avatar_frank2056

AK Interactive Real Colors markers.

Started by frank2056, August 30, 2024, 05:15:55 PM

Previous topic - Next topic

frank2056

I bought three of these acrylic paint markers to test them out. I was a bit dubious about their usefulness, figuring that they were just rebranded markers.
The nib seem to be felted but pretty thin at the tips. The paint flows smoothly, dries quickly and is odorless.

I tried the paints on a half finished figure. They recommend applying over a primer coat, but I applied the paints on bare plastic.



Note that the figure has a resin left hand.

One pass over bare plastic:


Good coverage, the paint flowed nicely and dried quickly. Some of the visible structure is from the paint (left to right), some from the underlying plastic.

Second pass. The lumpy structure on the skin is from the underlying plastic, not the paint, which left a very even coat:


Single layer of the darker RLM over the right hand, only one layer of the lighter color on the left arm and resin hand:


Overall, I'm pleased with these markers and I've ordered some more. Should work great on a primed surface (maybe with only one pass) and should be useful in painting figures as well as pinpoint painting of small parts.

DogfighterZen

 :o  :o
Those look very useful... thanks for the review, Frank! I'll have to get some of those for sure. :thumbsup:  :thumbsup:
"Sticks and stones may break some bones but a 3.57's gonna blow your damn head off!!"

PR19_Kit

Quote from: frank2056 on August 30, 2024, 05:15:55 PMThe lumpy structure on the skin is from the underlying plastic, not the paint, which left a very even coat:


Real skin IS lumpy, mostly anyway.  ;D
Kit's Rule 1 ) Any aircraft can be improved by fitting longer wings, and/or a longer fuselage
Kit's Rule 2) The backstory can always be changed to suit the model

...and I'm not a closeted 'Take That' fan, I'm a REAL fan! :)

Regards
Kit

NARSES2

Quote from: DogfighterZen on August 30, 2024, 11:08:35 PM:o  :o
Those look very useful... thanks for the review, Frank! I'll have to get some of those for sure. :thumbsup:  :thumbsup:

Very much so, could be very useful for small/tiny parts.

Thanks for the review Frank  :thumbsup:
Do not condemn the judgement of another because it differs from your own. You may both be wrong.

sandiego89

Thanks for sharing Frank.  How thick are the tips?  Best for larger subjects, or would they allow detail work like pesky 1/72 scale canopy frames?   
Dave "Sandiego89"
Chesapeake, Virginia, USA

frank2056

Quote from: sandiego89 on August 31, 2024, 07:23:10 AMThanks for sharing Frank.  How thick are the tips?  Best for larger subjects, or would they allow detail work like pesky 1/72 scale canopy frames? 

The nibs are 10mm long and the tip looks like it's 0.3 - 0.5mm in diameter or smaller. This is the RLM 66 pen:


I tested the pen on one of the most annoying canopies known to the modelling world: The Airfix 1/72 FW189.
This is a single pass, done free hand. I tried to be careful, but the frames are uneven - total time, less than a minute:





After a minute or so, the paint was dry and I worked on the spill over with a piece of Evergreen styrene rod:



It looks OK, but a second pass with the pen and more careful scraping of the excess should make the frames look better.

Next, I tried masking the canopy with tape. I removed the old paint with some denatured alcohol (Methylated spirits) and masked with Washi tape:



Quick pass of the pen:



Waited a minute for the paint to dry and peeled it off. This is again, a single pass:



More effort would have produced better results, but I think this came out OK.

NARSES2

Thanks for the canopy framing test shots Frank  :thumbsup:
Do not condemn the judgement of another because it differs from your own. You may both be wrong.

PR19_Kit

Maybe a coat of Klear after you've added the tape, and then using the pens might come out even neater?
Kit's Rule 1 ) Any aircraft can be improved by fitting longer wings, and/or a longer fuselage
Kit's Rule 2) The backstory can always be changed to suit the model

...and I'm not a closeted 'Take That' fan, I'm a REAL fan! :)

Regards
Kit

frank2056

A clear coat would have helped. Taking my time would have helped, too - I really rushed this.

Rick Lowe


chrisonord

#10
I have just ordered the rubber black one of these as it could help me with small aircraft tyres.
The dogs philosophy on life.
If you cant eat it hump it or fight it,
Pee on it and walk away!!

frank2056

Post your experience! They should work well on tires. I like that they're just easier to use; no brush to clean and pretty much the same amount of paint per pass.

Wardukw

Thanks Frank 😀
This is very interesting and yup I've gotta get some ..the rubber black might be super useful for tank road wheels and under coating guns and ghe like 👍
If it aint broke ,,fix it until it is .
Over kill is often very understated .
I know the voices in my head ain't real but they do come up with some great ideas.
Theres few of lifes problems that can't be solved with the proper application of a high explosive projectile .

chrisonord

I got the rubber black one of these I ordered yesterday, and tried it last night on the tyres of my current mirage build. I didn't wash the plastic or key it in any way, just used the pen on the tyres. I am very impressed with it I must say, as it only needed one coat, and any over painting was purely my fault. The colour is perfect too, and the pens are easy to use, my only gripe being the nib could do with being a bit finer, for those small front tyres on aircraft etc. Thanks for the heads up on them Frank, as I can definately recommend them.
Chris.
The dogs philosophy on life.
If you cant eat it hump it or fight it,
Pee on it and walk away!!

Wardukw

Quote from: chrisonord on September 10, 2024, 11:50:20 AMI got the rubber black one of these I ordered yesterday, and tried it last night on the tyres of my current mirage build. I didn't wash the plastic or key it in any way, just used the pen on the tyres. I am very impressed with it I must say, as it only needed one coat, and any over painting was purely my fault. The colour is perfect too, and the pens are easy to use, my only gripe being the nib could do with being a bit finer, for those small front tyres on aircraft etc. Thanks for the heads up on them Frank, as I can definately recommend them.
Chris.
Quote from: chrisonord on September 10, 2024, 11:50:20 AMI got the rubber black one of these I ordered yesterday, and tried it last night on the tyres of my current mirage build. I didn't wash the plastic or key it in any way, just used the pen on the tyres. I am very impressed with it I must say, as it only needed one coat, and any over painting was purely my fault. The colour is perfect too, and the pens are easy to use, my only gripe being the nib could do with being a bit finer, for those small front tyres on aircraft etc. Thanks for the heads up on them Frank, as I can definately recommend them.
Chris.
If everything goes to plan next week Chris ill be getting a few of these ..I want silver..black ..tyre black and a couple more metallic colours  :thumbsup:
If it aint broke ,,fix it until it is .
Over kill is often very understated .
I know the voices in my head ain't real but they do come up with some great ideas.
Theres few of lifes problems that can't be solved with the proper application of a high explosive projectile .