As a pretty 'loyal' user of Vallejo ModelAir, and having to replace a few basic shades (Panzer Grey, DAK Yellow and basic Dunkelgelb). I'm now wondering about giving LC a bit of an opportunity.

I'm VERY happy with some of the Vallejo colors but not entirely happy with others.

Simply, what are the advantages of LC?

Hello,

I changed from enamels to Lifecolor because they are cheaper than Tamiya or other brands and not poisonous, although they are not as easy to handle as tamiya or other alcohol based acrilyc paints since they adhere best to a grease free surface. Painting with Tamiya never needed the surface to be cleaned before, althought there the adhesion of the paints would also be better if cleaned before. They have a longer drying time than alcohol based paints. Some would say this a disadvantage, but it is very appropriate for brush painting. If I want the paint to dry faster I use a hairdryer. They can be thinned with distilled water or with lifecolor thinner. Some say that thinning is also possible with tamiya thinner. I tested this but the paint seems to clog. I thin and clean everything with distilled water. Once dried they cannot been disolved anymore. If the surface where they are applied is not grease free, a wash with white spirit or turpentine can make the color coat brittle. But redissolving is impossible as far as I know. The only dissadvantages in the color sets are the clear coats. Somehow I could not get a satisfactory clear coat yet. Their tensocrome weathering sets are fantsatic, though similar effects can be achieved with very diluted lifecolor paints an a bit of surfactant

Stefan

I have a large stock of Vallejo paints and would not use anything else for brush painting small details. However, I'm now building up a stock of Lifecolor paints for airbrushing............I simply haven't found anything as good. I have had absolutely no problem with the paint adhering to any surface, and the finished surface is far superior to anything I have seen before, having used most of the major acrylic brands. It's perfectly smooth, none of the powdery surface Tamiya gives, and it's flat when it's supposed to be. I don't even use distilled water. Just ordinary tap water.

Vinnie

Hi Jim
I think most people have answed this one,I was a hard enamel man until I tried lifecolor,it takes a little getting used to but once there you wont regret it,I have converted several good modelers to lifecolor.
Lifecolor are also putting alot into correct colour matching and coming out with some good sets with more to come in the future.
One of the main benifts in my eyes is you can do a complete painting session using several differant colours , you can dry it with a hairdrier mask it up and continue with another colour.
Regards Robin

I echo that Lifecolor is a very fine paint, but when deciding on which paint to use there is another consideration to take into account. Colour matching and preference.

This picture (of the bottom of my Pzr IV E) shows three different shades of what should be the same colour. From left to right Tamiya, Vallejo, and Lifecolor. All these are labeled as Dark Yellow or Dunkelgelb. Lifecolor additionaly adds that it conforms to RAL 7028



Observe the difference between these, with the Lifecolor one leaning towards a flesh colour, and the Vallejo leaning sofar to brown it has really put me off using it for ETO German Armour.
I have not yet used the Vallejo on a model, so I'll reserve my opinion on it, but I do know that I have gone back to Tamiya for many base colours, such as Dunkelgelb and Olive Drab. Apart from Vallejo's reluctance to stick to my models without a clear coating, I prefer the shade of Tamiya's colours. I do like the 'rough' surface of Tamiya, as it helps the pigments to adhere. You can also buff the surface, which gives a perfect 'polished' effect.
Vallejo is however a superb paint to handbrush, and they do a good rage of German Camouflage uniform colours.
Horses for courses..


Cheers
Henk

Lifecolor's pigment is really fine. To manage to get them out if my airbrush I needed something like ten years, but thinning them to a ratio of 50% distilled water to 50% of paint and using very low air pressure I get very good results.
Ciao
Fabio

Hi Henk
Just read Tamiya Magazine are to do an artical on the subject of Ral 7028 and the differant paint manufactures.
Regards Robin

This thread came up just the right time, as I have been thinking about trying Lifecolour. Until now, I've only use the weathering colors, the oil and rust are really great.
Jugding from positive reviews and all positive comments, I think I'll order a bunch.

Hi,

I have been using AV Air earlier on as well and was very convinced by these until I had them lying around for some time. Then some of the the AV air paints got either gooey or dried out and acted funny. I then switched to LC for some basic colors to try them out and has never looked back. They offer very good brush painting abilities as well as very good airbrush ability if thinned well as mentioned, and sprayed at low preassure. Another good thing about LC is the wide range of colors (they have 2 colors for IDF afv´s) - a ton of greens and browns as well as more special colors not to be found anywhere else.

Hope this helps
Morten