How To Airbrush Pigments & Mica Powders - It's Easy And Great For Gundam And Miniatures

Today I walk you through a step by step process on how to airbrush pigments and mica powders. It's super easy and gives great results. You can also brush paint these on too.
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[@Zddcffggfgv]

Hardest working man in the model-verse !!!!

[@barbatosrex9473]

I'm feeling sleepy but I must go on 🥱

[@robertclassicconstructiona1830]

Also guys E7 makes an airbrush strainer , it comes with 2 strainers they fit right into your airbrush cup and you can do the mica powders and pour it through the strainer right into your color cup and not worry about any un mixed particles getting into your airbrush.......it's a good idea and I've been straining my paint for awhile and I like it........

[@aaronriggan2373]

First! As someone relatively new to the hobby, I really appreciate all the comparisons. It makes it easy to make good buying decisions!

[@stinky59]

Thank you! I got a set of like 40 mica pigments for casting soap/resin in a mold making class at college and it’s good to know I can use them for painting things too, since there are so many cool shiny colors in the set. Your channels been a huge help since I started painting model kits! I bought a high flow acrylic medium a while ago so it should be perfect for this :)

[@barbatosrex9473]

Thanks buddy, glad I could help.

[@sinverrette9803]

So excited to know I can use these. I run a press on nail biz and this is a game changer and saver..

[@danieljamesbinderystu2968]

Molotow liquid chrome + Airbrush = a real mirror chrome. You can literally see your reflection in the finish. It's alcohol based, and sprays like a dream! It is unmatched for Gundam airbrush work, it literally is a true chrome finish. It's 27$ for a 30ml bottle. But this was definitely some great tips for pigment work.

[@gazsto]

Molotow liquid chrome amazing, have you tried the Montana metallics.

[@yakkyuu12]

GREAT as usual! Couple of questions; 1) how was cleaning your airbrush after using the mica? Did you need to change your formula for the mica clean up, was there anything different about cleaning your airbrush when using your formulated mica for airbrushing? 3) Lastly and so important to me; How was using the "Pearl EX" you got at Michaels COMPARED to the " Littarby" that you demonstrated with in this video? I want to thank you so much, I have learned a lot from your hard work, your sincerity and clarity in ALL your presentations is a real tribute to your artistic craftsmanship!!!

[@125scalemodeldrive]

Super cool seeing how the pigment powders work. The ski blue looked great over the gloss black. As always, great work

[@goldlantern]

I would have never thought about putting the powder in a clear varnish/medium. That reminds me, you can also do this with glow in the dark powder if you want glowy beam saber effects.

[@barbatosrex9473]

Yes, I ordered some fluorescent pigments from Green Stuff World to try that out

[@jerryglennie5375]

That should add nicely to weapon effects

[@yodasscrotum]

You didn't mention this in your video I don't think but mica IS the ingredient to colour shifting paint used in the automotive industry along with a 2k laquer.Thanks for this video though ,I all ready have a extensive collection of mica that I use for art projects,this video has taken the trial and error aspect out using them with a airbrush!! Also it's worth noting that mica can be found on AliExpress for a good price!

[@mrsupaconducta]

I'm taking a deep dive into color shifters after watching your Vallejo tutorial and got a bunch of model paints, and pigments (over 100 and still missing some!) because there was a wider variety of colors and it's cheaper to get a sampler from a manufacturer. Thanks for the knowledge, I figured you would have covered this topic so I can get on with my testing. I'm painting insect models for a Warhammer army.

[@EvilEye501]

Wow, thanks for doing this! I'd wondered about doing something like this, and now I'm convinced. I've ordered a bunch of pigments off of Amazon, so hopefully I have similarly excellent results!

[@vicsminiatures7949]

Another technique you can do with these is to use Paste Floor Wax and mix a little bit the pigment into the wax. Brush it on a black surface then take a soft cloth and wipe away the excess. You can vary the effect depending on how much you remove with the cloth.

[@DeeeFoo]

Interesting technique! Do you think this would work with resin dyes or maybe even liquid food coloring? Might be able to create homemade transparent colors that way for your airbrush (if it works).

[@barbatosrex9473]

I tried using food coloring and it failed. Maybe there's a different type of food coloring I missed.

[@DeeeFoo]

@@barbatosrex9473 I've heard of some people having success by mixing food coloring with Pledge, but I guess mileage may vary. I wonder if alcohol inks or watercoloring inks would work better. UPDATE: I got it to work. I mixed some alcohol inks/resin dye with Pledge Floor Gloss. Basically created my own transparent paint.

