Compatibility Test between AK Interactive and Tamiya Acrylics - A "Highball" Experiment

In early May, I ran an experiment to test the compatibility of Tamiya acrylics with AK Interactive’s 3Gen and Quick Gen paints. It led to some interesting discoveries, which I'd like to share with you.

Tamiya acrylics have been a market staple since the 1980s, yet they’ve always been notoriously difficult to brush paint—mainly because a second coat usually strips the first. Using AK Interactive 3rd Gen Thinner (AK11500) completely solves this. It thins the paint beautifully while subduing its corrosive properties, enabling seamless layering over previous coats.

Pair that with using AK’s Ultra Matt Varnish as a medium to boost translucency and eliminate watermarks, and the workflow transforms entirely. This discovery has allowed me to yield better results in a fraction of the time.

The test subject is a 1/35 scale figure from Tamiya's German Infantry Set (Mid-WWII, item 35371). The figure was primed using AK Interactive’s Real Colors lacquer-based Flat Varnish (RC801) to create a porous tooth without adding unnecessary paint thickness.

• Tunic: Undercoated with Tamiya XF-65 Field Grey. Shading was done with Quick Gen Field Grey (AK17072) thinned with 3rd Gen Thinner. Highlights were applied using a mix of XF-65 Field Grey and Lilac (AK11071), thinned with Ultra Matt Varnish (AK11252). Additional highlights are made by adding Luminous Flesh (AK11051) to the initial highlight mixture.

• Trousers: Undercoated with Tamiya XF-63 German Grey. Shaded with Quick Gen (AK17071), and highlighted with a mixture of XF-63 and Lilac (AK11071) thinned with Ultra Matt Varnish (AK11252). 

• Helmet: Undercoated with a 3:2 mix of XF-63 German Grey and XF-65 Field Grey.

• Collar: Undercoated with XF-61 Dark Green and shaded with Quick Gen Space Dark Green (AK17019).

• Webbing & Ammo Pouches: Undercoated with Tenebrous Grey (AK11026) and shaded using Quick Gen Black (AK17047).

I will elaborate on the painting of the web equipment on the next update, so stay tuned.

Cheers,

Calvin

Tamiya 1/35 scale U.S. Combat Group Set

Back at the bench with another figure from Tamiya’s vintage US Combat Group (MM180). The sculpts definitely have that classic 1970s character, but working on the face with AK’s 3rd Gen acrylics and Quick Gen paints turned out to be an incredibly fun and satisfying exercise.

Cheers,

Calvin

Tamiya 1/35 scale U.S. Combat Group Set

Testing modern paint systems on vintage plastic! Bringing a classic 1975 Tamiya figure up to modern standards using AK Interactive 3rd Gen acrylics, Quick Gen colors, and Acrylic Washes. It's surprising how much depth modern formulations can draw out of 50-year-old tooling

Cheers,

Calvin

Tamiya - US Combat Group Set

Old but Gold: This is a vintage Tamiya figure from 1975. Just for fun, I am painting this one straight from the box and directly on the sprue! To ensure the best adhesion on the vintage plastic, I’ve applied a flat varnish base followed by AK 3rd Gen and Quick Gen acrylics.

Cheers,

Calvin

Brott Mit Uns - Tamiya German Soldiers at Rest

This is my latest rendition of TAMIYA’s 1984 classic, German Soldiers at Rest (35129), finished using AK Interactive 3Gen and Quick Gen acrylics. This particular kit holds sentimental value; having been initiated by Mr Yuji Kurotaki, provided by Mr Tokunaga and passed to me by Mr Yoshihiko Tanaka. With the kit’s recent re-release, it felt like the perfect time to revisit this vintage gem. While I intended to keep the build strictly "out of the box", I couldn't resist adding a few refinements using stretched sprue. Completed in just four days, the kit’s enduring detail is a true testament to Tamiya’s timeless quality.

Cheers,

Calvin

What Brushes Do I Use?

I’m often asked about my go-to tools, so I wanted to break down my brush kit for you. 

My workflow relies on three main types: round, flat, and filbert brushes. For flat and filbert brushes, I’m not loyal to any specific brand. Since I use these primarily for general coverage and aggressive dry brushing, I treat them as 'expendable assets'. They take a beating, so the bristle quality is less important than the price tag. I stick to affordable synthetic bristles that I can replace without guilt. 

Round brushes are a different story entirely—I view them as a long-term investment. A poor-quality round brush with a splitting tip is a nightmare that wastes time and ruins fine details. Being a 'prudent artist', I look for the sweet spot between high-end performance and reasonable cost. While some European brands are difficult (and expensive) to source here in Asia, I’ve found my perfect balance with Tamiya Pro II and Nevskaya Palitra. For me, these two brands offer the best precision for the price."

Tamiya Pro II - Kolinsky Sable

Nevskaya Palitra - Kolinsky Sable

That is all for now; in my next post I will elaborate on the performance of these two brushes. So stay tuned...

Cheers,

Calvin

The Passing of a Giant - Goodbye Mr Shunsaku Tamiya

On July 18, 2025, Mr. Shunsaku Tamiya, the second-generation successor to the Tamiya Incorporation, passed away, signalling the end of an era. Under his helm, Mr Shunsaku Tamiya elevated his family's business to new heights and delighted many hobbyists around the world with Tamiya's high-quality products. I count myself very fortunate to have been able to interact with him numerous times at the annual Shizuoka Hobby Show. In our brief exchanges, his indomitable spirit echoes through his words as he speaks not only about his passion for scale models but also the strong desire to craft beautiful experiences for all hobbyists. It is therefore with a heavy heart that I pen this blog post to honour a great man whose vision and drive have created much joy and happy memories for many scale modellers such as myself. Goodbye, Mr Shunsaku Tamiya. You have made a big difference.

Calvin

Bewährungsbataillon 500

Wehrmacht penal units (Strafbataillon) are rather obscure subjects that have appeared in popular culture like the novels of Sven Hassel, movies like Stalingrad (1993) and the TV series Generation War (2013).

I had always wanted portray such a subject and it was not until my imagination was sparked by the Goliath operator from Tamiya's Assault Team and Goliath Set (MM35357) that I went ahead.

As far as the narrative goes, I planned to depict the character in his element - on a mine clearing detail. I picked out a suitable character head from the Hornet Models range sculpted by Roger Saunders and replaced the right arm taken from the rider figure from Tamiya's KS600 Motorcycle and Side Car set (MM35384). The hands and TM-41 Soviet land mine are from HD Models of Italy.

The figure is presented on a round wooden plinth from Il Basetta of Italy - adding a touch of elegance to the figure.

Cheers,

Calvin

561st Volksgrenadier Division, East Prussia 1944

Another one completed for the month of August. 

Cheers,

Calvin