AMMO by Mig- Missing Link Watercolor Markers

I was recently offered the chance to try these out and jumped at it! Weathering has quickly become my favorite part of the model process and in the past, I have used AMMO Oilbrushers, Washes, and Pigments to augment my process. Last January, I was able to check out their Lock  N' Load pencils- check out that review here:

https://www.amps-armor.org/SiteReviews/ShowReview.aspx?id=15387

The latest innovation in weathering by the company are watercolor markers which comprise a set of pens with conicle, flexible brush tips that you can use to add weathering effects to your model. Depending on how much pressure you use while applying the transparent colors, you can have thinner or thicker lines of subtle color. There are currently three different sets available:

• Tanks Set that I am reviewing here (A.MIG-0400)
• Aircraft Set (A.MIG-0401)
• Trains Set (AMMO.R-1070)

Each set includes twelve markers as well as an empty blending marker called a Water Blur that you can fill with water to use the brush to blend or fade the colors. You can use the markers to create filters, shadow effects or weathering streaks and the brush allows you to create various coverages for detail work or larger surface effects. Included in this set are the following colors:

• A.MIG-0406 Missing Link Flesh 
• A.MIG-0408 Missing Link Faded Green 
• A.MIG-0409 Missing Link Earth 
• A.MIG-0410 Missing Link Dirt 
• A.MIG-0411 Missing Link Black 
• A.MIG-0412 Missing Link Dark Green 
• A.MIG-0413 Missing Link Dark Rust 
• A.MIG-0414 Missing Link Rust 
• A.MIG-0416 Missing Link Ochre 
• A.MIG-0417 Missing Link Blue Gray 
• A.MIG-0418 Missing Link Medium Gray 
• A.MIG-0419 Missing Link Red Brown 
• A.MIG-0421 Missing Link Water Blur 

The Water Blur marker takes some getting used to- it took a bit to prime it so the water is in the brush and then once you have it, it is easy to flood the surface with water. Yet, with practice it works a treat. I also tried using just a damp thin brush and that worked well with the finer detail so you may find a method to your preference.The markers feel great in your hand- and the caps serve two purposes- they are colored to aid in identification of the shade you are using, and the cap has an anti-roll feature that prevents it from escaping off of your work surface.

You do need to work on a painted surface to apply the colors- they are not at all ideal for unpainted surfaces, but I found they added subtle effects and were very forgiving. If you find you aren't happy with an effect, it is easy to wipe off with water and start over. If using the Water Blur marker, when finished, just wipe the brush tip off a few times on a paper towel and it will be color-free in no time. The two examples seen here in the photos are the turret from my M1 Super Sherman and my whitewashed Takom SMK. The streaking effects on the turret are evident and were easy to achieve with the faded green, earth, and dirt markers. The filter on the SMK was done using the blue gray, medium gray, and earth markers. 

Conclusion

I find these markers extremely easy to use and very forgiving. The technique is similar to what I have done in the past with AMMO Oilbrushers and Turpenoid or straight up oils- but have the added advantage of being much quicker to dry and more subtle. No need to wait for linseed oil to bleed out like you would with regular oils- and a great selection of colors for just about any model from any genre. I haven't tried the other two sets but this set is ideal for any armor or vehicle you might be working on.

Highly Recommended for Beginner to Advanced builders looking to add another tool to their weathering toolbox.

Thanks goes out to AMMO by Mig Jimenez for this review sample.

Reviewed by Michael Reeves

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