Gaahleri, which has quickly become known for its airbrushes, now also presents metallic coloured markers. They are a set of ten colours in an elegant cylindrical container made of rigid cardboard.
The colours are:
- Aluminium
- Stainless Steel
- Dark Steel
- Dark Iron
- Gun Metal
- Zirconium Black
- Red Copper
- Dark Gold
- Scorched Gold
- Flashy Gold
Once the cap is removed from the box, the instructions for use are on the edge, which are also on each pen. Basically it consists of shaking them before use, pumping upwards by pressing the tip to get the air out, pumping downwards by pressing the tip upside down to fill the tip and use.
The size and weight is that of a normal marker, therefore comfortable to use. The colour of each pen is clearly marked on the clip (which is also visible on the top of the cap), on a band around the rear and have the name printed. When the cap is removed, the front side also indicates the colour.
The tip is stiff and very hard, not the typical felt tip you might expect on a marker, and is quite fine. To paint you don't have to press down, just put it on the surface and the paint comes out. The way it works reminds me more of a fountain pen than a felt-tip pen, although the tip shape is definitely that of a marker. This is important if you want to paint very small details that require precision, a drop may come out and spread more than you want.
The paint is an alcohol based ink, and has good adhesion, leveling and covering capacity.
I have tested them on small plastic parts of different colours and one coat covered perfectly. The plastic has not been primed or treated in any way, and yet the paint adheres without a problem, drying without leaving streak marks. Once you have painted an area it is advisable not to go over it again, in my experience it is best to paint in parallel lines along the length of the piece until it is completely covered.
The finish is a nice satin metallic tone, and as you would expect from the name. Note that the set does not include chrome, the lighter shade is aluminium, so there is no marker in the set if you want to make a mirror effect.
The complete drying time is 24 hours, although it is dry to the touch in just a few minutes. It is possible that if applied over a black primer, the colours will be more intense. In any case, used directly on the plastic the result is completely acceptable.
Since the tip is rigid it could be difficult to access some parts depending on the shape of the piece. Anyway, the paint shrinks quite a lot as it dries, so the small grooves can be painted by filling, remaining then in their original shape.
Once dry for at least 24 hours, the paint will resist the use of Tamiya masking tape without lifting. It is also unaffected by oil, enamel or acrylic washes. Retouching is possible although the new strokes are a little noticeable, but it still does not lift the original paint.
Conclusion
These markers are very useful to paint small details effortlessly. They are ready to use, easy to apply on bare plastic and there is no need of brush cleaning afterwards so in a few seconds the parts are done. Once completely dry, they can be masked or weathered with a variety of products.