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First Look Review
135
Lichens & Moss
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by: Darren Baker [ CMOT ]

Introduction

LifeColor has expanded their interests when it comes to paint sets, and are now offering sets that contain pigments and have now also entered into powders as they call them. This release is titled Lichens & Moss; let’s take a look at how I got along with it.

Contains

Inside the now usual and well known packaging that LifeColor utilises for this product range, you will find 2 fixers or paints and 4 pots of a substance I cannot identify, but it looks very similar to some of the high quality grass products on the market. The contents are listed as;
  • POW 01 – Sprout Green
  • POW 02 – Lush Plant
  • POW 03 – Fall Season
  • POW 04 – Rotten Plant
  • FF 01 – Gloss Lime Fixer
  • FF02 – Gloss Muddy Fixer

Review

This type of product needs to be used in some kind of context in order to relay its plus points to the reader. In order to try and satisfy that requirement I went rummaging through my odds and ends and found a very early attempt I had made at a small stone footbridge. This piece is not painted but seemed an ideal object for this review.

On one side I applied the darker of the two fixers with a brush; the fixers are as with the paints from LifeColor water based products. I then attempted to sprinkle the darkest of the four powders, this proved to be almost impossible as the powders had settled and did not want to play ball. This resulted in me using a square ended flat brush as a shovel and a pointed brush to move it around and loaded with more fixer. Unlike paint where I usually work from light to dark, this product I used from dark to light.

After the application of the first powder colour, I was not exactly impressed; however further applications of the two other colours made this product pop for me and made me a fan. For the purposes of this review I used the three darkest powders on one side with the darkest fixer, on the other I used the lighter fixer and the 2 lightest powders. Application took about 15 to 20 minutes in total for both sides and I really like the results, especially the result of the two lighter powders.

Conclusion

This product has taken me from being doubtful to a fan of a product that is easy to use and provides a realistic finish. It is ideal for adding the Lichens and Moss growth that appears on concrete, stone, brick and wood as it ages in the weather. The finished result actually improves look wise as it dries, with to my mind the addition of a gloss finish being an ideal way of adding the wet look. LifeColor has released a similar product to this simply titled ‘Algae’, and I suspect that product will be an excellent product to use alongside this one.
SUMMARY
Highs: I was very impressed with the results I managed from the start and I suspect further attempts will improve the results I manage.
Lows: The powders had settled and so could not be sprinkled as one of the suggested application options.
Verdict: Very highly recommended.
  Scale: 1:35
  Mfg. ID: SPG 06
  Suggested Retail: £17.50
  PUBLISHED: Aug 28, 2014
NETWORK-WIDE AVERAGE RATINGS
  THIS REVIEWER: 87.04%
  MAKER/PUBLISHER: 89.44%

Our Thanks to Airbrushes.com!
This item was provided by them for the purpose of having it reviewed on this KitMaker Network site. If you would like your kit, book, or product reviewed, please contact us.

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About Darren Baker (CMOT)
FROM: ENGLAND - SOUTH WEST, UNITED KINGDOM

I have been building model kits since the early 70’s starting with Airfix kits of mostly aircraft, then progressing to the point I am at now building predominantly armour kits from all countries and time periods. Living in the middle of Salisbury plain since the 70’s, I have had lots of opportunitie...

Copyright ©2021 text by Darren Baker [ CMOT ]. All rights reserved.



Comments

What a great looking set there Darren!! This could have many applications on my bench...LOL!! Thanks for the review!!
AUG 27, 2014 - 02:34 PM
Thank you Todd.
AUG 27, 2014 - 05:57 PM
Looks like cool stuff! I'll be adding this to the wish list for future reference. Thanks for the review!
AUG 27, 2014 - 06:21 PM
Darren, Great presentaion! I want a set of this - I love moss, lichens, slimes, molds, and enjoy using them on my models. The possibilities for this set is endless.
AUG 28, 2014 - 01:45 AM
Hmmmm...looks like the same products by Woodland Scenics only in smaller quantities.
AUG 28, 2014 - 01:58 AM
nice products!
AUG 28, 2014 - 02:02 AM
I am very impressed by this company and all of its' stuff so far. I will have to check this out for sure. J
AUG 28, 2014 - 04:59 AM
Thank you all for your comments. For my first outing with this product from LifeColor, I was very impressed with how easy it is to use and i assume my results will get better the more I use it. I particularly liked the result with the lighter colours.
AUG 28, 2014 - 08:36 AM
Exactly, Woodland Scenics or similar railroad hobby stuff. I used some yesterday for exactly that purpose. If you happen to own one colour (green in my case, just mix it with suitable pigments to get other variations. For instance I like using MIG's olive green pigment to make it darker or any Sand and earth coloured pigment to lighten it up. Add some Cork dust or fine sifted earth and sand to any of those mixes (or grass fibers) and you change again. Instead of "Fixer fluid", dampen you surface with a diluted water/white glue mix and apply your mix with an old brush, simply with the fingers or just trickle it over. If you use the wood glue pure or mix it with earth, the base cover is already thicker and you ill be able to simulate a thicker moss coverage. You know that adding pigments pure, either dry or diluted with isopropanol is good enough to make very fine moss. This is all fun and not limited to a 6 bottle £17.5 set! Thanks Darren for the review. Claude
AUG 28, 2014 - 06:26 PM
   
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