[@jamminghaze]

Primer,Color,lacquer,while wet, blow the glitter, then add lacquer layers and wet sanding until smooth. 7x lacquer layers 4 life.

[@MobiusGT]

i would love to see how well mixing colors work for these. I've never had the best luck mixing paints with flakes

[@SamCruise]

Same. No luck adding flakes to. Color. Have you had any luck since you've posted this comment?

[@MobiusGT]

@@SamCruise unfortunately no, I've tried converting my .35 airbrush to a .5 but i could not get that to spray properly. Bought another air brush and planning to try again

[@johnodinsson3635]

Those look interesting! I might have to pickup a set. I think I could mix glitters in there too (I paint my kids action figures and toys when they ask me to) and they love new and nifty stuff. Thank you for showing us this!

[@artycharr]

you are like some sort of alchemist, only youre constantly discovering new types of gold!

[@MF-kv8cn]

you should get some Green stuff world Pure Metal Pigments, they have four, a Gold, Antique gold, Bronze, and a Copper. It's just a pigment mixed with a medium or alcohol or Vallejo metal varnish. It's one of the nicest metallics. I know people always say this is the best, but this truly is and not just by my standards. A few pro painters on here like Vince Venturella spoke highly of them.

[@thebigskip-e]

Someone buy this man a Christmas Panettone. The real hero right here.

[@barbatosrex9473]

Ah yes a true Italian favorite 👍

[@xenokarasu]

That Bronze is flawless!!!

[@barbatosrex9473]

Beautiful color

[@xblazingdubstepx3450]

this actually super helpful I've been trying to find a pastel lacquer and I think I'll just have to experiment with pastel pigments

[@mikepoindexter9849]

It looks really good already. Can’t wait to see the stance. What is the ratio to sprue and liquid cement.

[@TheBlueberry606]

A little flow improver and it would brush perfectly 👌

[@robertclassicconstructiona1830]

You freaking amaze me often, so after I saw this I had to try it out immediately so I tried some ammo by mig modeling pigments and it worked like a charm and came out so smooth , AMAZING!! So I went on Amazon and all these colors for $13.00 bucks .......I love colorful metallics and I think those color change pigments will be awesome , I'm going to try one of the 50 color sets , it's only $18.00 .......thank you sir you are a gentleman and a scholar.......

[@LawrenceValverde]

Can you provide links for the ones you found that cheap?

[@robertclassicconstructiona1830]

So I just went on Amazon and searched mica powders and there are a crap load of them so it's not hard to find one your interested in........happy hunting

[@darkwood777]

Mind blown by the hot pink.

[@tristanspahr6164]

I forget what it's called, but for motorcycles there is a technique where you spray a clear coat on and then blast the wet coat with metal flake. Slightly different effect, but this could be used for that. On smaller models, you can just roll the glitter/flake on the wet coat.

[@EricHonaker]

Very interesting. I have some micas for soap making. I'll have to remember this is in the toolbox.

[@briansrcadventures1316]

Looks ideal for car builds! You will certainly get more choice of colours this way.

[@DaveLisaOsterman]

Great job as always. Wish you would have sprayed the Pearl Ex. The Littarby color on the white pieces of looked truer to the name. Sky Blue and Lemon Yellow closely matched the bottle when sprayed over white. More exciting result when sprayed over a dark color, but they didn't match the names.

[@PENFOLD1962]

I'm new to all this but really appreciate everything you do to help thank you. Would these mica powders work in Acrylic mediums and thinners? Thank you once again and take care my friend 👍😷👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@barbatosrex9473]

Yes, you can use these in just about any medium of your choosing

[@kimijonghighball9626]

I would strain it and I like to use Tamiya X22 as a medium. ps. Love your videos!

[@hasaki_oce4611]

The hell with building gunpla, I just wanna buy all these supplies and organize them RIGHT NOW. >.O

[@statoilbensin2190]

Nice! Btw have you tried the mr color lasvicious set? It comes with different skin tones to shade anime model figurines. I am going to pick it up for a try.

[@TheIcemanModdeler]

Awesome, thanks for sharing, think it looks better than the ring I brushed with gold, it has some reflection but not as good as airbrushing on a black base.

[@JasonWelchMusic]

I love this one!.. goes to prove you dont have to buy the high dollar Keda brand to get high-quality pigmentation. You rock dude

[@barbatosrex9473]

Oh yeah, this technique is awesome. So many colors at very little cost. Thank you my friend

[@JasonWelchMusic]

We talked about rit liquid fabric dyes for wood projects recently... This gives me an idea. Rit also makes mica powder. Look up Rit proline. FOR YOUR NEEDS, you could mix it with 4050 AND reducer. .....FOR MY NEEDS... I can spray it with water as my medium over wood... then clear it with spraymax 2k after it dries.

