As many modelers know, Italeri has recently released their own line of model paints. These are not formulated by another company and packaged under the Italeri label. Since I was working on a review with the Trumpeter Russian ChTZ S-65 Tractor kit, it seemed like a nice fit.

The paint comes in plastic bottles that hold 20 ml of paint. The paint is very thick, almost like craft paint, so it brushes on well, but I was interested in how it would airbrush. I thinned it down with water to about the consistency of milk and, for the most part, it seemed to airbrush well and evenly, but each person will have to use their best judgment on how thin the paint should be.

In terms of the color, there are differences. I took three Russian vehicle models that I have assembled and painted in the last year. I took the photographs in the bright summer sun, so you could see the difference in color. From top to bottom, the tractor is painted in the Italeri paint, the BTR 50 in Testors brand of Russian green, and the BT-7 is a custom mix of 1:1 Tamiya XF-4 (yellow green) and XF-58 (Metallic Grey). The tractor is by far the darkest shade, which is what I personally like. The tank and BTR are in similar shades. From a quick review of sources, it seems that Russian green came in a remarkable variety of shades, so it really comes down to personal preference.

If you are willing to be patient and thin the paint for an airbrush, this is a recommended product. Thanks to Italeri and to IPMS/USA for allowing me to review this product.