BLACK LAVA-ASPHALT

Vallejo Black Lava-Asphalt, a dark paste for roadways and burnt ground

This is not a paint but a thick acrylic paste with filler which, once dry, creates a dark, finely grained matte surface. It is exactly that combination of a dark tone and a fine grain that makes the product a practical base for an asphalt road, a yard covered in clinker, a burnt-out area or lava terrain. Paint applied to a smooth board would be in vain, because the texture would be missing; a texture compound creates it.

Use

• on a roadway apply it evenly and, once it has set, go over the surface with a flat tool; asphalt should be smoother than the surrounding terrain
• scrape potholes, cracks and worn ruts into the layer while it has set but not cured
• thin the verge out and let it run into the soil; a sharp edge to a road does not look good in a diorama
• do not leave the dark surface uniform; a lighter dry brush pulls the texture out and breaks the area up
• add dust and mud with pigment according to how the surrounding terrain looks
• with a parked vehicle, leave a mark of a darker, greasier shade under the engine

Who it is for

For builders of urban and industrial dioramas, airfield areas, road scenes and scenes with burnt ground. It also serves as a small accessory on the base of a display-case model, where a patch of hard standing under the wheels is enough.

A water-based acrylic compound. Wash your tools with water immediately after work, as cured paste cannot be got off them. Close the container tightly, as it hardens in the air. Store away from frost; not intended for consumption or for the hands of small children.