[@SpexSpexington]

So, if a little goes a long way, then what happens if you added a bit more? Does the paint give better coverage? More opacity? Does it look grainy when dry? Also, if you were to make color shifts this way, do you just add different ratios of 2 or more colors? I've been super interested in making my own color shifts, but didn't really know what to do.

[@stinky59]

I didn’t make the video but ive used these powders before, it will be more opaque but also will have visible undissolved chunks of mica and be grainy so not really worth it. when I mixed too much mica pigment with the melted soap I was casting into a mold it turned out like that, you can see the little grains that didn’t dissolve suspended in the soap once it cured lol

[@awash-mg8ce]

Awesome video I want to do a custom paint job with a future drag slot car body which is going to be another 1968 Chevelle and I want to do a crazy paint job

[@henrysscrollsawworks6367]

THESE ARE BASICALLY POWDER PAINTS RIGHT???

[@rustedbeetle]

I have Bot War, a miniatures game from Australia that's based on 80s cartoons like Transformers. I'm thinking these would work fantastically with those, getting that metallic cell colored look.

[@statoilbensin2190]

Barbatos could you do a test on paint strippers such as Revell paint remover, Tamiya paint remover and Mr paint remover? What smells less and work best etc. Tamiya's paint remover is supposed to not smell a lot while I know Revell's smell like laqcuer thinner. Maybe also test other things like decal solutions, regular thinners and airbrush cleaners for paint stripping? I think it would be a nice video.

[@HeroesLeftInMan]

Wonder how this would work with the Pledge Floor polish acrylic stuff.

[@mechaman88]

Minor request, maybe when you hit a chrome, could you try that bright yellow on a chrome painted piece?

[@nc7550]

Super informative. Is it possible to use the pigments with Tamiya Acrylic Mini X-35 Semi Gloss Clear and achieve the same results as Lacquer based clear coat (i.e. Gaianotes etc.)?

[@Darkagers]

Hey there I love your videos! I was wondering if I could use this same method (Tamiya X22 clear with Mr Color Leveling Thinner) to mix a Chameleon Pearl pigment? I bought it from an automotive that paints cars and I really don’t wanna mix using Urethane.

[@barbatosrex9473]

Absolutely 👍

[@onemansvideos2134]

I use pigments...I use a mat acrylic medium

[@PhilsHobbyRoom]

I know this is a old video but I like going over videos and finding things new to learn lol I'm a old man 👴 🧓 so I still have a lot to learn 😅 anyway I've got a question and I stopped the video to ask this and you will probably answer it later lol but the colors look awesome but even though you're mixing them with a clear that's been thinned before you're spraying them after they dry for a little is it possible to come back over with a couple of coats of plain clear coat to bring out a high gloss that can be buffed after drying?

[@TofuRedFox]

This is so cool! I've had a really hard time finding certain colors in metallics, and this solves it perfectly! As a side note though, I'm not sure if I missed it but I wasn't able to find if the needle size used was stated. Would I need a larger needle to allow the pigment to flow through the brush?

[@barbatosrex9473]

You will be fine with a 0.3mm or larger

[@LawrenceValverde]

Amazing work yet again, but after bringing up the Armored Komodo I feel like you only did half the test: how do these pigments look applies the way Armored Komodo goes on?? For example, that flakey silver might look near Chrome if you rubbed it in vs spraying... Can you please try a few this way? Especially interested in the color shifts!

[@barbatosrex9473]

I did a full test of Armored Komodo pigments where I show you how to rub them in. Check it out here kzbin.info/www/bejne/hn7WfKOopc1nsJo

[@LawrenceValverde]

@@barbatosrex9473 I mean testing these other cheap pigments you just bought by using them the way you use Komodo ones. Are Komodo pigments just repackaged and marked up versions of what you can get for cheap on Amazon? You speculated about this back in the Komodo video. Now you have the mica flakes to do the test

[@LawrenceValverde]

@@barbatosrex9473 so any chance you'll try buffing in the mica and compare to Armored Komodo?

[@barbatosrex9473]

@@LawrenceValverde I'll be testing that out later this week. I will post pics if it's successful

[@TreasonsGreetings]

Using these powders on black base coats reminds me of using nail powder (also just mica effect powders, usually) on gel bases. I wonder how they'd do buffed in with an eyeshadow applicator or dabbed on with a makeup sponge for a denser particle distribution rather than painted with a paint brush...

