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Tool Review
DOA Pigments
Devil Over The Atlantic Pigments
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by: Matthew Toms [ SSGTOMS ]

introduction

I first learned about pigments and their use on models from Sheperd Paine in 1975. He also taught me about washes, drybrushing, shading, detailing, and the philosophy and art of model building. If you want to find the Genesis of how we build today, Shep really is it.

Back then, though, pigments were reserved for the artist’s alchemy of making oil paints. We used pastel chalks, ground on sandpaper and dusted on the model. Now, 35 years later, many companies have made it much easier on the modeler. We have true pigments, finely ground and marketed in manageable amounts in useful colors. These pigments are combined with an adhesive binding agent to make them stick to the model.

First on the scene was Bragdon Enterprises. They produced the first pigments for modelers in 1982 and are still going strong. In the last decade we have seen an explosion of pigment manufacturers, with at least a half dozen lines on the worldwide market.

Newest on the scene is Devil Over The Atlantic Hobbies. They have introduced a line of modeling pigments to compliment their excellent new paint line which is reviewed Here on Armorama. I was sent two review samples and was asked to evaluate them.

review

I’ve been using Bragdon pigments for decades and MIG pigments for years, so I have a substantial stock of pigments at the workbench and I know how to use them and what they are supposed to do. Since it’s difficult to perform a useful evaluation without some reference comparison, I picked out similar colors of Bragdon and MiG pigments to put up against the DOA products.

I decided to apply them on copy paper, a test model, and wet with a carrier. I set to work to see how the DOA pigments stacked up. My test colors were a Rust and a Dirt Brown.

DOA pigments are very finely ground and rich in color. They flow and powder beautifully. The adhesive binder works perfectly and adhesion is excellent. They spread well and cover well. There is no clumping or pilling present but they adhere to surface detail and smooth areas equally well. It can be lightly dusted for a translucent look or the effect can be built up with successive applications. Multiple color layers can be applied on the model for different effects.

The photos tell most of the story. Applied on paper with a medium soft cosmetics brush, DOA pigments applied, spread and adhered excellently. On the model, DOA pigments performed brilliantly. They are very easy to apply and adhesion, coverage and color are outstanding. It was easy to tap away excess but they stayed where put. The pigment powder is extremely fine and spread easily.

Next I added pigment to 91% isopropyl alcohol as a carrier and made a single brush stroke with a #2 round red sable paint brush. I wanted to quickly simulate a single color of a rust streak. Again, DOA pigments mixed perfectly with the carrier, were smooth and rich in color, and spread and covered as expected when applied to the model surface. When rubbed with a finger it stuck firm and was highly durable.

conclusion

DOA pigments were outstanding in all applications. They are perfectly suited to all pigment uses and techniques. They performed equal to or superior to the competition in all of my tests. I will be a regular DOA pigment user from now on.

DOA pigments are completely comparable to Bragdon and MIG pigments in all respects except one – price. DOA pigments sell for $5 USD for a 60 ml bottle. For $5, this gives the customer 20% more product than Bragdon, and 300% more product than MIG. This is truly a breakthrough and unequivocally the best value on the market.

DOA pigments are available in an ever increasing range of colors. They can be purchased from the maker via their website and they ship worldwide. Shipping is a very economical $4.95 in the US or $13.95 worldwide flat rate for 6 bottles.

Very highly recommended.
SUMMARY
Highs: Excellent performance and color. Among the best pigments on the market but a much, much better value.
Lows: Bottles have rather small necks, making it a bit touchy to load the brush with pigments.
Verdict: Very Highly Recommended.
Percentage Rating
98%
  Scale: Other
  Mfg. ID: None
  Suggested Retail: $5 USD/60ml
  Related Link: DOA Hobbies
  PUBLISHED: Feb 20, 2010
NETWORK-WIDE AVERAGE RATINGS
  THIS REVIEWER: 93.25%
  MAKER/PUBLISHER: 92.67%

Our Thanks to DOA Paints!
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 Matthew Toms (SSGToms)
FROM: CONNECTICUT, UNITED STATES

Copyright ©2021 text by Matthew Toms [ SSGTOMS ]. All rights reserved.



Comments

for you UK / European guys that use doa paints and pigments we have dropped the v.a.t on all sales and lowered the cost on pigments,drop by and pick your bits up whilst there hot guys and girls.
APR 05, 2010 - 03:46 AM
Hi, Brian On the paint side, a decent set of German tank interior colors would be cool: Elfenbein (RAL 1001, lemon yellow and beige shades), grey-green colour (RAL 7009) and maybe red primer RAL 8012, which you already have in the list, I suppose. Cheers, Raimondas
APR 05, 2010 - 07:02 AM
Hey Raimondas, Yes that does sound like an interesting set. I will start researching it first thing tomorrow. We do already have the red primer per a previous request..but it would be a cool addition to a German interior set. Thanks for the input!
APR 05, 2010 - 02:29 PM
Where can I get some free stuff? Just kidding. Tried light and dark and got just the color I needed. JOHN
APR 05, 2010 - 04:38 PM
Free stuff! I am practically giving the stuff away now!!!!! Ok I have developed a new pigment that I have been promising...a "Light Desert Sand/Dust". I have also re-vamped the website in the pigment section so that with the five and seven pigment sets you can pick one of the eight colors we have available. DOA Hobbies Thanks guys for the continued input and support.
APR 07, 2010 - 12:11 AM
Seems you won't be first in this race Lifecolor interior paint set
MAY 21, 2010 - 07:30 PM
I guess I'm a bit late on this topic/review. Matt I liked the review of the pigments and the fair comparison. As you all know, I am very much into rusting models and am always trying new products and mainly techniques. As for the rust colors go, well it will depend on the type of rust effects you are trying to obtain. I have been using artist pigments for years and am experimenting with MIG pigments. The colors used in the review are perfectly fine, especially for old oxidized steel and iron. In fact all you really need are three to four shades of rust pigments, the rest is all in the mixing and application. Matt in the review used used Isoprop mixed with pigments. How did this flow when used as a wash or pin wash? Also, have you tested the pigments with mineral spirits, and mixed with oil paints? How do the pigments hold up to being used with the HS and salt techniques? Sorry for all the questions, but I have yet to try the DOA pigments. I will be putting these pigments on my list of test subjects on a future build. Yeah baby more rusting experiments Great review Matt, looking forward to seeing and reading more from you. Rob LINK
MAY 23, 2010 - 05:02 PM
I've gone back and reread all the posts and think Darren is correct as far as a lighter rust color. The Iron colors look good but are best suited for Iron, such as a cast turret. A light rust color is needed for metal/steel parts of a tank. This can also be used for fresh rust on any surface. Below is a pic of two of the four pigments I always use for rust. The Iron rust colors have the reddish purple tint to it, and this is perfect for old corroded iron. Once you have the bright yellow/orange this can be mixed to obtain a wide range of rust tones. I like were DOA is going with there product range and look forward to putting the paints and pigments through some real testing. Are there plans for oil paints in the future !?! Aaahh the smell of rust.. Rob
MAY 24, 2010 - 05:32 AM
Rob I think you will be happy with the quality of the product, and as it is always being refined can only improve as regards colour.
MAY 24, 2010 - 01:18 PM
   
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