NEW AK Real Color Marker and "NEW" Real Color Lacquer Paint Review - Watch This Before You Buy

[@relentlesstorm]

I sent this video off to AK and asked about the color match issue between the markers and paint. They did respond "Although they share a similar name, they are not related to each other and have no colour equivalence. The markers are acrylic paints while the bottles are lacquers."

[@johanmolendijk9811]

I find it weird that something that has the same RAL colour code has a different colour. Acrylic or lacquer should have no effect on the RAL colour.

[@relentlesstorm]

@@johanmolendijk9811 yes, sadly. My understanding of RAL is that it isn't exact but more of a small range that can fit the RAL. Meaning if you bought multiple brands that state RAL ###, they would all be very similar but not exact matches

[@darthtrentog6766]

Great video Dave, love the comparison between the markers and paints.

[@relentlesstorm]

@@darthtrentog6766 thank you!

[@darkangel1066]

Good video I purchased the both the AVF Real colour and Real Colour markers. I view it as a good investment. I have used the yellow paint marker on a 1/16th King Tiger Ammo Tip, no primer as a test and found the paint flows well adhered nicely but to get good colour took 3 coats but dries smooth.

[@relentlesstorm]

@@darkangel1066 thanks. The markers do work nicely. As you saw in my test, 3 layers covers, 4 eliminates tide marks on larger areas.

[@PitstainHobbies]

Really good and thorough review and test video bud! nice to know the new RC paints are just a different and larger bottle.

[@relentlesstorm]

@@PitstainHobbies thanks Ian!

[@YourFriendNoPay]

Great Video! I'm a believer! For your airbrush, is the pressure you set pre-trigger pull or after the trigger pull? I've always wondered this as I'm getting started, mainly because I notice the pressure drop which is not something I notice with air tools on a typical large compressor. Tell if I'm overthinking it please lol

[@relentlesstorm]

@@YourFriendNoPay you're not overthinking it because the pressure can vary depending on where your gauge is set. My new compressor has a tank and I set the pressure to 18 psi while I have the trigger pulled. I didn't have to do that on a tankless compressor. I do really like the new compressor with a tank though

[@reconmodelsvaughn469]

I'm glad that you did your research on the new bottles.they had many issues with the labels they lack information in safety concerns for entering different countries and so on . The glass bottles were junk they leaked they let to much air in the bottles.they we're horrible for lacquer base paints especially for AK. for all my clients work and museums projects i have only been using Ak real color paint they in my book are the best for me and my fast style of model building but paint i collect paint and weathering products also lol . i use alot of paint and i started to rebottle all my paints to Twist Off lids some people call them mustard tops and 2oz p.e.t bottles so I have about 6 glass bottles in one of my new bottles saves time and alot faster for building for me time is money im a full-time model builder so i look for shortcuts whenever I can.

[@relentlesstorm]

@@reconmodelsvaughn469 thanks for pointing that out in my post else I would've still been thinking that the paint formula was new. The advertising and labeling is confusing but I agree that the new bottle is a vast improvement over the glass bottle. Imagine if Tamiya did the same!

[@charleslaine]

Mr Color and Tamiya have been supplying lacquer-based paints in glass bottles for decades. Their glass bottles are of excellent quality. It was only the AK glass bottles that sucked. You can tell this immediately upon resealing a bottle by twisting on the lid. The AK RC lids always lacked a certain degree of tactile feedback to indicate that the lid was secure. Tamiya bottles and Mr Color bottles both feel really nice and secure when screwing on the lid. Mr Color is the best in my opinion. Also when you open the Mr Color lids, the little rubber insert inside the lid has a nice concave dip in the middle of the lid. The AK bottles were convex, usually resulting in the excess paint often spilling over and down into the lip that seals against the glass. Not only does this waste a lot of paint, it also resulted in a lot of problems in sealing the jars tightly due to excess dried up paint. Also, in many of my Real Color glass bottles, you can actually look carefully at the alignment of the glass and the plastic lid and notice that the lid was tilted at an angle and slightly off center. Their glass pots really were terrible. I just wish they would have redesigned the glass bottle, particularly by correcting the issues with the threads so that the lid would screw down tightly and not at an odd angle. Tamiya and Mr Color have used glass bottles for decades without problems, so it really was just an AK thing. Personally I prefer the glass jars because it's super easy to pour back any extra paint out of my airbrush back into the jar. This is virtually impossible with the plastic dropper bottles. I also preferred the glass bottles because you could see the name and number of the paint on the top of the lid. The plastic bottles do not offer this convenience. Lastly the labels on the glass jars were resilient to lacquer thinner and other solvents. Not so much with the plastic bottles.

[@patrickhruby5349]

Great info Dave, yeah the prime red marker looks pink on video. Also the new bottles are the same paint as the old bottles.

[@relentlesstorm]

@@patrickhruby5349 thanks. The markers aren't consistent thus far but I haven't tried them all yet just those German AFV sets which I'm sure will be the most popular especially considering AK only made German tank sets. I felt silly after I learned the paint formula didn't change but it's ok because I like the RC paint and I prefer the new packaging

[@patrickhruby5349]

No worries, I just found out about the new AK paint bottles yesterday from a florymodels video. I'll definitely be getting a few of those new markers, should be good for doing tools, guns, etc. and some flat white for lettering. 👍

[@miyu87]

Hi, I don't understand if I'm stupid but...the old real colors were acrylic (that's what it said) while these are lacquer based. How is it possible that they have the same formula?

[@relentlesstorm]

@@miyu87 the old real colors are not acrylic. They are lacquers. The formula hasn't changed. Just the bottle

[@whya2ndaccount]

Dave, great video. Just FYI, there seemed to be a persistent hum in the audio. Things have certainly moved on from my last experience with small tins from Humbrol(?) and needing to pry them open with screwdrivers, etc.

[@relentlesstorm]

@@whya2ndaccount thanks. The hum was my resin printer in the background. I tried to drown it out with some sound editing but wasn't able to do so. I should have just paused my print while recording

[@whya2ndaccount]

@@relentlesstorm The noise wasn't overwhelming and I guess reflected a "from the workbench" presentation. Looks like lacquer and a mask will be the way to go with the Leopard.

[@MartinSparks-ef9gr]

You say that but I've still got a few airfix enamels from the 80's that are still viable . Don't get wrong .. i use ak 3rd gen but they are fine 40 years on . Great review and very helpful . Thanks . M

[@whya2ndaccount]

@@MartinSparks-ef9gr I'm just looking at a simple "one stop" solution to get back into the hobby. I have no desire or need to have 100s of shades of multiple paint types. All water based or all lacquer, or similar so when once every 2-3 months I get to paint something I don't need to try and re-learn what the hell I'm doing.

[@relentlesstorm]

Thank you!

[@greghouquet2646]

Thanks for the detailled, honest, unsponsored review. I can't see the point of having a marker and a paint bottle from the same line of products, with the same RAL reference which actually don't look the same. Markers may be a nice addition for chipping and -touch-ups- small details , though.

[@relentlesstorm]

@@greghouquet2646 thank you. I totally understand. I was a bit disappointed as well at the color match. I do like the markers for small details and drawing a camo pattern though so they definitely have a purpose

[@keithhiroshiimazumi2910]

Based on your presentation, the marker pens would be more ideal for "weathering" or "worn down/fading" of colors like the hand grips or hinges...

[@relentlesstorm]

@@keithhiroshiimazumi2910 that is one option sure. Would still be a form of color Modulation like I mentioned. I find them to be great for detailing

[@keithhiroshiimazumi2910]

@@relentlesstorm I agree, because of the very narrow tip/nibs, they are very ideal for detailing, like the 1/72 Messerschmitt 109 G fuel pipe line on the starboard side of the cockpit and other such "tiny" details, even the knobs on the throttle quadrant. Carry on !! I just ordered the multi color pack and am looking so forward to using them.

[@21EpicFail]

I am SO buimmed that they switched to dropper bottles. The jars are superior for re-pouring excess paint back into.And the markers feel like a complete cash grab for me. Hopefully they decide to go back to the glass jars! Not to mention those who've bought the large wooden paint crates are S.O.L

[@relentlesstorm]

@@21EpicFail I totally understand. I will say that you can pour your paint back into the dropper bottles. The droppers aren't difficult to remove. We do also get 17ml instead of 10ml so you are getting more paint per pot. Not all bad. And you won't need pipets to get your paint out anymore. The markers definitely have a purpose but I'm disappointed the colors don't match

[@zazen69]

@@relentlesstorm AK said the Real Colors are the same formula but in new bottles. Aren't the new Real Colors thinned more? That would mean 17ml is could be the same amount as before or a little more.

[@relentlesstorm]

@@zazen69 The formula is exactly the same. Not thinned additionally. Just 7mL more in the dropper bottles.

[@charleslaine]

same here. The new plastic bottles are a huge downgrade in my opinion. I just think that AK needed to fix the problems with their glass pots rather than switching to plastic with those tiny openings at the top. When I airbrush, I almost always have leftover paint in my brush that I pour back into the bottle when done. This is next to impossible to do with the plastic dropper bottle. You have to remove the dropper, then try to pour it without spilling. Then you are left with a mess due to all the paint on the sides of the dropper cap when it is removed. I just really dislike their squeeze bottles. The labels on the plastic bottles suck too.

[@21EpicFail]

@@zazen69 They are thinned more. It's just a way for them to make even more money. This is the same company selling people brass toothpicks and the infamous "splatter tool" LOL. I will never buy from AK ever again.