[@sinverrette9803]

Goes on smooth like chrome but you have to dust it like dip powder..

[@credoimperialis]

Great stuff, thanks!

[@DanceswithDustBunnies]

The Littarby is $12.99 on Amazon right now. Incredible price.

[@mml3140]

Beautiful, thinnjng was always my issue.

[@deelee9712]

Excellent video. Thank you for this test. Do the Pearl Ex pigments spray just the same?

[@annanimus8848]

Hi, I am Annanimus and I'm a mica-holic. From resin, to polymer clay. I start my day with a pinch of mica for the road.

[@henrysscrollsawworks6367]

THANKS

[@zorrox303]

Before to all thx for the video, i watched first your Armored komodo guide, but i have a little big Q, Can i use that kind of powder directly with silicon brush?

[@petermerz2704]

Looks great!

[@cryptochampion3836]

Hello, can I use Gum Arabic? Let me know Thank you for the video

[@johnm.gerard1718]

Can you use "Pledge Floor Gloss" as a base for MICA paint?

[@bomeshary7572]

Would you recommend using them with pledge ?

[@JHartModelworks]

Great video.

[@barbatosrex9473]

Thanks 👍

[@robertscott3399]

intercoat for automotiive its for flake and candys.

[@katoguerrero3309]

Is the parts for the vayeate your using

[@kimijonghighball9626]

I didn’t get the damn stirrers in my kit!

[@ianloh2647]

Wow am I grateful for this video! Is there a lexan-friendly medium for my RC bodies? Or is there no such thing? Lol

[@barbatosrex9473]

Any clear coat that's made for Lexan will work perfectly

[@ianloh2647]

@@barbatosrex9473 and now I can check out that Rhode island band with peace of mind that my lexan woes are put rest. I do thank you sir!

[@pallana3701]

Is the medium like the gesso stuff is that the same thing only it’s not clear

[@henrysscrollsawworks6917]

Thanks in advance

[@erichadden77]

I do fishing lures and have mica powder.. I dip my lures in my jar.. but if I dip will it contaminate my clear or will it spread the colors with a brush.. only clear I have is 4030 and uvls clear.. will that work?

[@HopeDesigns]

So the gloss medium doesn't have to be specific for airbrush? Could it be a gloss varnish?

[@barbatosrex9473]

Yes you can absolutely use a Gloss Varnish

[@gojyo]

Awesome. I remember quite a while ago, I think when you reviewed the Armored Komodo, you said you would try the same technique with Pearl Ex/mica powder. Did you ever try that and if so, what were the results?

[@pdxwildchildroberts5586]

What's the airbrush clean up process, using Mica pigment ❓

[@Kharn121]

Just picked up both sets, the big set was only $13 on Amazon

[@barbatosrex9473]

Awesome value

[@Pepsi_Addicted]

❤❤❤thx

[@WeirdFlex]

can you make a video of how to color chrome?

[@barbatosrex9473]

I did a few months ago. I tinted the chrome with clear colors

[@henrysscrollsawworks6917]

Can you mix fine glitter with air brush paints a use to paint just curious 🦝🦝🦝??????

[@ShineAqua]

So showing me stuff I need to buy.

[@flagg00]

Did you use the backpack from an old hg vayate from Gundam wing?

[@barbatosrex9473]

Yes, I have many extra kits I use for demos and testing for my videos. I have several of the same kits

[@Nate1776_]

Will it work with uvls clear?

[@fagocol98]

I wonder if you could just mix it into pledge/future

[@barbatosrex9473]

You can. You can mix it in any medium or clear coat

[@fagocol98]

@@barbatosrex9473 nice

[@henrysscrollsawworks6367]

CAN YOU SPRAY EXTRA FING GLITTER THROUGH A AIR BRUSH?,COULD MAYBE DO A VIDEO ON THIS PLEASE THANK YOU IN ADVANCE

[@madpinoy5683]

Modern glitters are made of plastic, specifically polyester. It's also larger than mica powder. I would imagine glitter would clog up an airbrush.

[@jamminghaze]

Glitter everywhere! just get handful in your hands and blow with airbrush you get it in everywhere and beyond.

[@maxpainop498]

would you be able to spray these in an enamel thinner medium? something like tamiya x-20

[@morganlutton1434]

Can you use pledge as a medium for the mica

[@barbatosrex9473]

You sure can

[@JDMeac]

Does the same work with glow in the dark/phosphorescing powder/pigment?

