ICM continues to be prolific with both kits and paint sets. The Acrylic Paint Set for Special Forces is no exception and consists of six 12ml paint bottles that are surprisingly not dropper-top style but are rather wide-mouthed. These paints are designed to be used with the following ICM kits (16101 – S.W.A.T. Team Leader; 16102 – IDF K-9 Unitz “OKETZ”; and 16103 – Delta Force Fighter, Mogadishu, 1993). The colors include:

• Black (No. 1002)
• Buff (No. 1032)
• Green Ochre (No. 1059)
• Camouflage Green (No. 1071)
• Tan Earth (No. 1058)
• Dark Blue (No. 1077)

Painting instructions are on the side of the packaging, stating

• Shake well before use
• Paint is prepared for a brush, for the airbrush dilute with water or thinner, 40-60%
• Use primer when painting with airbrush
• Colors can be mixed with each other
• If the ambient temperature is above 25^oC, use retarder
• When applying from airbrush, first use primer

The packaging includes a picture of their Delta Force Fighter – Mogadishu, 1993 (Kit No. 16103). All six colors are represented in the color call out of the box art for the three referenced kits. The colors make sense, look good and are great for the dark blue of SWAT teams, the IDF uniforms and US Army Desert Camouflage Uniform (DCU), and the colors can be used for other camo patterns.

I used spoons for the paint samples. The spoons were all given a primer of gray, followed by the top of the spoon being airbrushed, then the bottom brush painted by hand, with the line delineated by masking tape. Airbrushing was a challenge to get the consistency correctly, especially for the lighter colors. Brush painting was remarkably easy, but a little patchier. Both methods dried quickly and have a flat appearance. I was impressed that some of the colors were hard to differentiate between airbrush and hand brush.

My only complaint is that dropper-style bottles are readily accessible and control paint distribution much better than this open-topped style.

This is a good, one-stop acrylic paint set for three disparate special operations uniforms. This is good paint for figures as brush marks disappear and the paints are sturdy and dry matte.

Slava Ukraini!

Profuse thanks to ICM and IPMS/USA for providing the review sample.