Neutral Grey

AK Interactive Neutral Grey, oil paint 20 ml

This is a model oil paint from the Abteilung 502 oil range of AK Interactive in a tube with a volume of 20 ml. The shade Neutral Grey is a pure neutral gray with neither a warm nor a cold cast, and that is exactly why it is one of the most versatile colors in a modeler's oil arsenal. Where black would create a hard, unnatural contrast, a neutral gray only deepens a shadow gently.

The oil paints of this range have a formula with a lower proportion of oil, so they dry more matte than classic artists' oils. The main asset of oils is a long working time: the paint can be spread, muted and blended on a model for a long time, until it sits exactly as it should. That is how they differ from quick-drying acrylics, where the decision has to be made at once.

Use

• Creating highlights and shadows: accenting panels, recesses and intricate areas on warships, aircraft, science fiction subjects and figures in dark uniforms.
• Preparing filters and washes: once thinned it makes a thin glaze that can unify or break base colors that are too saturated (red, yellow, black, blue).
• Refining and enlivening gray camouflage: the paint can be used to enrich or mute a base finish and to set individual areas apart.
• Mixing with other oil shades to create your own tones, because a neutral gray reduces saturation without changing the color character.
• The paint is thinned with a modeling thinner for oils (an odorless type for example), not with water; it is applied to a matte, well dried clear coat.

Who it is for

For modelers of ships, aircraft and figures who work with the technique of oil filters, washes and soft transitions of light and shadow. A good choice for beginners as well, because an oil can be wiped off with thinner at any time and started again, without damaging the clear coat beneath it.

Safety note: an oil paint; solvent-based thinners, which are flammable, are used for thinning and cleaning. Work in a well ventilated room, away from open flame, keep out of the reach of children and do not swallow. Dispose of rags soaked with thinner safely.