Hataka

[NARSES2]

I'm becoming a big fan of these paints so I thought I'd mention them here.

They currently do 3 types of paint set -

Red Line - Acrylics which are "air brush ready"
Blue Line - Acrylics produced with a paintbrush in mind.
Orange Line - Lacquer based paints.

I have both Red and Blue line paints and both work very well with a brush. They are in the now fashionable eye dropper bottle with a tiny ball bearing inside to help with the shaking. The red line really don't need any thinning if being brushed and the blue line need just a tad. Coverage is very good and whilst they may look smeared and blotchy whilst applying them, and definitely look way to thin, come back in an hour and they will have leveled out really well and give you a nice even, flat surface. I find two coats is normally enough.

As far as I know they are only available in sets, at least in the UK, but at least the sets only include the necessary colours and don't use generic blacks and whites to pad them out to the standard 6. The Polish AF 1939 set for example only has 4 bottles. I have 5 sets covering some of the air forces it can be difficult to get the right colours for and will be getting a couple more at the next show I go to. They have a huge selection of sets and talking to the Hataka guy's at SMW on the Sunday plans for a few more.

So if you need to top up your paints I can recommend you take a look at them at least 

[AeroplaneDriver]

I've picked up a couple of sets of the Red Line acrylics and have been very happy with them.  Most of my paints are Vallejo, but I'm finding the colors that I use the most are more accurate in the Hataka line.  The one slight negative I've noticed is that they seem to clog the airbrush a little more frequently than Vallejo, but a Q-tip with a little alcohol is a quick solution.  Love how they go on though.  Totally agree with your recommendation. .

[The Big Gimper]

I just bought my first Blue Line Sets.

What do you use for primer?

Thanks

[PR19_Kit]

I used quite a few Hataka Blue Line paints over the last year and found that my usual Halfords Grey Primer worked a treat. But then it always does really.

But as you're in Canada it's a bit of a step to buy some over here, so I guess any good quality grey acrylic primer would work OK.

[NARSES2]

I'm a big fan of Hataka and when I use primer it's either Halfords or Humbrol. As Kit says any good quality primer will be fine.

To be honest on styrene I quite often don't bother (tut, tut  ) and as long as the model is clean I've had no problem. Resin's different.

[The Big Gimper]

Thanks. Looks like I need to become the Canadian importer of Halfords Grey Primer. 

Another question: Do you thin it down or use it straight from the bottle (100 proof) ?

[scooter]

Thanks. Looks like I need to become the Canadian importer of Halfords Grey Primer. 

Test with Krylon, since its available on our side of the pond.  My preferred primer is Krylon ultraflat sand, from their camo line.

[PR19_Kit]

I squirted a dob of the Hataka Blue lone stuff straight onto a small palette and then picked some up with the brush and plonked it right on the model. A very few times I thinned it with a drop or two of water as some colours, the Italian sandy browns, were a little thick, but mostly I used it straight.

[NARSES2]

Yup Kit's beaten me to it again  I've found that as long as I give the bottle a good shaking, the ball bearing in the bottle really helps, I can use it straight from the bottle.

As an aside with their air brush ready Red Range which I occasionally use as they don't do the combo's in "Blue" I find I need 3/4 coats for the lighter colours, but by putting some in a pallet (cheap in the £ Store) and leaving it for a bit some of the thinners evaporates and it's far more brush friendly.

[The Big Gimper]

Thanks for your comments and tips. Now off to select my first victim.