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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

Howdie Folks, Having just bought my first airbrush - I have found that all my modelling faults are more apparent. Now that I'm not whacking on a ton of paint I need to improve my filling & sanding skills. Previously I used squadron filler from a tube - but it is very rough. So I bought some Mr surfacer & Mr dissolved putty too - but they don't brush clean in water. Is there such a thing as a liquid filler that can be brush applied & then clean the brush in water??? Any advice would be gratefully received - thanks in advance - Steve

Ultimate Weathering Wash Ultimate Modelling Products Ultimate aim to produce products of exceptional quality that are both useful and easy to use. Their washes are designed along that principal, which is facilitated by the fact that they are water based, so incredibly easy to remove if you happen to make a mistake. The initial range is limited to six colours, but I understand from Lee that there are more in the works. Dark Dirt Light Dirt Mud Concrete Rust Sand They are able to be either brushed on or applied using an airbrush over a gloss coat, so are very flexible in the effects that you can achieve from splashes, puddles and streaks to a haze of grime that has accumulated over time. They are intermixable, so you can create your own shades for specific applications, and as stated earlier, they clean up with water, so you can swish your brushes in a pot of water, and clean your airbrush with the same products you use with acrylic paint. Ultimate's own Airbrush cleaner for example (reviewed here). Before application you must shake them vigorously to distribute the wash evenly within the carrier medium, and if applying by brush, keep agitating throughout the washing process to ensure an even coverage. The washes are quick to dry, and once they are dry, you can remove or move the "dust" that is left behind using either a piece of damp kitchen towel, or a moistened stiff brush. Removal in the event of a mistake is just as easy, and I have used an old toothbrush to remove the wash in order to get it into the panel lines and hard-to-reach areas. Conclusion I have used them extensively on the Aero L-29 I completed recently, and am using them on the X-47B, using the Concrete colour to shade the white gear legs and bays without leaving them too stark. They are easy to use, non-toxic, and importantly, you don't have to think about what you're applying them to as they don't affect any acrylic paints that I've used them with, and certainly won't affect enamel or lacquer based paints. They can be fixed with varnishes after application, and offer a lot of flexibility for the AFV and other modellers alike. Very highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of