MXPression
Airbrushing Camouflage Patterns
Purely Acrylics
DVD Presented by Mario
Eens
A new DVD has arrived that aims to help us all better understand how to paint a great camouflage with the ever popular modelling medium of acrylic paint from new company MXPression. Let’s have a look at the DVD and see if it’s a good (– or as I found after seeing it) a really good investment!
MXPression
“Airbrushing
Camouflage Patterns”
Purely Acrylics
Presented by Mario
Eens
PAL DVD (NTSC users can also use this in a PC.)
Format 16:9 - Colour (of course)
Running Time 66 mins
Languages: English - German - Japanese
Subtitles: English - Flemish/Dutch - Italian
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This weekend (17 + 18th Sept.) MXPression will be at the Historex stand at Euro Militaire – the video is on sale there
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The video starts with a menu screen of course – a play menu,
chapters, subtitles, and languages are all options here – the languages spoken
being in English - German – Japanese while the DVD is subtitled in English -
Flemish/Dutch and Italian. The DVD is PAL format but will work on any PC with a
disk drive of course! Most DVD players now are region free anyway so that’s not
usually a problem.
A nice intro with great camera shot so Mario’s work and the
man Mario Eens himself sets the tone for this DVD – it is not really a school
style video as you can see with them goofing with Mario with the camera and
making fun poses at the start – you immediately warm to the guy which is important
as it’s not just some other old dude sitting in a chair talking about how they
had to hollow out a stick and blow through it to make an airbrush effect back
before the war – it’s a guy with some personality talking you through in a nice
an easy pace.
You get to see all of the techniques and the processes in
action from start to finish and the end result of each – I learnt a lot from
this video and I think most people could too – let’s talk more of the contents
though – ill go through chapter and verse – lots of pictures to show you what
is on offer and why its better than any book on the subject I have read.
At the start of this DVD Mario explains that this film is to
show you techniques and not a historical accuracy lesson in colours - really
who could ever do the definitive colour round up is a much smarter cookie than
99% of the population. Mario focusses instead on showing you the best
techniques to wrangle your subject into the correct painting scheme for you to
be pleased with.
I had high hopes after seeing Mario's collection!
Mario talks through the airbrushes he uses and talks about
the optimum airbrush aperture for coverage against detail. A few of different
types of these are shown here but I was pleased to see him using a less common
airbrush called the Harder and
Steenbeck infinity - this airbrush has a neat tool free assembly method
and a great paint/air mixture on the back of the airbrush – I have a similar
airbrush from H&S and its great to see them using something other than a
badger or an Iwatta. I related to this straight away when I saw that I had all
the equipment I just needed the knowledge this DVD contained to help me achieve
my desired result.
Mario helped also with tips on what to look for in obtaining
a Compressor and what not to use (air cans) the good thing about compressors
like large tank and moisture trap with adjustable nozzles for airflow, silent
compressors and a regulator help!
Mario talks us through the tools and often usual household
items he uses to do his painting. From paper towels to cotton buds (Q-tips) to
pipettes and straws are all part of the everyday equipment you may have lying
around that can help your camo-painting skills reach their peak!
Colour systems used here are the most popular ones around –
that I found very helpful as Mario goes through different techniques with
different paints and cleaning agents and thinners to show you just how to use
your preferred brand. He uses Lifecolour, Vallejo and Tamiya Acrylics in this
video, and knowing how popular these are with modellers he has made a good
choice for this DVD. You can relate to what he is doing because again like the
airbrushes he is using the same equipment as you are.
Safety is talked about, a mask; goggles are talked about –
as are the safe use of thinners and the hazards of each.
The most important thing I think people have trouble with in
their airbrushing is thinning the paint. I know especially when I am trying a
new type of paint I have problem working out the ratio. Different types of the
same brand of paint have different thinning ratios as well - Mario takes us
through this in a simple but very effective example of the tried and true
analogy of milk – how it behaves is how your paint should behave when
travelling through the airbrush. This I understood already – but a good quality
video of how this should be done beat a picture by 1000 words! I now have no
problem mixing my paints after seeing this really insightful but most helpful
part of the DVD. (Well occasionally I still have some issues but that is just
my own, not because I am not very good at mixing paint)
In Airbrush Basics Mario takes us through some practice exercises with his airbrush – from
straight boxes and lines, to curved and wavy patterns, all of these exercises
help with your aim and confidence with the airbrush. The differences between
airbrushing on different surfaces are discussed, as are optimum pressures to
use when brushing.
Distances and movement actions are discussed in the part on
practice and airbrush exercises – how to achieve different size patterns with
changing distance from the kit’s surface. All of this as well as the all-important
“air on, colour on, MOVE, colour off, air off” technique that enables a clean,
regulated pattern spray to be achieved on the model each time.
In the troubleshooting section we are looking at possible
problems and the rectifying of these issues in this part of the DVD. Problems
such as splattering, spiders and runs and are discussed as are the differences
of changing surfaces and any impurities these may contain such as dirt or
grease are explained.
Mario takes us through the quick colour change with acrylics
– how to - without completely disassembling the airbrush, change colours and
keep working “on the run” instead of having to shut up shop while fully
cleaning up. A handy trick that again is worth the DVD price nearly itself if
your painting progresses like mine has since watching this...
