Pinnacle Modelling Supplies is a British company that first demonstrated their products at the IPMS UK Nationals in November last year. At the moment Pinnacle Modelling Supplies has thirty two pigments available in their Pro Effect Weathering Powders range. The company was set up by Bruce Heideman after returning to the hobby after 20 years and seeing what a big part pigments played within it. Mr Heideman’s aim was to supply a range of realistic pigments in a reasonable quantity and at a reasonable cost, he used his years of experience of providing pigments to other industries and the knowledge of his suppliers to develop his range of Pro Effect Weathering Powders and then had them put to the test by IPMS modellers over the full spectrum of the hobby for a year before they hit the market.
what's available
The Pro Effect Weathering Powders from Pinnacle Modelling Supplies initially started with a range of 30 colours which has already grown to 32 with yet more colours being made ready for the market. Here is the full list of colours currently available;
The Pro Effect Weathering Powders from Pinnacle Modelling Supplies are packaged for retail in shallow 50ml tubs which allow for easy access to the pigments and also makes it all but impossible to knock over, the width of the top also allows for easy return of any unused pigment to the jar. The 50ml contents is, I believe, the largest quantity of pigment available from any company producing pigments aimed directly at the model making hobby and at the same time is very competitively priced at £3.95 per pot.
The pigments in the samples I was sent are logically titled and so will help the buyer decide what it is they want and the purpose they are going to put them to. The pigments are not clumpy in the containers and they are also consistently mixed so that the colours go on your model as intended. The one pigment in the selection that really grabbed my attention is Raw Steel, which applied with a brush gives an incredible variation in colour depending on viewing angle and light source.
The pigments are easy to work with and to show an aspect of this I used;
P705 - Pro-Effect Weathering Pigment - Exhaust Black (50ml)
P709 - Pro-Effect Weathering Pigment - Rust Stage 1 (50ml)
P711 - Pro-Effect Weathering Pigment - Rust Stage 3 (50ml)
P713 - Pro-Effect Weathering Pigment - Rust Stage 5 (50ml)
Trying these out on the exhaust of a king tiger that is nearing completion, I was very pleased with the result and the ease of use. In order to secure the pigments I used 5% varnish and 95% white spirits as suggested by Bruce Heideman with, in my opinion, a great result in colour variance and realistic look.
The last two pictures show Pro-Effect Weathering Pigment - Light Brown Earth brushed on over a protuberance to show its effect and the Pro-Effect Weathering Pigment - Raw Steel used with the 5% varnish and 95% white spirits mix both on an old Italeri Elephant fighting compartment I use as a test bed.
Conclusion
I am sure you all have your favourite brand of pigments to use on your models and it is a very personal choice when it comes to what works for you, however I highly recommend that you give the products from this company a try and I will be placing an order soon for the six rust colours, exhaust black, and the raw steel. The rust colours are an obvious initial purchase for me as they are used in so many areas on AFVs as will the exhaust black. The raw steel is also a must for me for taking on the tracks of armoured fighting vehicles.
One thing about these products that will appeal to British customers and as an indication to potential European, American, and Canadian customers and customers further afield is the delivery time, when I was asked to review these products by Jim Starkweather I contacted Pinnacle Modelling Supplies and the samples were with me the next day, which is pretty good by anyone’s standards.
SUMMARY
Highs: The biggest plus of these products for me has to be price, quantity, and ease of use.Lows: The only low I can think of is the availability to modellers in the US and Canada with postage costs factored in.Verdict: Highly recommended.
Our Thanks to Pinnacle Modelling Supplies! This item was provided by them for the purpose of having it reviewed on this KitMaker Network site. If you would like your kit, book, or product reviewed, please contact us.
About Darren Baker (CMOT) FROM: ENGLAND - SOUTH WEST, UNITED KINGDOM
I have been building model kits since the early 70’s starting with Airfix kits of mostly aircraft, then progressing to the point I am at now building predominantly armour kits from all countries and time periods. Living in the middle of Salisbury plain since the 70’s, I have had lots of opportunitie...
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