Introduction

LifeColor has released another of their paint sets, this time around it is a set of six different coloured primers. This release is listed as being a new formula and suitable for both Brush and Airbrush.

Review

This offering from LifeColor arrives in one of the well secured flip top card boxes with the six coloured paints in separate segments. This approach by LifeColor does provide a pleasing presentation of the product, but will not provide suitable protection in the postage system. Each colour in the set consists of 22ml of paint. The colours provided in this set are:
BC01 Panzer Dark Grey
BC02 Red Brown
BC03 Olive Drab
BC04 Tank Interior White
BC05 Burned Base
BC06 Panzer Yellow

On the front of the box is a prominent statement that this paint is a new formula, but as you would expect there is little information supplied on what makes it new. LifeColor has gained a Marmite reputation in that you either love it or hate it; I actually fall into both categories depending on the colour. I have found some colours to have excellent qualities as regards coverage and pigment load, others have been watery and required a lot of work to get a pleasing result.

LifeColor state that this paint should be cured enough after 15 minutes to add further paint applications, and that it reaches full hardness after 2 hours or so (we need to take local conditions into account such as heat and moisture in the air). LifeColor do say that curing times can be reduced by using a hair dryer. I will say here that I was a little surprised at the range of colours in this set, not because they do not have a use but I would be unlikely to use a basecoat that makes it difficult to see the topcoat; as such I question the colour choices for that reason and that reason alone.

I have used one of these paints through an airbrush and while neat it was too heavy for the airbrush, thinned 50/50 with LifeColor thinner made it flow well through the airbrush with excellent coverage on the surface of the paper. Because the paint through an airbrush is a much thinner and consistent coat I found curing times as regards touch dry greatly reduced. I have taken the step of applying each of the colours to a milk carton with a brush and as you would expect the paint took longer to cure due to the added thickness of the paint. The paint was completely touch dry in 20 minutes and while I would not add further paint at this point I would feel comfortable handling the painted finish. I have to confess that when I first added the white I did not clean the brush very well and so it looks pink and that is why seven colours are showing as I added the white at the end. I will add at this point that if you place the brush under running water it will almost clean itself; note to self when switching colours clean brush with water rather than a cloth alone.

Through the airbrush as I said earlier the paint needed thinning, I used 50/50 mix as that is usually a good place to start. The first image shows a model with a single layer of undercoat and the second image of the model has had two coats applied. I applied two coats through the airbrush about 10 minutes apart and I am happy with the result, the other reason I added a second coat is that the first coat is lighter than when it is hand brushed.

Conclusion

Despite the Marmite nature of people when it comes to LifeColor I have to say that this set seems to do exactly what it says on the tin without any issues being created for the user to overcome. The coverage is very good regardless of whether it is hand or air brushed onto a model and clean up of parts only requires water; under a running tap I did not need to give it any help and the brush cleaned itself. So what more could I ask of this paint and the answer is nothing.