ICM continues to be prolific with both kits and paint sets. The Acrylic Paint Set for US Special Operations Aircraft continues this trend and consists of six 12ml wide mouthed paint bottles. These paints are designed to be used with the following ICM kits (48290 – Cessna O-2A Skymaster; 48278 – B-26K Counter Invader (Early); and 48279 – B-26K Counter Invader). The colors include:

• Deep Green (No. 1009)
• US Dark Green (No. 1072)
• Extra Dark Green (No. 1069)
• Tan Earth (No. 1058)
• Rubber Black (No. 1039)
• Sky Grey (No. 1033)

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 Cessna O-2A Skymaster (Kit No. 48290) in overall black (Rubber Black, No. 1039). 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 USAF Vietnam-era special operations aircraft in the early phase and later three-color SEA (Southeast Asia) camouflage schemes.

I used spoons for the paint samples. The spoons were all given a primer of gray (Touch ‘n tone by Rust-Oleum), followed by the top of the spoon being airbrushed, then the bottom brush painted by hand, with the line delineated by masking tape. Airbrushing seems to be getting easier (I am not sure if ICM is reformulating their paints, or my environmental conditions are better) for all the sampled colors in this set. 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. The Sky Grey (No. 1033) was particularly welcome as it blended beautifully with the Rust-Oleum primer.

My only complaint about these great paints 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 of ICM’s USAF Vietnam-era special operations aircraft. This paint set would also work for other SEA camouflage aircraft. 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.