AK Interactive Paints designed for Airbrushing

[George]

Gents:  AK Interactive will be releasing Real Colors Acrylic Lacquer paints designed for airbrushing.  Paints will be pre-thinned to be poured directly in the airbrush!

[Juggernut]

They’re a little late to the party….MRP has had them for a few years now and they’re really good paints.

[George]

Better late than never.  I like MRP paints but they stopped selling its Aqua paints for most of the aircraft colors!  Hopefully AK Interactive acrylic lacquer paints will match its bottled paints in terms of color.  

[Neo]

I use their laquer real color line and love it, dont see value in buying pre thinned, its shuch an easy paint to work with

[Juggernut]

3 hours ago, George said:

Better late than never.  I like MRP paints but they stopped selling its Aqua paints for most of the aircraft colors!  Hopefully AK Interactive acrylic lacquer paints will match its bottled paints in terms of color.  

 

I'm confused or misunderstanding....you liked MRP Aqua Paint line for aircraft but are looking forward to an Acrylic Lacquer line from AK Interactive?  You do know that Acrylic Lacquer is not water-based, right?  MRP Acrylic Lacquer is their other line that I was referring to in my first post.  Samey-same.

Edited March 25, 2024 by Juggernut

[George]

There's no confusion.  If I use pre-thinned colors, I may want to use either acrylic or acrylic lacquer paints of the same manufacturer for touch ups AFTER the pre-thinned paint has dried.  It happens. 

[Paul2660]

What is frustrating to me is that on the main AK Interactive site, there is still no mention of the colors (air brush ready which I prefer), and which colors they took forward to the new lineup.  As a heavy contributor to their company in paint purchases, I would like to have a better understanding of what they are doing.  Beside watching a Youtube video, no time for that.  It's clear that they are about out of the original jar paints on their main site, and they are starting to dry up on other sites also.  Scalehobbyist in USA still has a good selection at least for the WWII colors. 

 

Paul 

[Paul2660]

Just a further note. Appears the paint is same thickness as before so not airbrush ready. 17ml per bottle with a dropper style top.  
 

Paul

[George]

AK interactive Real Colors in a tube debuted today. Check your local hobby store.

[Steve McArthur]

"Designed for Air Brushing" is marketing BS and not to indicate they are pre-thinned. The AK Real Colors line has never been pre-thinned for airbrushing. The "new" line is just a change in packaging from 10ml glass jars to 17ml dropper bottle. No change in formula, but they did shuffle the available colors adding a few and dropping close to half their existing colors.

 

AK released a flyer back in March that clearly states thinning is required for airbrushing.

Quote

The paint must be thinned to flow well in the airbrush. Mixing ratios will depend on the application, whether it is a base coat or a freehand camouflage. Dilution also depends on the preference of the individual modeler. Working with thin layers of paint allows for better control of the paint application

 

[Paul2660]

It appears AK now has the new line out on their website. A few changes to the WWII German aircraft lineup. 
 

No more RLM 83 which was a dark blue meant for aircraft operating over water. 
 

Only 2 versions of RLM 81 vr 2 and vr3 which is a bit strange. No vr1. Appears that vr2 is Dark Green, (late war) and vr 3 is the brown variant. Note in the past there were 3 versions of 81, vr1 brown shade dark, vr2 dark green, vr3 light brown shade. 
 

RLM 82 is still what appears to be “bright green”. 
 

Also of note is a new version of RLM 66 called 1938 which appears to be more grey and less of the strange green shade that the older RLM 66 is. That version is still sold as RLM 66 1941. 
 

17ml bottles, new shape, still need thinning with standard thinner for airbrush bit dropper too which will make mixing much HC easier and cleaner. 
 

Paul

[alaninaustria]

Hello al, I finally bought some 3rd gen AK Interactive aqueous colors - the 17 mL bottles. What is the best preparation for airbrushing this product? 

I like the color match, but the paint dries quickly and I’m not sure I’m mixing correctly with isopropanol alcohol. Any suggestions from experience?

Thanks

Cheers

Alan

[Wayne Bull]

I like the AK real colors paint as it behaves with tamiya and gunze and can  be mixed with both thins with IPA ,tamiya lacquer . What i dont like is some of their color interpitations. They bear little  resemblance to Merricks 2004 charts ,eagles editons chips, monogram's painting guide . They are so way off even their british colors are iffy . Which is a real shame as the paint itself is really good .I use 30 ml vap juice bottles once empty and cleaned por the 10ml contents in the bottle and fill the rest with thinner . ends up being as close to airbrush ready as you will get and its easy just to add afew extra drops in the airbrush if needed .I also do this with gunze and tamiya .I have tryed mrp and boy that stuff is very good but it is akward to get down here at the bottom of the world and the other brands are far more readily available . Whats the price diffrence from the 10ml to the 17 ml bottles ?  we have not got any down here yet and i suspect ti will be a fair while before our 1 stockest gets some . Weird how they drop version 1 of RLM81 as its one of the better ones 

 

[alaninaustria]

Its official - I am done with AK Interactive paints… what a farkin mess and waste of time… I tried everything recommended to me and ll it did was dry up in the nozzle, spit… splatter and separate into its compounds in the spray cup… never again… 

Am back to mixing my own colors using the Tamiya and Gunze aqueous colors! 

I understand that we all have our own opinions and that is fine… I’m just done, trying to get this product to flow and work properly… 

I googled almost every video there is out there on how to best recommend modelers how to get this **stuff** to airbrush properly… 

shame really, as I liked the colors… 

Cheers

Alan

[George]

On 6/27/2024 at 6:13 AM, alaninaustria said:

Its official - I am done with AK Interactive paints… what a farkin mess and waste of time… I tried everything recommended to me and ll it did was dry up in the nozzle, spit… splatter and separate into its compounds in the spray cup… never again… 

Am back to mixing my own colors using the Tamiya and Gunze aqueous colors! 

I understand that we all have our own opinions and that is fine… I’m just done, trying to get this product to flow and work properly… 

I googled almost every video there is out there on how to best recommend modelers how to get this **stuff** to airbrush properly… 

shame really, as I liked the colors… 

Cheers

Alan

I'm sorry if you're frustrated.  I use 1:1 or 1:1.5 ratio of paint to thinner.  It should have the consistency of skim milk.  Cleaning is a bear.  I use Createx Reducer 4008.  It cleans everything.