Anthracite Grey 17ml

Vallejo Anthracite Grey 17 ml - anthracite gray instead of black

A very dark matte shade from Vallejo in a dropper bottle of 17 ml. It is a water-thinnable acrylic from the Model Air line, that is, from the line meant for spraying: the paint is thin enough to be poured into an airbrush straight from the bottle with no thinning. (The thick brush line by the same maker would have to be thinned before spraying - which is why it pays to know which line you are buying.) It can be thinned further with airbrush thinner or a flow improver, but that is not compulsory.

Why anthracite and not black

Anthracite is the color of anthracite coal: a very dark gray with a cool cast toward blue-black. In modeling it is used where pure black would look harsh and unnatural. Pure black swallows detail on a model - the area loses depth, engraved lines and grading disappear and the result looks like a flat silhouette. In a reduced scale the human eye also perceives a black subject rather as a very dark gray (the effect of scale and scattered light). Anthracite is therefore a realistic substitute for black: it reads as black, but the detail stays legible and the area can be shaded further.

Use

• Tires, rubber parts, running gear and chassis - more realistic than pure black.
• Modern vehicles and dark camouflage, where a very dark but not black tone is needed.
• Shadows, shading and preshading - a dark base under a lighter opaque coat.
• Dark areas of interiors, engines and exhaust sections.
• Darkening other shades where you also want a slightly cool shift.

How it differs from tank gray

Anthracite and German tank gray are often confused, but they are a different color with a different purpose. Anthracite is a universal dark gray - a technical substitute-for-black shade with no historical designation. German tank gray, by contrast, is a specific historical camouflage shade of armored vehicles. If you want to spray a German tank, reach for tank gray; if you want tires, shadows or anything black, reach for anthracite.

Who the paint is for

For modelers who want to stop using pure black and let the detail on a model show. It suits vehicles, aircraft and figure painters. Spray the base with primer first and apply the shade in several thin coats.

The paint is water-thinnable and contains no organic solvents, but spraying still creates an aerosol: work in a ventilated area or at a spray booth and protect your airways. Keep out of the reach of children.