Slavering Maws; A Tamiya Clear Red Discovery.

Whilst cracking on my first Studio Miniatures Zombie Horde in preparation for playing more games of All Things Zombie, I discovered a remarkable feature of the fabled TCR - Tamiya Clear Red. Just when we thought that the crimson nectar of zombie apocalyptic gaming could not possibly be any cooler that it already is, this happened.

Studio Miniatures Zombie - WIP

"Dude, your girlfriend doesn't look so good."

How? I'd left the lid of for a while as I touched up the blood splatters on a group of a few zombies. The paint in the lid had congealed (Tamiya paints are apparently well known for this) and, rather fittingly as I removed the brush, the paint strung out like putrified drool.

I have long wondered how this kind of effect might be achieved on a 28mm model and, as if my magic, the shopkeeper appeared. I have no idea how long the lid needs to be off for this to happen, or if I'll even be able to re-create the effect again, but you can bet I'll be trying.

Tamiya Clear Red X-27 - Bloody Marvellous!!

There have been a few comments circulating through the zombieblogosphere extolling the virtues of TCR, otherwise known as Tamiya Clear Red or X-27. Whilst X-27 sounds disturbingly like a viral compound to me, TCR was one of the first hobby items recommended to me when I started this blog. The recommendations came from Colin and Bryan, both of whom could not speak highly enough about this product. With support like that it seemed foolish to ignore such advice.

Once the X-27 virus spead there was no stopping them.

So what is TCR and what can it do? Tamiya Clear Red X-27 is an 'effect' paint. It is an acrylic paint, comes in a 'mini' 10ml pot, is packed with that nostagic Tamiya acrylic aroma and costs around £1.50 a pot. The most notable features of the paint are its translucency and the fact that it dries with a bright, glossy finish.

So how can it be put to best use by post-apocalypic zombie gamers? Simple...blood.

In short, TCR works like a glaze to brighten and enhance blood detailing leaving a glistening red which is, well...ooooh, shiny! It also allows a base colour to show through, so you can produce the effect of blood-stained clothing and retain the base colour of the 'fabric'. As with any application of blood on a painted model, less is more. A little goes a long way and if you are painting a more decayed style of zombie, you might want to avoid using it altogether.

The following images show a selection of before and after shots of a few of my early fresher zombies. The before pictures show how they previously looked (with a base of Miniature Paints 43 Plum Red and a layer of GW Blood Red) and the after shots show the same models with an additional top-coat of X-27 in all the red, mushy places.

Suit - Before TCR

Suit - After TCR

Neil - Before TCR

Neil - After TCR

Sk8r Dude - Before TCR

Sk8r Dude - After TCR

I have been aware of 'effect' paints for years but, being a typical wargamer, chose to ignore them in favour of simple 'get stuff on the table' techniques. The Outbreak City project has helpded me see this aspect of the hobby in a new light. With the exception of just a few pieces, each model is unique, and can now be afforded a little more love than it would normally have received. If you are looking for a way to enhance your painted blood detailing, Tamiya Clear Red is highly recommended.
Colin and Bryan, thank you for the recommendation. It has opened my eyes to new possibilites and I have already picked up some clear gloss and other colours I wouldn't normally have considered in order to explore what else can be achieved.

Tamiya Acrylic Mini Clear Red X-27