The IPMS-USA recently began receiving items for review from Gaahleri. The company is relatively new and first introduced airbrushes and has since expanded into the production of their own line of paints. Kaleido ColorWorks is their premium sub-brand of water-based paints, which are developed with RapidAir Technology. In addition to all the individual colors, Gaahleri also has sets of paint available for consumers.

Gaahleri is a company that burst onto the North America scene first back in 2023 with a new line of airbrushes that quickly became very popular among modelers and artists. I received a Gaahleri Mobius this past Christmas, and it has quickly become my new go-to airbrush. When I found out they were releasing the new Kaleido Colorworks paint line, I had to jump on the chance to check them out.

What’s Inside the Box

The set I am reviewing here is the 24 Mecha Colors set and features vibrant colors, as well as bottles of thinner and cleaner. The box is a lift-off and inside everything is well protected with foam inserts. The paints are water-based acrylics and are factory pre-thinned for immediate use. According to their documentation, the paints are powered by RapidAir™ Technology, which addresses common water-based paint issues, such as beading, uneven coverage, and sagging, by applying in a smooth, sheet-like layer. The set includes the following colors:

Another in ICM’s range of paint sets, which is intended for use with any kit of a WWII RAF training aircraft; the box illustrates a Hampden and Tiger Moth. The set contains the following six 12ml paint pots; I have listed their likely intended uses:

• 1003 Deep Yellow – Yellow (aka ‘Trainer Yellow’ – the RAF had only one Yellow during WWII)
• 1023 Aluminium – Aluminium Dope
• 1050 Saddle Brown – Dark Earth
• 1053 Leather Brown – alternative Dark Earth
• 1069 Extra Dark Green – Dark Green
• 1072 US Dark Green – alternative Dark Green

The back of the box has a drawing showing where to use each color on a Hampden and two Tiger Moths, one in overall Aluminum Dope, the other in early Temperate Day Scheme with Yellow undersides and ‘trainer bands.’

ICM continues to be prolific with both kits and paint sets. The Acrylic Paint Set for WWII French Armored Vehicles continues this trend and consists of six 12ml wide mouthed paint bottles. The front packaging includes a presentation of a FCM 36 light infantry tank. The back shows three left-profile views of a Panhard 178 AMD-35 (Kit No. 35373), two FCM 36 (Kit No. 3573) in two different camouflage schemes, and with color callouts.

The colors include:

• Olive Green (No. 1068)
• Green 4BO (No. 1073)
• Deep Brown (No. 1008)
• Buff (No. 1041)
• Dark Rust (No. 1051)
• Gun Metal (No. 1027)

Painting instructions are on the side of the packaging, stating

ICM continues to be prolific with both kits and paint sets. The Acrylic Paint Set for WWII RAF Coastal Command aircraft continues this trend and consists of six 12ml wide mouthed paint bottles. The front packaging includes a presentation of a Bristol Beaufort Mk.1A WWII British torpedo bomber. The back shows three left-profile views of Bristol Beauforts, including Mk.1.A DX 135 in Temperate Scheme (1940-44) of German Field Grey (Green) and Dark Grey over Sky (Kit No. 48315), Mk.1A LR906 Late Coastal Command (1944-45) Coastal White with Off White with Dark Grey on top of fuselage and wings (Kit No. 48315) in, and Mk.1 L4516 OA-W Temperate Land Scheme of Leather Brown and Extra Dark Green over Black (Kit No. 48310) with color callouts.

The colors include: