ATOM COLOR Neutral Gray

AMMO of Mig Jimenez ATOM COLOR Neutral Gray, 20 ml

An acrylic modeling paint from AMMO of Mig Jimenez out of the ATOM COLOR range, in a clear bottle with a volume of 20 ml and a cap that can be worked with one hand. It is a water-thinnable acrylic that behaves like a lacquer: it is self-leveling, dries quickly and covers well. It can be used with a brush and in an airbrush. The dried coat is tough enough that you can work over it with further acrylics, with enamels and with decal softeners. The paint is odorless.

The neutral gray

The manufacturer declares this shade as Neutral Gray with the corresponding FS36122 standard - the gray historically used on the lower surfaces of American aircraft of the Second World War. Beyond that particular use, however, it has one more very practical role.

Why it suits mixing and shading

A neutral gray is balanced in tone - it has no pronounced warm (toward yellow or red) or cool (toward blue or green) bias. So when you mix another color with it, it shifts the lightness but does not distort the character. That is exactly what you need for:

• Mixing and muting shades - toning down a color that is too saturated without warming it or cooling it.
• Shading and modulation - darkening the base shade into recesses and shadowed areas without a shift in tone, which is a cleaner route than mixing with black (that dirties colors and grays them toward cool).
• Preshading - spraying into panel lines and engraving before the main color, which then shows through and gives the surface depth. A gray is softer and more forgiving here than black.
• Basic gray surfaces - interiors, landing gear bays, lower surfaces and accessories.

Use

Stir the paint thoroughly before use. It thins with water or the manufacturer's thinner made for this range; in an airbrush apply it in thin coats, and with a brush work briskly, because it dries quickly.

Who it is for

For modelers of aircraft and military vehicles who need a reliable universal gray - whether as a particular shade or as a working color for mixing, shading and preshading. Thanks to the water base and the low smell it also suits working in an apartment.

Safety: keep out of the reach of children and avoid contact with the eyes. Ventilate and protect your airways when airbrushing.