Turbo Dork paints are acrylics; fast-drying, water-soluble when wet, water-resistant when dry. They behave a little differently from Citadel, Vallejo, or Army Painter because of the pigments used, so, like any new paint, try on a tester model first.
There are three types in the range, and knowing which is which matters for how you prime and apply them:
Metallics contain pigments and fine mica flakes that create a genuine metallic surface that sparkles, shines, and provides a scratch resistance that standard "metallic" paints from other ranges don't match. These are the most forgiving to work with.
Turboshifts use microscopic prisms instead of pigments to create colour-shifting effects. The colour changes depending on the light angle. These are more dependent on primer colour and application technique, and we'll cover both below.
Zenishifts are Turboshifts that also shift depending on the base coat colour. Over black, you get one colour; over white, another. It's like having two metallics in one bottle. These are the most dramatic effects in the range and the most technique-dependent.
This trips everyone up the first time, so don't worry, it's normal.
Some Turboshifts look completely different wet than dry. Blue Raspberry, for example, looks white in the bottle. Over a black primer, it dries to brilliant blues and pinks. 4D Glasses does the same. Other Turboshifts, like Dark Net, have a dark red tint in the bottle.
The rule of thumb: trust the finished result, not the bottle. If you want to see what a colour actually looks like applied, check the product page on our site; we show the paint on models, not just swatches.
This is probably the most important question for getting good results with Turbo Dork paint, and it's the one most other stockists don't bother to answer. Here's what we recommend, based on our own testing:
We use and recommend Vallejo Surface Primers, but any quality rattle-can primer will work. Matte finish is ideal. Some people prefer gloss, but it's not required.
The critical bit is primer colour, because it affects each paint type differently:
For Metallics: Black primer works for almost everything and gives the most intense result. Lighter primers will work, but reduce intensity. The exceptions are the pastels (Taro, Yuzu, Momo, Maguro, Sakura, and Matcha) and a handful of others (Curacao, Multipass, Pearly Gates, Pucker, and Absinthe); these need white primer to get their characteristic soft, pale tone. You can put them over black, but you'll get a deeper, less pastel result.
Each bottle states which primer to use.
A note: dark metallics like Cool Ranch and People Eater over white primer require patience for even coverage. It works, but expect extra coats.
For Turboshifts: Black primer for everything except Mother Lode (which needs white for the mother-of-pearl effect shown on the product page). Turboshifts work by refracting light through tiny prisms; a dark background gives the truest colour from the prism's design. Lighter primers can dramatically change the result, sometimes in ways you don't want.
For Zenishifts: This is where primer colour becomes a creative tool. Zenishifts (Bubblegum Crisis, Prism Power, Twin Sons) appear differently over dark vs. light bases by design. You can use zenithal priming (black base with white from above) to get both effects on the same model.
Tip: You can always "rebase" a section with a bit of white over black or vice versa. Useful for adding pastel accents or controlling where Zenishift transitions happen.
Multiple thin coats, always. This goes for all metallic paints, not just Turbo Dork. Never a single thick coat, it obscures the shift effect and can pool or leave thin, patchy areas. Let each coat dry thoroughly before applying the next.
Metallics: 2-3 thin coats for good coverage and full sparkle.
Turboshifts: 2–3 coats for maximum shift effect. The colour-shift builds with each layer, which is genuinely remarkable when you watch it happen.
Whether you're hand-brushing or airbrushing, thin and even is the rule. If you see pooling or white patches, the coat was too thick. You can remove pools of paint using a dry brush to suck up the excess.
For hand-brushing, most colours work straight from the bottle. Some are thicker than others — each colour has a unique formulation — so if one feels too thick, thin it with an airbrush medium, contrast medium, Lahmian medium, or small amounts of water on a wet brush.
For airbrushing, you'll need to thin. We use Turbo Dork Thinning Medium, but we can also recommend Vallejo Airbrush Thinner and Flow Improver. The Turbo Dork team used to use Golden Airbrush Medium, but now uses their own Turbo Dork Thinning Medium. Either approach works.
Start with a ratio of roughly 2 parts paint to 1 part medium and adjust from there. Every colour is slightly different, so there's no universal formula. The "consistency of milk" guideline works as a starting point.
Start with a 0.5mm nozzle at 25–30 PSI and adjust based on the paint consistency and your equipment.
Important: Turbo Dork paints settle quickly in the cup because of the mica content. Mix between coats and wipe the nozzle tip regularly; we keep a paper towel with some thinner on it for this. If you step away from the desk, empty the cup and add a couple of drops of thinner to prevent clogging.
If you're considering investing in an airbrush setup, we'd recommend a Harder & Steenbeck Evolution with a decent compressor and a portable spray booth. Solid kit that won't break the bank and will last.
Metallics: yes. They mix well with each other wet. Pearly Gates + Gold Rush in equal parts gives you a custom platinum blonde, for example.
Turboshifts: proceed with caution. Each Turboshift is engineered with a specific balance of light-bending prisms. Mixing them wet can disrupt that balance in unpredictable ways. We'd recommend testing on a palette before committing to a model.
Yes. Treat the dried paint surface as you would any other acrylic. Dry-brushing, feathering, stippling, layering, highlighting, washes, glazes, shades, inks, and contrast paints all work. The paint forms a hard, smooth, scratch-resistant surface when dry, which actually makes it a good base for layered techniques.
Yes, vigorously. The pigments are large and settle quickly. Each bottle has a mixing ball — shake until you hear it rattling, then shake more. The paint should be smooth and even, not chunky or watery-looking.
We're big fans of vortex mixers or mini paint shakers, if you have one.
Common with squeeze bottles. Clear the tip with a toothpick, needle, thumbtack, or paperclip before squeezing. Never squeeze hard; you'll waste paint and redecorate your desk (which, admittedly, will look fantastic). The new Turbo Dork bottles are designed to prevent clogs and unintentional paint redecoration.
Act fast if you can. Turbo Dork paints form a hard, scratch-resistant film when dry, which is great on models and terrible on desks. Isopropyl alcohol (90%+) will dissolve the paint. For stripping models, Bio Strip works well.
You need light from multiple angles. Turboshifts look best in person because your eye catches the shift as you move, whereas a camera sees one angle at a time.
The best amateur approach is to position the model where light hits it from several directions. Natural light helps enormously. If you can find a sheltered corner outdoors on a sunny day, that's often better than an indoor setup with a single light source.
Get in touch with us straight away via our contact page or at info@exit23.games. We'll locate your order and let you know what's happening. If there's a delay, we'll tell you when to expect delivery. Check your order confirmation email first, it may already have an updated delivery estimate.
If it hasn't been dispatched yet, yes; email us, and we'll sort it out. If it's already on its way, you'd need to follow the returns process once it arrives, but get in touch, and we'll make it as painless as possible.
90-day returns on unused items in original packaging. If you've lost the packaging, return it in the best condition you can, and we'll agree on a fair refund. Full details on our Returns & Refund Policy page.
Within the UK and EU, no, just the shipping cost, which varies by order size (see our Shipping Policy page). For international customers outside these regions, you may need to pay import fees on arrival. Our system doesn't collect international VAT or import duties at checkout.
Our own miniatures are designed and manufactured in the UK. Turbo Dork paints are made in Austin, Texas, USA. Two Thin Coats is a UK brand. Individual product pages have specific manufacturing details where available.
If your question isn't covered here, email us at info@exit23.games or use our contact page. We'd genuinely rather you asked than guessed.
If you're looking for product recommendations, our About Us page explains how we choose what to stock, and each collection page has guidance on where to begin.