IPMS/USA Reviews

Vallejo's name is well recognized in the scale modeling field. They have a huge array of products, and their specialized modeling products line is one of the best in the world. At our last IPMS Chapter meeting, Keith Pieper of Avalon Books gave me a tube of Vallejo's new white Plastic Putty.

The putty itself is an acrylic medium with white color and marble dust. The added marble dust makes the putty more durable than most.

The tube is fairly small, 20 ml., but with the fine applicator "spout", it goes pretty much where I put it, so I have less waste of putty when I'm doing a seam. The first time I tried it, I put the putty on the cab of an Italeri Opel Blitz ambulance in 1/72, which needed a pretty good fill between the hood and the doors of the cab. After I let it set up overnight, I sanded the seam, and it worked pretty well. Because it's white, it made painting easier, the color covered better than they would red or white putty. No primer required.

I did a review of Tru-Color Paints a while back, (http://web.ipmsusa3.org/content/tru-color-paints ) and I asked the guys at Tru-Color if I could do a review of their new Frisket Paper. They said OK, and I bought a 3-pack of the paper at our last IPMS Chapter meeting. I bought the 3-pack, because I thought I had a project which might need a couple of sheets, but not much more.

My project was a 1/144 Model Lancaster, which I wanted to convert from a Dam Buster to a Grand Slam carrier. RAF camouflage is usually quite difficult to do, or at least it's a fairly long project.

I took the camouflage drawing from the instruction sheet. It wasn't the same size as the model. I scanned the instruction, then put the scan in a graphics editing program (PhotoShop is popular, as is MS Paint GIMP, and Picasa). I resized the scan to match the size of the model. This allows me to print a top view of the aircraft camouflage.

Vallejo continues their line of specially made weathering products called "Weathering Effects". They are formulated with permanent pigments and water based acrylic resins. All of these products are available in 40 ml bottles. The two types of Weathering Effects reviewed here are "Splash Mud" and "Environment Effects".

The Splash Mud is very paint-like in consistency but too thick to be airbrushed as is, very similar to Vallejo's Model Color range. The recommended application is via the splatter method. One does this by loading a stiff bristle brush - where the stiff bristles will snap back very quickly after being bent - and using your fingers to flick the Splash Mud from the brush bristles to the surface you want to muddy-up. For this review, I used a completed Jagdpanzer IV (L48) that had been lightly weathered, but not with any of the thick products reviewed here. This way, the effects of these products can easily be seen.

This review covers the following MCW Military Paints:

• MIL-1102 Lichtblau RLM76
• MIL-1105 Grauviolett RLM75
• MIL-1010 Graugrun RLM74
• MIL-5003 40% Flat Clear - Flat

The paints are available at $7.50 per bottle.

What modeler can't use some more paint? It's just like kits. You can't have too many. I have always been ready to try a new brand of paint just to see if it is easier to spray than whatever happens to be my chosen paint at the time. Since I have yet to find a flat coat that I like, I was especially anxious to review the flat coat and I had a couple of Luftwaffe subjects close at hand, so the RLM 74/75/76 combination was a real no-brainer. Here's the catch, though. These are high-gloss lacquer paints! If you are an environmentalist or have emphysema like me, this may not be your favored choice. They are PPG Lacquer made. Maybe a little background is needed first before we fire up the masking tape and the compressor.

In recent years Tamiya has expanded their model line to include finishing supplies like panel line accents, diorama materials, decal setting solutions, etc.

This particular review will cover the following decal setting solutions :

• Tamiya Mark Fit: MSRP: $3.90, Stock: 8710
• Tamiya Mark Fit Strong: MSRP: $4.50, Stock: 87102

Like all decal solutions, and most modeling supplies, make sure you use them in a well ventilated area. While the Mark Fit solution is not that smelly, the Mark Fit Strong has a strong vinegar smell and both have a warning about fumes being dangerous.

Based on the instructions for both solutions they instruct you to apply the decal as always, and once you blotted the water off, to put some of the setting solution on top of the decal (you are even provided with a small brush in the cap), and to not touch the decal until fully dry.