Kaleido ColorWorks water-based acrylic paint demonstrating lacquer-like smoothness

Kaleido ColorWorks: The Water-Based Acrylic That Sprays Like Lacquer — Now Available at ScaleCraft Studios

The modelling paint world doesn’t evolve often — but when it does, it’s usually because a new formulation genuinely solves long-standing problems.
Beading. Poor adhesion. Chalky finishes. Weak gloss. Flimsy durability.
For decades, water-based acrylics have been convenient, low-odour, and safe… but never truly able to match the flow and finish of lacquer paints.

Until now.

Kaleido ColorWorks has created something unique:
a premium water-based acrylic engineered to spray like lacquer thanks to their proprietary RapidAir™ Technology — delivering smooth, sheet-like coating, outstanding gloss, strong adhesion, and remarkable durability without harsh solvents, fumes, or DG hazards.

ScaleCraft Studios is excited to bring the full Kaleido RapidAir™ Series to New Zealand modellers — including paints, auxiliaries, and colour sets — giving NZ hobbyists access to one of the most advanced acrylic systems on the market.

This is your deep-dive into what makes Kaleido so special, how it performs, and why it’s quickly becoming one of the most exciting paint systems available.

⭐ What Exactly Is Kaleido ColorWorks?

Kaleido is a water-based acrylic paint, pre-thinned for airbrushing, formulated with:

  • ultra-fine nano pigments

  • acrylic resin engineered for smooth flow

  • zero harmful solvents

  • extremely low VOC (<100g/L)

  • eco-safe, family-safe, pet-safe ingredients

  • lacquer-like levelling and finish

But Kaleido’s biggest innovation is its RapidAir™ Technology, which allows the paint to behave nothing like typical acrylics. Instead of drying in speckled, chalky layers, Kaleido forms a smooth, continuous sheet-like film straight from the airbrush.

This gives the paint:

  • lacquer-like atomisation

  • bright, even gloss

  • high hiding power

  • extremely smooth transitions

  • resistance to beading and pooling

  • excellent adhesion even on tricky surfaces

For modellers who love the speed and control of lacquer paints — but want water-based safety, no fumes, no solvents, and no DG restrictions — Kaleido is a breakthrough.

Ford Mustang model painted with Kaleido K202 Flame Orange

⭐ “Paints Like Lacquer” — What That Actually Means

When Kaleido says “paints like lacquer,” they don’t mean the chemistry is lacquer. They mean the behaviour rivals lacquer paints while remaining non-toxic and water-based.

✔ Smooth, tight atomisation

Kaleido atomises almost identically to high-end lacquer paints. That means:

  • no grainy texture

  • less dry-spray

  • controllable feathering and shading

  • crisp edge modulation

  • extremely smooth finishes

✔ Fast, even coverage

One of the biggest weaknesses of traditional acrylics is coverage. Kaleido fixes this:

  • no beading on smooth plastic

  • no pooling

  • no patchiness

  • strong coverage even in light colours over dark surfaces

✔ Gloss straight from the airbrush

Most acrylics dry dead-flat or satin. Kaleido’s gloss colours dry with:

  • mirror-like sheen

  • even light reflection

  • a lacquer-like glassy surface

Perfect for:

  • car models

  • motorcycle tanks

  • sci-fi shells

  • Gundam armour plates

  • glossy aircraft finishes

✔ Strong durability

After curing:

  • scratch resistant

  • tough like solvent paints

  • tape-pull safe

  • resists finger oils

  • resists abrasion

Acrylic convenience. Lacquer performance.

Toyota Supra model painted in Kaleido K201 Italian Racing Red

⭐ A Safer, Odourless, Solvent-Free Alternative for NZ Modellers

Traditional lacquers:

  • smell strong

  • require extraction

  • irritate eyes and lungs

  • are DG freight to NZ

  • yellow over time

Kaleido eliminates all of these issues.

✔ No DG shipping

This allows ScaleCraft Studios to keep stock reliably and affordably.

✔ No fumes

You can spray for hours indoors without overwhelming your workspace.

✔ Safe around pets & family

Certified under:

  • EU REACH

  • CLP-compliant

  • ASTM D4236 safety standards

✔ Ultra-low VOC (under 100g/L)

This is astonishingly low for a paint that performs like lacquer.

✔ Still mask up

It’s safe — but atomised particles are still particles. A normal dust mask is enough.

Kaleido is perfect for NZ hobbyists who want professional painting results without solvents.

Kaleido Colorworks Safety Notification

⭐ Strong Adhesion to Plastics, Resin, Metal, PE, Glass, and Fabric

This is an area where water-based acrylics usually fail. They rub off. They scratch. They lift with masking tape.

Kaleido breaks the rule.

Thanks to the RapidAir™ resin system, Kaleido bonds tightly to:

  • styrene

  • ABS

  • resin

  • PE and PC

  • metals

  • glass

  • textiles

  • 3D printed surfaces

✔ No primer needed

Although primers are still recommended for best results, the paint will adhere cleanly to raw materials — something almost unheard of for water-based acrylics.

✔ After 72 hours: scratch-resistant

Even after vigorous testing (bamboo stick scratch test), Kaleido holds its finish without chipping.

For modellers who handle their builds frequently — dioramas, armour, figures, Gundam — this is a major advantage.

Kaleido Colorworks scratch resistance

⭐ Strong Coverage (Even Over Dark Bases)

In testing, Kaleido showed outstanding hiding power, even in traditionally weak colours:

  • yellows

  • oranges

  • light greens

  • light greys

  • desaturated tones

On a black base, Kaleido’s K004 Yellow showed strong, immediate coverage after the first layer — something most acrylics struggle with.

