Gyan Strom Agnes Custom Blue Semi-Gloss

The blue from a personal machine

The paint derives from the coloring of a mobile suit that in the film continuation of the Gundam SEED series is flown in the personal finish of one of its pilots. Production machines of this design wear a more sober gray, whereas the personal example received a more striking blue, by which it is recognized at first glance in a group shot. The shade is therefore more saturated than one would expect on a military machine, and on large areas of armor it holds the attention by itself.

Spraying

For an airbrush the paint is thinned to roughly the consistency of milk. A pressure of around 0.1 MPa and the nozzle held fifteen to twenty centimeters from the part give an even application without orange peel. Blue pigments tend to have less covering power than dark tones, so it pays to lay the area in with a light base – on a gray primer the shade comes out more subdued, on a white one brighter.

Keeping the tool clean

While the paint is still wet, lukewarm water is enough to rinse it through. A dried layer in the nozzle will resist water and a cleaner, sold for this family of paints, is needed. Leaving thinned paint in the cup overnight does not pay off; it forms a skin on the walls which then comes loose in the middle of a spraying session.

Combining coats

Over a matured surface a water-thinnable clear varnish and decals on top of it can be applied without trouble. Solvent-based products belong only above that protective coat, otherwise they will lift the blue underneath. The same holds for washes thinned with mineral spirits: above the protective varnish they serve well, directly on the paint they do badly.