Kimmo I rather like that and it raised a chuckle.

As others have mentioned, it looks like Rub-n-Buff, a product that used to be very popular with armor modelers in the US. The silver could be rubbed on the high points of a tank's tracks to depict wear. Though not widely known, it could also be thinned with enamel thinner and applied with a brush. When thinned, it could also be mixed with enamels to alter the shade. It would polish up, but the shine sometimes dulled over time. That said, tank tracks shouldn't look like chrome, so that wasn't necessarily bad. The product doesn't get mentioned much anymore, so I guess it's gone out of fashion.

I'm afraid this fad will be resurrected. I generally try to steer clear of them, but that is just what some people want to see. Reminds me of preshading panel edges to show wear. Just because it doesn't happen in real life doesn't mean we shouldn't depict it? I thought about trying out the brass, for shell. But, I doubt that they would be shiny enough to do anything more than paint, without buffing.

What, you mean Ikea didn't really invent their Bookbook™ ?

I see that the US members of Armorama sometimes think that all the USA products are ready in the whole world ... but this is not true...Of course there is a lot of products we can use for modelling instead of commercial modelling products...remember that the famous Vallejo acrilic paints were first designed for cartoons movies, not for models ¡¡¡¡ So, I think is a good thing that a company launch a product around the world, so many people could use it if they haven´t a cheap alternative...I remember when I was young (now 50 years old) I recolected from the trash containers the lids from some soap for washing machines drums (Skip, Bilore and so) because they were made of plastic plate and we had no available evergreen products. So Should I say don´t buy evergreen plastic sheets and use Bilore lids ??? It isn´t logic ... By the way, here is a link for a video experimenting with the AK waxes by Carlos Mendes, very interesting...He use varnishs, paints, pigments, airbrush and so, very instructive indeed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylBZ-vtMq6o

Happy modelling ¡¡¡

I've used Rub and Buff in the past, but the big problem I've had with it is that dries up in the tubing pretty easy, even with the cap on it! Doesn't have a very long shelf life.

Rub'n Buff is certainly not the only metallic colored paste wax product available in the world.

Goldfinger Metallic Colored Pastes made by Daler-Rowney would appear to be widely available in the EU:

Cass Art::London::Goldfinger Metallic Paste


Daler_Rowney::Stockiests::Zaragoza, Spain

Here's another very similar product that comes in cans:

Dick Blick::Baroque Art Gilders Paste

I wouldn't be surprised if there are perhaps dozens of other similar products from different manufacturers and available in art supply, crafting, and home improvement stockiest all over the world.

The point was that many, if not most, of the "new" products that are being marketed for modelers are nothing new. The only new thing is that someone has discovered that there is money to be made by marketing these products and materials to modelers as if they are something new, just for model builders.

If AK-I decides to try to carve out a little slice of the market share for metallic colored paste waxes, that's fine, but don't think that AK-I is your only possible source. You may have other less expensive or more easily available options.

On the other hand, if you want to buy your metallic colored paste waxes from AK-I, that's fine too.

I can see that you are a "old school" modeller like me; really most of the products offered by scale modelling companies, not only AK, can be changed for home made products or non specific products like the metalic paste you appointed; but today the most precius thing for modellers is time, so the don´t want to "dive" into the supermarket looking for something that a company offer him in the most easy way...you can call it "Lazy modelling", but it´s the reality. And I can sure you that the True Metal from AK is not a repacked of any commercial pre-existing wax brand...the wax was developed, elaborated, tested an designed by the team of a serius company with years of experience, and the colors are specifics for modellers; I know that because I know the owner of the factory and told me about this product.

So, as you say, let people choose the "old way" or the "lazy way".

Best Regards

I got all 10 in a promo pack the other day. I think it's a great product. We can't cast aside AK waxes because the brands that have come before them weren't durable enough or they scratched easily, etc. From what I understand, the AK waxes have been formulated to avoid the problems that other brands have. Before we count AK waxes out we should first test the product. We can't form an opinion on AK waxes based on the performance an entirely different companies product developed decades ago. Lets actually try the product out before we form an opinion. Fair?

^ This

Besides, where does AK claim they invented this product? They simply mention they have an all new line of paint, which they clearly do since they didn't have this a month ago.

There is a pizza place in my town that just began advertising their fantastic new burgers. Just this morning there were three people out front giving lectures about the first hamburger invented because these people didn't invent the burger and that McDonald's has been doing it for decades.


Wait... no there wasn't.

I did not see this thread as anti AK or this product. I do believe members are pointing out other products that do the same or similar thing as alternatives.

very cool; looks like a great product; but 55 Euro? hmmm...is that for the set?

Following the link I'd have to say yes, it is for the whole set of 10, meaning 5.50 a piece? Then I guess you'd have to add shipping from Spain as there is no US AK anymore.

Too much for my blood as I'm somewhere between broke and cheap.

I think the old timers (cave wall painters was the term used) were pointing out that back in the olden days we only had rub n buff as the only act in town and this product is not necessarily a new idea. I am personally going to check this new stuff out.

Cheers

Humbrol has that paint that can be polished. Enamel Metalkote polishable. You can get similar effects with an artists pencil...rub with your fingers or similar object to polish it.
It works awesome.

Dave that is the product I referred to as i do miss it.