Hawkeye's Hobbies

Talon Series Acrylic NMF Paint

Reviewed By  Dick Montgomery, IPMS# 14003

MSRP: $6.99 each Colors available on the Hawkeye's web site are: Aluminum, Gold, Bronze, Copper, Pewter, Platinum, Gun Metal, Steel, Bronzed Aluminum, Dark Platinum, Red Anodized, and Dark Aluminum. The web site makes several claims for the paint. · Quickly dries to semi-gloss sheen. · No priming or sealing required. · Safe for masking when totally dry. · Can be used with SnJ Polishing Powders. · Accepts decals & weathering like real metal. I determined that this review should take each of these claims and put them to the test. For this review I tested the Aluminum, Steel, and Dark Platinum shades. I prepared a scrapped wing from a B-36. The wing surface was prepped with a good wash and scrub to remove dirt and skin oil, and then sprayed with Color-Place gloss white in a rattle can. The surface was then wet sanded with 6000, 8000, and 12000 grit sandpaper until smooth. Let's take each of the above claims one at a time. Advertised as: Quickly dries to semi-gloss sheen. All 3 samples did, indeed, dry to a semi-gloss sheen. For purposes of comparison I shot some Alclad Aluminum next to the Hawkeye Aluminum. Once dry, the Hawkeye product had a more glossy appearance than the Alclad. I found that all three samples were consistent in this regard. Advertised as: No priming or sealing required. Because of the glossy appearance of the Hawkeye products I concur with the advertising statement. And while I did shoot the Hawkeye colors over bare plastic, I found that the paints were a bit transparent, allowing some of the discolorations found in the test surface to be visible. I would recommend that a primer be used. Advertised as: Safe for masking when totally dry. I allowed the test surfaces to dry between 20 and 40 minutes and found that the masking tape did not pull up the Hawkeye product when removed. All three shades were consistent in this regard. Advertised as: Can be used with SnJ Polishing powders. I applied some SnJ Polishing powder and did not experience any issues. Advertised as: Accepts decals and weathering like real metal. I have not placed decals on real metal or tried to weather real metal, but I did not experience any difficulties applying decals. As for weathering, I applied some caulk dust, some oil-pastel colors, and a blackening agent from "The Detailer". I experienced no problems in this regard. Follow the label instructions. Shake very well! All three shades were applied with a single action airbrush at pressures from 50 to 10 lbs. I used bottled Nitrogen to avoid any moisture issues. I found that the Aluminum and Steel shades were not as sensitive to the air pressure as the Dark Platinum. I found that the Dark Platinum was applied more smoothly and without spattering at higher pressures. It is important to mist the colors on the model in light coats. Attempting to get the coverage one wants with a single application will most likely result in a ridge along the taped edges and a a runs in those areas where you've applied the paint to thickly. I enjoyed my experience with Hawkeye's products, and being acrylic, there is very little odor when spraying. There is an advantage in the Hawkeye bottles these colors in a plastic container. I dropped one of the bottles and was pleased when it simply bounced around a bit.

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