[@barbatosrex9473]

Yes it does 👍

[@glennxi]

Can someone link me to a glossy medium for this please 🙏

[@victormonserrate1714]

Hey I heard you can use floor wax to mix the powders have you every tried this method.

[@barbatosrex9473]

Yes, and it works great too. Any medium you can paint with you can add these to it. Great to experiment with

[@anthonyflynn2662]

can these really be used as an " cheap alternative " to airbrush paints?

[@barbatosrex9473]

Absolutely

[@rustedbeetle]

Important to note, don't use mica with a good or natural hair brush. The mica will eat the brush hair up.

[@brianlundberg5163]

WOW!!!

[@markrayton6385]

Fantastic video. I will be trying this for sure. Do you think it would work ok with a Matt medium ?

[@barbatosrex9473]

Sure it works great. Gives more of an anodized metal look

[@markrayton6385]

@@barbatosrex9473 thank you very much for your fast reply. I have subscribed.

[@barbatosrex9473]

@@markrayton6385 welcome aboard buddy

[@unacceptableknottyprofesso7782]

Wonder how they would work with an acryllic airbrush medium?

[@barbatosrex9473]

These will work the same in any medium or clear of your choosing.

[@SuperFreeamerican]

Hey I have a new airbrush, I bought some Alclad II, and I have a ton of pigments. But what I'm not sure of is which thinner I should use to mix with the gloss and the pigments. Would you mind telling me what to mix with them before airbrushing...??? Thanks.

[@barbatosrex9473]

Any lacquer thinner will work

[@rolling03trd]

Can you mix these with the paint itself? Also, can you even use this with 2k clear?

[@statoilbensin2190]

Barbatos could you try tamiya paint in a big spraygun?

[@barbatosrex9473]

Anything can e sprayed in a gun. You would just have to set it to the lowest air pressure allowed by the gun

[@statoilbensin2190]

@@barbatosrex9473 Ok so it would be kind of pointless. XD maybe a bad idea.

[@chrisgraunke9269]

I always think to ask and forget, when you put your stuff into a dehydrator, how long do you typically put the parts in for?

[@InvokeZero]

If I remember right, he said he puts them in for 1-2 hours.

[@chrisgraunke9269]

@@InvokeZero thanks, appreciate the info!

[@davewarman2976]

He also has a video about the dehydrator too.

[@mml3140]

Also can you reply to my 2k comment ? I'm looking for an ISO free one but the one you used does apparently have isos:(

[@budakota]

Your Channel Of Car Modeling /Figure Models is The Bestest On You Tube In My Opinion , I have a question " You say to use any "CLEAR APPLICATION " in using the Mica Powder, Im rather Curious .....Due To Watching Many, Many Of Your Very Informative Videos, of paint varieties, brands ,clear coats. I've settled on using the "Future " Clear Floor wax with Excellent results on a vast majority of my car models ..So My Question is ..Have You Ever Tried Using The Mica Pigments/Powder Using The Future Clear Floor Wax? ..& If So What were Your Results?. As ALWAYS LOOK FORWARD TO EVERY ONE OF YOUR VIDEOS, no matter the subject...Thank You Sooo Much Barbatos Rex for providing/uploading your Expertise On The Car Model World!!..To All Of Your Subscribers/Viewers!!

[@barbatosrex9473]

I never got good results with the Mica powders mixed in it. It seemed to run off the piece really easy. That said I would go with a solvent based clear like Testors Glosscoat, that went on really nice with the Mica powders blended in it

[@fishingwithhoffman7365]

is the needle still in the gun?

[@barbatosrex9473]

It sure is 👍

[@joseruiz-agosto3115]

i have a question about panel lining. so after i finish my initial paint, do i then do a gloss clear coat before i panel line to protect it then finish it with a flat clear coat to seal everything in?

[@barbatosrex9473]

Yes and no. It really depends on the panel liner your using. Many of them are enamels and for that reason you should clear it first. But if your using an acrylic you won't need to clear it first. Vallejo Wash is an acrylic you can consider if you want to skip the clear step

[@joseruiz-agosto3115]

@@barbatosrex9473 ah ok, ive been using the tamiya panel liner. ill give the vallejo one a try since the last time i used the tamiya one it destroyed the shield on my MG Endless waltz sandrock

[@gazsto]

What needle size you using? 0.3 or 0.5mm? @15psi.

[@barbatosrex9473]

0.5mm 20psi

[@gazsto]

@@barbatosrex9473 Thnxs and appreciated!