Why this matters:

  • fewer passes

  • faster painting

  • reduced tip-dry

  • smoother final finish

  • less frustration with “airbrush-friendly acrylics”

Kaleido is a game-changer for acrylic coverage.

Kaleido Colorworks coverage example, 1 coat over an unprimed black part

⭐ Pre-Thinned and Ready for Airbrushing

Right out of the bottle, Kaleido is pre-thinned for:

  • 0.3–0.5mm airbrushes at 10 PSI+

For 0.2mm nozzles or detail work, the paint benefits from:

  • additional thinning

  • or a drop of their acrylic thinner/flow improver

Recommended ratio:

Paint 10 : Thinner 2 or less

This gives:

  • smoother flow

  • less clogging

  • almost zero tip-dry

  • beautiful feathering and modulation

Pigment settling is normal

Nano-pigments settle over time. Shake or stir. Kaleido responds very well to mixers and vortex shakers.

Kaleido Colorworks pre thinned and dropper bottle

⭐ Outstanding Gloss Finish

(And Yes — It’s Still Water-Based)

Kaleido’s gloss colours are one of its signature strengths.
Instead of drying matte like most acrylics, the finish:

  • reflects light evenly

  • produces a glass-like, lacquer-style shine

  • lays down smooth and fluid

  • accepts decals beautifully

  • reduces the need for clear coat buildup

This is especially beneficial for:

  • automotive kits

  • sci-fi armour plates

  • racing liveries

  • figure armour

  • glossy WWII aircraft schemes

You can go straight from colour to decal stage without piling on layers.

Ferrari ENZO with hi gloss paint finish

⭐ Scratch Resistance and Mechanical Strength

Kaleido forms a dense, sheet-like paint film structure.
This results in:

  • strong abrasion resistance

  • protection from fingernail scratches

  • safe masking even after short drying periods

  • long-term vibrancy

After fully curing (72 hours), Kaleido performs similarly to solvent-based paints in scratch testing — but without the fumes or hazard.

⭐ Full Cure Timeline (Realistic for NZ Conditions)

Touch dry: 15–20 min (temperature dependent)
Ready for masking: ~1 hour
Fully cured: 24 hours
Maximum hardness: 72 hours
Optional oven cure: 1 hour at low heat

This fast curing cycle is extremely friendly for modellers who work in sessions.

⭐ Custom Colour Mixing

Kaleido’s pigments mix extremely efficiently thanks to:

  • nano-level dispersion

  • stable resin formula

  • consistent rheology between colours

This makes them ideal for:

  • modulation tones

  • extra desaturated airbrush colours

  • custom camouflage mixes

  • Gundam shading tones

  • fine-tuning historical accuracy

Colours stay vibrant and do not grey-out or chalk when mixed.

Kaleido Colorworks custom color mixing

⭐ Comparison With Other Acrylic Systems

vs Vallejo Model Air

  • Kaleido: no beading, no chalky finish

  • Vallejo: more fragile, prone to tip-dry

vs AK 3rd Gen

  • Kaleido: smoother flow, less plastic-like finish

  • AK: excellent brush paint, but less lacquer-like

vs Ammo MIG

  • Kaleido: stronger adhesion, better coverage

  • MIG: often requires retarder, can scratch easily

vs Citadel / Army Painter

  • Kaleido: for airbrushing first, smooth sheet-film finish

  • Citadel/AP: brush priority, rougher grain

vs Tamiya X/XF (acrylic)

  • Kaleido: pure water-based, safer, better gloss

  • Tamiya: alcohol-based, semi-acrylic, still needs ventilation

vs Traditional Lacquers (MRP, Mr Color, Tamiya LP)

  • Kaleido: no solvents, safer, no DG, but similar performance

  • Lacquers: slightly stronger hardness, but require fumes extraction

⭐ Who Is Kaleido Perfect For?

🛩 Aircraft modellers

Ideal for mottling, shading, soft edges, modulation, and clean gloss finishes.

🚗 Car and motorbike builders

Gloss colours spray like wet lacquer — perfect for showroom shine.

⚙ Gundam and Mecha painters

High gloss + tough durability = excellent for articulated builds.

🪖 Armour modellers

Smooth layering, excellent adhesion, and scratch resistance.

🖼 Figure painters

Great for basecoats and underpainting with minimal grain.

🧪 Hobbyists needing safe indoor paint

No fumes, no solvent smell, low VOC.

⭐ Why ScaleCraft Studios Brought Kaleido to NZ

It fits perfectly with the ScaleCraft Studios philosophy:

  • bring in hard-to-find, high-performance products

  • prioritise quality over hype

  • supply brands unavailable elsewhere in NZ

  • offer safe, modern alternatives to solvent-heavy lines

  • give modellers access to global-level tools without DG freight pain

Kaleido joins an elite set of brands at ScaleCraft Studios:

  • MRP

  • VMS

  • Gaahleri

  • Alpine Miniatures

  • RivetWorks Details

  • Value Gear

  • Wingmen Dogfighters

It’s another step toward establishing ScaleCraft Studios as NZ’s home for premium modelling solutions.

⭐ Final Thoughts — A New Benchmark for Acrylic Airbrushing

Kaleido ColorWorks isn’t “another acrylic paint.”
It’s a new category:

A water-based acrylic engineered to deliver lacquer-level performance — without the lacquers.

For NZ modellers who want:

  • smooth finishes

  • strong adhesion

  • excellent coverage

  • beautiful gloss

  • low-odour, indoor-safe painting

  • no DG shipping

  • high durability

Kaleido is one of the most exciting paint releases in years.

Now available at ScaleCraft Studios, with full colour range, auxiliaries, and accessories ready to ship within New Zealand.

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