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AFV Painting & Weathering
Answers to questions about the right paint scheme or tips for the right effect.
REVIEW
Vallejo AFV Acrylic Techniques DVD
c5flies
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Posted: Monday, July 05, 2010 - 10:10 AM UTC
James Bella provides a brief overview of the new AFV Acrylic Techniques DVD by Mig Jimenez, from Vallejo Acrylics.

Link to Item



If you have comments or questions please post them here.

Thanks!
c5flies
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Posted: Monday, July 05, 2010 - 10:59 AM UTC
Not magic nor business, Juan.....just a peek inside of a new product

José Brito in the blog is one of the modelers who uses the decal solutions in the 'reverse than normal' way with good results.
c5flies
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Posted: Monday, July 05, 2010 - 12:06 PM UTC
Hi Juan,

Sorry for not being clear! Vallejo has 2 decal solutions, one is Decal Medium, the other is Decal Fix. According to Vallejo, the 'normal' procedure for using these is to apply the Medium first and then the Fix (as the DVD instructs). In the blogs on Vallejo's website (the link you added) José Brito shows them being used by applying the Fix first, followed by the Medium. Both ways work fine, (and Vallejo agrees) but it may cause some confusion to people watching the DVD and reading the blogs as to which product gets applied first.
Tarok
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Posted: Monday, July 05, 2010 - 12:18 PM UTC
Good review. Thanks James!

I think as always with a DVD like this, and although it's very obviously about using AV products (why else would they sponsor and produce it?), it's mostly all about the techniques, and the techniques are easily used with other products as well. It would be short-sighted to think that the techniques demonstrated by Miguel can only be accomplished with AV products.

That said, as someone that predominantly uses AV products: this DVD's a must for me

Rudi
Hisham
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Posted: Monday, July 05, 2010 - 10:16 PM UTC
Thank you for this great review. I ordered this DVD about a week ago and expect to receive it soon. I'm really looking forward to watching it.

Hisham
sgtreef
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Posted: Tuesday, July 06, 2010 - 12:03 AM UTC
Good review James.
Strange that Mig would do it if I remember correctly he said a few years back that he was switching from Vallejo paint's to Andrea ones as he liked them better.
But then again he was doing Mig Products at the time.
So as said business is business.
Kind of a bummer that they would not make a DVD that would play under Microsoft Media player,I do also have the VLC player and bunch more but still I guess for the Europe sell.
Well where is the Market bigger in Europe or the US Of A.
IMHO.
Hisham
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Posted: Tuesday, July 06, 2010 - 12:59 AM UTC
I just got my DVD a few minutes after posting my previous post. I watched a couple of chapters and I really like it since I generally prefer to work with acrylics, and I already have a collection of Vallejo paints.

Jeff, it does run with Windows Media Playes, but I prefer to use the Nero player.

I don't think that Mig switching over to Vallejo presents a problem. It's just business, and he has to make money somehow, just like the rest of us. I, personally, don't like my job and I don't believe in the product (or service) we supply, but it's the only job I could get and it puts food on the table (And allows me to have this hobby)! After all, this is not about some political or ideological belief.. just painting models

Anyway, I'm happy with this DVD, and I'm looking forward to more from Mig, because I really learn a lot from them.

Hisham

Anyway,
viper29_ca
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Posted: Tuesday, July 06, 2010 - 04:04 AM UTC
I have had this DVD for about a month (got an early copy for being a Vallejo dealer), and it does indeed work in Windows Media Player.

I did express my disappointment to them that they didn't do a NTSC version for the North American and Japanese markets, I think they would sell alot more if they did.

I thought the DVD was good, but also thought they would have gone into more detail in some areas. When you look at the insert with the DVD, it gives you the impression that the DVD will go into more detail on those areas, and it does for most. I was looking forward to seeing how the wooden handles were done, but all I got was a short 10sec blurb about how it is subjective and like figure painting there are many different ways to do it that can't fit on this DVD. Well....showing at least one way to do it would have been nice.

How to do the oil spill effect could have had more detail as well like how to mix it. It basically says these are the items you use to mix it, and where you might apply it....and that is it.

However.....those are the only negatives I have to say about this DVD, everything else is spot on, and very enjoyable to watch. Now I only wish my supplier would get them in stock so I can get them into my shop to sell.

Few other things....the DVD is not so much "Use Vallejo products only" but how to do the techniques using acrylics as opposed to enamels and oils. That being said, I don't think Vallejo is going to put the money into making a DVD, to showcase someone else's product, so it is only natural that they would be using their own product.

As far as Mig Jimenez, he no longer has any ties to Mig Productions, which he has made clear on his blog, and regardless of what lines of products he uses on his own personal builds, it is only business with him doing this DVD with Vallejo, however I am sure he would be happy to tell you what products he uses on his own builds if you asked him nicely. I don't remember his switch from Vallejo to Andrea...maybe for figures, but he used to like using Lifecolor for painting vehicles. Now was that a business decision while he was at Mig Productions? Or a personal choice? Only Mig can tell us that.

