We’ve got some new painting products to look at from the Mig Jimenez AMMO range, both of them aimed at sprayers. Some are f0r use with an airbrush, some not!
AMMO Shaders
Combining airbrushing and brush work on models can, in the hands of a skilled painter, lead to phenomenal results. These techniques take practice and time, something the more wargame focused amongst us are not always in possession of. So, where do Shaders come into it? The easy answer is all over, the difficult answer is … well, also all over, but it depends on how you use them!
The full range of AMMO Shaders
What are the Shaders?
They are a set of 20 paints, designed to be applied by airbrush, and marketed as having an ultra-fine pigment. They come in 10ml bottles, with a shape reminiscent of a lipstick, or maybe a bullet … Considering the name of the range, it’s probably meant to be a bullet!
A brush test reveals that they come out of the dropper looking very dark, but there is a precision in the way they dispense. Single drops can be gotten easily. When applied to a test piece they go on a bit like a pin wash and will pool around crevices, nooks, and crannies. They could be used for this purpose, but other products (including the ones AMMO already produce) probably do this much better. They don’t apply as dark as you might suspect either.
Through the airbrush
The primary intent of the Shaders is to be used through an airbrush. It’s essential to keep your airbrush to a low PSI when using them, certainly no more than 20 (which is honestly the maximum you should ever spray at anyway). You can apply the Shaders over a wide area or in a very targeted spot with the right trigger control. How you apply them will generate different final results.
The Shaders could be deceptive during application, if you are unused to the soft, gentle build approach used when airbrushing. The good news here is that you can clean them off quickly with just a little water, and you have a long time to do so before they fully dry. According to the guides 24 hours will see them set and unable to be manipulated but we found that once a couple of hours have passed it takes more work to clean them off. It is reassuring to work with the confidence that you can correct things easily if you make an error.
There are many uses for these paints – pre-shading, modulating colour, adding weathering. There are some helpful videos on the Mig AMMO YouTube channel that we recommend checking out. With many products out there already that can be used to shade your models through the airbrush the real question is do you need any more in your collection? Well, while shades, inks and Citadel’s Contrast paints can all create the same sort of finish through an airbrush, the added manipulation time of the AMMO Shaders makes them well worth a look.
AMMO Titans Hobby Primers
If you’re a spray can appreciator, rather than an airbrush adopter, these Mig AMMO Primers might be worth a look. We got three to try, in Royal Red Matt, Light Grey Matt, and Panzergrau Matt.
The cans are 20cm tall with a 6.5cm diameter and weigh around 400g each and are a collaboration between Ammo by Mig Jimenez and Titans Hobby.
To be used in a properly ventilated area with respiratory equipment, we needed to wait for a wind and wetness free day – no mean feat as the English weather does its thing! Eventually that day came and after a 30 second shake (of the can!) and a light, dabbing spray from about 20cm away, we got a good coverage on our test models.
A tank sprayed in Royal Red Matt
The can states things will be touch dry in 15 minutes but it’s best to leave it longer – after an overnight wait we tested the resilience. Passing it from hand to hand a little roughly showed no signs of flaking or rubbing off and it wasn’t until the liberal use of a thumbnail that we actually manage to make a scratch.
Once dry the paint is smooth to the touch and covers any little imperfections the model might have. It takes further coats of paint on top well too.
Because of the colours you can skip the base colour stage when using these; the Panzergrau Matt is great for early war German vehicles. So, there are certainly uses if the colours match up with your force. A useful addition to your hobby kit for sure.
