner to give a more accurate impression. Conclusion A new company to us, and yet they have hit the ground sprinting, with a stunning product that once painted will truly shine. Detail is excellent, and the parts are easy to liberate from the supports with nippers, so even a total novice could handle it. They’re also available in 1:72 and 1:32 scale if you’re interested. Very highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of

ZEUS GREEK DEMO TEAM is now available in all 3 scales (1/72, 1/48 and 1/32) from PROCAL Decals. Product SKUs: 72-801 48-801 32-801 All measurements done on TAMIYAs 1/48 model that is most accurate model. No need any specific resins for fit decals just buy any model you want (we suggest Kinetic in 1/48) not because is the best butonly because is the most complete . The way decals are designed fit in most models with eligible deference's in scale. As extra we give (1/72 and 1/48 scale) the inside and outside exhaust petals and also the most information's about the details for a correct Greek F-16 (such the external front plates and details for ACES II) AND COMPLETE stencils.

Our new products release in May 2016: Decal Setting Solution (30ml) Setting Solutions to improve the adhesion of decals to the surface of a model. Instructions: It is designed to be applied to the model's surface by brush before applying the decal. Improves the adhesion of decals to the surface of a model and helps them to conform to curves, panel lines and other surface features. The Setting Solution can easy remove old decals as long there is no layer with varnish on top of the decal. - Shake well before use - Net Weight: 30ml - Shipping Weight: 45ml Safety Instructions: - Keep them out of reach of children. - Avoid skin contact, eye contact and inhalation. - Use it in well ventilated areas only. Manufactured by: HOBBY Colours 2. Acrylic Retarder (30ml) Use to slow the drying time of acrylic paints. An agent that increases ‘open‘ (working) time of acrylic paint. Instructions: The Acrylic Retarder is used to counter the fast drying properties of acrylic paints, making possible the use of airbrush. Increases blending time, making blending of colors and detail brushwork easier. Do not mix more than 25% per volume into acrylic paint otherwise paint may not fully dry. - Shake well before use - Net Weight: 30ml - Shipping Weight: 45ml Safety Instructions: - Keep them out of reach of children. - Avoid skin contact, eye contact and inhalation. - Use it in well ventilated areas only. Manufactured by: HOBBY Colours

HOBBY Colours restocking RP Toolz, RB Production και Yahu Models. RB Toolz restocking and new products: PIR-135: 135 mm long PIRANHA Photo Etch Tool PIR-195: 195 mm long PIRANHA Photo Etch Tool PIR-300: 300 mm long PIRANHA Photo Etch Tool RP-RC: Conical Roller Tool RB Production restocking and new products: RB-T013: Universal saw holder RB-T014: Rapid Cut saw RB-T015: Medium saw RB-T016: Fine saw RB-T017: Ultra-fine saw RB-T030: Corner rivet wheels 1 RB-T035: Corner rivet wheels 2 RB-T038: Nano Saws Yahu Models restocking and new products: Scale 1/32: YMA3204: Fiat G.50 YMA3205: Dewoitine 520 YMA3207: Spitfire V late YMA3209: Me 109 E Scale 1/35: YML3501: Chevrolet C15TA Scale 1/48: YMA4807: Hurricane I YMA4811: Fw 190A early YMA4814: P-40 E YMA4818: P-51 B/C YMA4822: PZL P.23 Karas YMA4824: PZL P.24 YMA4825: A6M2 [Mitsubishi Green] YMA4826: A6M2 [Nakajima Green] YMA4835: Mil Mi-2 Scale 1/72: YMA7215: P-40 M YMA7224: Fw 190 A early YMA7225: Ju-88C-6 YMA7226: F4U Corsair YMA7236: MS.406 YMA7242: Hurricane II YMA7248: Spitfire I YMA7251: P-51 B/C YMA7252: P-51 D early YMA7253: Fiat G.50 YMA7255: A6M2 Zero YMA7256: A6M3 Zero YMA7257: A6M5 Zero YMA7268: P-40 B/C YMA7280: RWD-8 (PWS) YMA7281: RWD-8 (DWL) YMA7296: Po-2 / U-2 LNB YML7210: IAR-81 YML7211: IAR-81 bomb version Soon restocking and new products from other suppliers (e.g. ΑΚΑΝ, NorthStar Models) Links: E-shop - Blog Share this on Facebook - Twitter

Sanding Tool kits Hobby Colours Sanding products are probably some of the most used items in a modellers tool box. Hobby Colours have now released a couple of handles and sanding papers for just such occasions. The frames and papers are very similar to another company’s product, but the straight frames have a very useful handle which makes them more user friendly, much like a coping saw. The other frame is angled 90o which is good for getting a curved shape over a fuselage or tank barrel without getting any flat spots. The papers that come with each handle just slide onto each end and come in the following grit. 2 x 240 grit 2 x 280 grit 2 x 320 grit 2 x 500 grit 2 x 600 grit 2 x 800 grit 2 x 1000 grit 2 x 1200 grit 2 x 1500 grit 2 x 2000 grit Conclusion You can never have too many styles, types or grit to help get those seams and modifications sorted. The frames aren’t the easiest to keep hold of as they are quite thin, certainly in my chubby hands, but the handle included in the straight set can also be used with the angled frame, making it much easier to use. The papers can also be bought in separate replacement sets Highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of