Big bottle of universal fluid for all your weathering needs!
VMS UNIVERSAL weathering carrier is no nonsense cost-effective weathering fluid for any weathering task. This proprietary hydrocarbon complex substitutes classic and odourless turpentine, white/mineral spirits and more expensive stock enamel thinners. One product compatible with both oils and enamels. Now you will be really able to go a it! Whooping 200 ml bottle + handy 50 ml dropper bottle is more than enough!
White spirit and odourless turpentine alternative. Make washes, filters and more
All-round weathering auxiliary and a true modelling workhorse! No matter if you are making washes, filtering, working with pigments or just want to clean your brushes this product will get the job done!
For any weathering task!
No matter if you are preparing washes of filters, working with pigments, weathering liquids, pastes or binders - VMS UNIVERSAL weathering carrier will do the trick. Product is indispensable while creating SFX such as streaking or spatter and general thinning of weathering products. VMS UNIVERSAL weathering carrier variants substitute white spirit, odourless turpentine and classic turpentine.
Specialised product!
Product is available in two types. The stronger "standard" variant should be used over acrylic base coats while the "light type" can be used over both acrylic and enamel base coats (excluding enamel coats executed with Tamiya® enamels). Recommended to use with VMS ENML 2.0 and Alkyd binders. Please refer to the below table for details.
UNIVERSAL weathering carrier
One carrier for all your weathering needs! Wide spectrum hydrocarbon complex with finely tuned aliphatic and aromatic content and medium evaporation rate. Indispensable while working with either Alkyd and ENML 2.0 binders. Great for thinning, removing excessive binders and pigments, creating special effects. Compatible with other brands of enamel weathering products and classic enamels. Substitute for more harmful agents such as classic turpentine. IMPORTANT: Product is available in two types. The stronger "standard" variant should be used over acrylic base coats while the "light type" can be used over both acrylic and enamel base coats (excluding enamel coats executed with Tamiya® enamels). Recommended to use with VMS ENML 2.0 and Alkyd binders. Please refer to the below table for details.
Recommended techniques: brush
Combine with: Alkyd and ENML 2.0 binders, pigments.
Available volumes: 30 ml dropper bottle, 200 ml refill
UNIVERSAL weathering carrier FAQ
Standard type specific:
What's the difference between STANDARD and LIGHT variants of the carrier?
STANDARD variant is compatible with all enamel products and binders on the market and must be used over acrylic coats. If you paint your models with acrylics go with carrier STANDARD. LIGHT variant is only compatible with VMS weathering binders and artist's oils but can be used over classic enamel paint coats. Go with LIGHT if you painted your model with enamels (tinlets, glass jars) and want to do some weathering without damaging the coat.
I have just painted my model with my acrylic paint, how long before I can start weathering?
Paint must be properly cured. Paint dry to touch is not enough even so it appears good to go. The solvents are still dissipating and the resins (binders) hardening, it is far from cured. Wait minimum 12h, optimally 24h or longer before weathering over an acrylic coat! A patient modeller is always rewarded: The longer you wait the stronger the coat an less the chance of damaging it with solvents used while weathering!
I am using white spirit for my weathering will, this do the trick?
Yes, this hydrocarbon complex is very similar to your modelling or artist's white spirit when it comes to purity and evaporation rates. It has finely tuned aliphatic to aromatics ratio to ensure it works fine work with any classic and modern enamel product. Works with enamels and oils alike.
I am using odourless turpentine for my weathering, will this work?
Yes, this product can be used just as odourless turpentine.
What kind of SFX will I be able to produce?
All the types you would otherwise produce with white/mineral spirits and turpentine variants. Examples include washes, streaking, blending, spatter and the like. For best results use this product with VMS Alkyd and ENML 2.0 binders. Use with dry pigments without binders is possible.
Can I use this product to work with oils?
Yes. If odour is a factor important to you oils work great with LIGHT variant of UNIVERSAL weathering carrier which has lower odour. Standard is best used with enamel products.
Light type specific:
I have just painted my model with my enamel paint, how long before I can start weathering?
Paint must be properly cured. Paint dry to touch is not enough even so it appears good to go. The solvents are still dissipating and the resins (binders) hardening, it is far from cured. Wait minimum 24h, optimally 72h or longer before weathering over an enamel coat! A patient modeller is always rewarded: The longer you wait the stronger the coat an less the chance of damaging it with solvents used while weathering!
What's the recommended contact time with an enamel coat?
During our test 30 minutes long exposure was not an issue. The better cured a coat the longer you can work on it. Although the product is very mild and doesn't readily cause damage we advise using hair drier when the job is done to remove the excessive carrier.
I am using white spirit for my weathering will, this do the trick?
Yes, it will but only if you work with ENML 2.0, Alkyds or oils. This carrier doesn't mix with classic enamel paints in tinlets but has the advantage of being much less damaging to your enamel based coats. While white spirit or classic turpentine cause immediate paint cracking and shrivelling of and enamel coat this carrier doesn't.
Will my enamel base coat withstand this product? What are compatible brands?
Base coats done with products by the following companies are OK to work on: Humbrol®, Revell®, Model Master®. Tamiya® enamel base coats are incompatible!
I am using odourless turpentine for my weathering, will this work?
Yes, this product can be used just as odourless turpentine when you work with ENML 2.0, Alkyds and oils. Not to be mixed with classic enamels though!
Can I use this product to work with oils?
Yes. If odour is a factor important to you go with LIGHT variant of UNIVERSAL weathering carrier which has lower odour.
What kind of SFX will I be able to produce?
All the types you would otherwise produce with white/mineral spirits and turpentine variants. Examples include washes, streaking, blending, spatter and the like. For best results use this product with VMS Alkyd and ENML 2.0 binders. Use with dry pigments without binders is possible.
There is a blue ENML icon on my UNIVERSAL weathering carrier LIGHT, does that mean I can mix it with enamels in tinlets?
Universal weathering carrier STANDARD and LIGHT share the same label. Although there is the blue icon on a bottle with LIGHT variant it can't be mixed with enamels. When in doubt check the web page description. To be able to tell your variant look at the back of the bottle - appropriate marking is found there.