Either way....quality DVD, made in conjunction with one of the best paint companies IMO (Vallejo), and one of the best master modelers (Mig), and is a recipe for success. Now to look forward to a possible follow on DVD!!
Hisham
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Posted: Tuesday, July 06, 2010 - 04:42 AM UTC
Here's a link showing another DVD in the works, covering weathering with enamels and washing.

http://www.ak-interactive.com/news.htm

Hisham
sgtreef
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Posted: Tuesday, July 06, 2010 - 05:59 AM UTC

Quoted Text

I have had this DVD for about a month (got an early copy for being a Vallejo dealer), and it does indeed work in Windows Media Player.

I did express my disappointment to them that they didn't do a NTSC version for the North American and Japanese markets, I think they would sell alot more if they did.

I thought the DVD was good, but also thought they would have gone into more detail in some areas. When you look at the insert with the DVD, it gives you the impression that the DVD will go into more detail on those areas, and it does for most. I was looking forward to seeing how the wooden handles were done, but all I got was a short 10sec blurb about how it is subjective and like figure painting there are many different ways to do it that can't fit on this DVD. Well....showing at least one way to do it would have been nice.

How to do the oil spill effect could have had more detail as well like how to mix it. It basically says these are the items you use to mix it, and where you might apply it....and that is it.

However.....those are the only negatives I have to say about this DVD, everything else is spot on, and very enjoyable to watch. Now I only wish my supplier would get them in stock so I can get them into my shop to sell.

Few other things....the DVD is not so much "Use Vallejo products only" but how to do the techniques using acrylics as opposed to enamels and oils. That being said, I don't think Vallejo is going to put the money into making a DVD, to showcase someone else's product, so it is only natural that they would be using their own product.

As far as Mig Jimenez, he no longer has any ties to Mig Productions, which he has made clear on his blog, and regardless of what lines of products he uses on his own personal builds, it is only business with him doing this DVD with Vallejo, however I am sure he would be happy to tell you what products he uses on his own builds if you asked him nicely. I don't remember his switch from Vallejo to Andrea...maybe for figures, but he used to like using Lifecolor for painting vehicles. Now was that a business decision while he was at Mig Productions? Or a personal choice? Only Mig can tell us that.

Either way....quality DVD, made in conjunction with one of the best paint companies IMO (Vallejo), and one of the best master modelers (Mig), and is a recipe for success. Now to look forward to a possible follow on DVD!!



I might of remembered wrong, it might of been Lifecolor.
Thanks for that tid bit of knowledge.
Yep I think you got that right or not who cares really,I just thought it strange talk about you don't like something from somebody then we see you selling it
As the man above said puts bread on the table.
But if lifecolor then a whole different ball and I stand corrected.
c5flies
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Posted: Tuesday, July 06, 2010 - 04:39 PM UTC
Sorry about the confusion on WMP, as I said this DVD will work on PC's, it's just that I used VideoLan to watch it

Scott, totally agree that some areas could have been gone into more depth...but of course I find that with most DVD's. It's usually too much on one area and not enough on another.

The beauty of this DVD is using acrylics from start to finish, especially for me from switching from lacquer to acrylic primer....and not using Future, which I was never a big fan of.

The reason I added that it is specifically for Vallejo was for the purpose of compatibility. These products work together well, but mixing products may produce less than desirable results. As an example, I used the washes as directed in the video over another brands basecoat for a test. Not a great idea.....

But some other techniques will, of course, work with any brands used. If you're going to mix and match products, it's always recommended to test in an inconspicuous area first.
kbm
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Posted: Thursday, July 08, 2010 - 03:17 PM UTC
Excellent review James. You have convinced me. Now, any idea where this DVD can be purchased, preferably in the USA?

Keith
c5flies
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Posted: Thursday, July 08, 2010 - 04:16 PM UTC
Thanks Keith, it should be arriving in the US very soon (actually I thought it would be here already.) I usually buy my Vallejo supplies from Michigan Toy Soldiers Co. and see they still haven't received them yet.
LuckyLuke
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Posted: Friday, October 05, 2012 - 10:27 AM UTC
I have bought the DVD and I am a bit surprised that no-one talks about the narrator.
In my opinion that it is very poorly done.
He is not very pleasant to listen to (I am being polite here...) and it stops me from playing the disk again.
I would not reccomend this DVD to someone.
Plasticbattle
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Posted: Friday, October 05, 2012 - 10:45 AM UTC

Quoted Text

the DVD is not so much "Use Vallejo products only" but how to do the techniques using acrylics as opposed to enamels and oils.


I borrowed the DVD from a friend and watched it twice. I also thought it was very good as an explanation of techniques. I dont use vallejo so much, and never brush paint with acrylics. I cant really say it is "opposed to enamels and oils", as it just highlights other items from Vallejo that help their ecrylic paints to gain some of the characteristics of enamels and oils, so the techniques can be carried out as normal. I have a few DVDs from MIG and AKI, and to be honest the difference in techniques is not that much.
For those who want to paint totally in acrylics, this DVD explains those new items from Vallejo that help their paints react like enamels and oils. Nothing that new. I really couldn´t see any body stopping with oils, because acrlyics would be better ... just gives those who want to avoid the fumes a realistic option.
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