Mario then takes us through the painting of a Brumbar he has
made up. Through the initial steps of painting this vehicle you can see through
an extended view - not just a snapshot or shortened sequence – how he goes
about getting the paint on this half of the vehicle. The fact that it is done
in real time gives you a better understanding of how to go about painting this
in the most effective way much better than a book or pictures does or can.
We then progress on to the painting of the wheels of the
vehicle. Mario shows us how to effectively mask the rubber from the metal of
the wheel. Using small beads of Blu-tack™ and toothpicks we learn the fastest
and most effective way to give the right colour for the rubber and the wheels.
Using wheel marks Mario shows how easy it is to get a realistic result fast –
easily and thankfully for people like me error/stuff up free. Mario show how a
thin layer with the darker base coat for the rubber brings out wheels to show
standard faster than anything I have tried before. Hints and tips for tracks
are discussed as are the paints Mario uses.
Camouflage - the main part of this instructional DVD is the
second real half of this instructional film. Freehand camouflage is shown in
real time again to show this the most basic of patterns; Correcting borders and
colour balance of the camouflage mix are discussed. Mario also shows us
freehand thin line patterns which were often used in German tanks.
A combination of airbrush and regular brushing is shown next
to great effect – after drawing camouflage on a template with a pencil the colour is applied with thinned
paint using a regular brush to make the hard edges – then filled in with an
airbrush to make a level coat – it is at this point I was getting in the music
– as I think the song sounded like “satisfaction” but it is little things like
the music that add to the flow of the video, instead of stony silence while
watching the DVD in real time as Mario paints there is music playing, not to
loudly but just at the right level to help things flow. While on the music I
must say that I liked it a lot! It never distracted from what I was watching
which is what you want really.
Mottling is discussed next – Mario takes a Panther turret
and shows how from start to finish he free-hand sprays colour on to the sides
of the turret – this part was especially helpful to myself as I often model
mottled figures and more often aircraft from the Luftwaffe with mottled
finishes – this DVD isn’t just for the armour guys but for everyone who needs a
hand with their modelling technique.
With the help of some scale plans and some well thought up
design of the camouflage Mario shows us how to create two and three colour
patterns with hard edges using an airbrush. First the best method to demark –
then cut the masks, and then how to apply the colour. How to apply a mix of
three different colours over each other is explained and better still shown
here.
The small dots shape
of the “ambush” scheme common with German tanks is shown here as well
Mario actually shows you the paint on the angle so you can
see it quickly drying and how he uses his airbrush air to speed it up. This
whole DVD to me is just full of real time great hints and tips and it’s like
having a tutor there with you.
Soft masking patterns are described and the best way to use
masks to let the paint bleed through around the demarcation are shown here as
well.
It looks like a
confusing mess before the third colour goes on – but Mario shows you how to get
it right
Also shown is the
masking method to create soft spots
Silly putty is used to create a waffle or all number of camo
patterns, really it is these parts like this in the DVD which help your mind
run wild and create the patterns you have not worked out how to do yet. Like
Mario says at the start of the DVD the research is up to you – this DVD is an
instruction of just HOW to achieve these complex patterns. The colours are at
your own discretion.
Ripped and cut paper
is shown to be a good masking medium and the way of making this into a useful
mask is shown. A neat method I have never thought of before.
The ambush camouflage of three colours with a stencilled
spotted finish is shown with two different methods here. This is really an
advanced technique but Mario makes it look easy. Through imitated stencilling
and actual stencil replicas the look is shown in detail which leaves you
confident you can do it after seeing it on video.
The imitated
stencilling shoes what a lot of dots can do for your tank
Lastly finishing the vehicle and cleaning up the airbrush is
covered. Even an old dog like me can pick up a tip or two from the real
experts! Deconstructing the airbrush is shown on a Harder and Steenbeck infinity
and tips are shown on the best and most efficient way of cleaning that
brush. Ohh and there is a neat little bonus part in the video as well if you
wait on after the short credits. Well worth the wait to watch!
While this DVD does not explain the ins and outs of how an
airbrush works it is truly the best hands on tutorial that I have experienced
to help you get the most out of the airbrush you have. The sequences on paint
mixing and achieving the right viscosity of your paint make the price of the
DVD in themselves with all of the on-going benefits they will bring you. The
basic, intermediate and advanced tips Mario shows are for the beginner’s right
through to the experts who will all learn something from this DVD I guarantee
The pace – narration and subject matter of this DVD is spot
on. The fact it is in several languages and with subtitles will only add to the
appeal as modellers around the world all need the same help and usually ask the
same questions. The laid back style of presentation helps and never talks at
you – this and the other touches like the introduction to Mario and the music
in the background all make this a entertaining and informative watch that I
have repeated viewing a few times since I got it.
If you need to know
more about how to effectively use your airbrush to use with acrylics this is
the DVD I would buy - you cant say better than that really.
Also just released
and up for review from MXPression soon is their new DVD
Here is a short Video Trailer
of the latest video on YouTube.
Cilck on the MXPression banner for a distributor near you