La Santa Maria-Pinta Hybrid Review..
Ok, so this Review has taken longer than I thought,why,because it is very,very versatile Machine....I got it solely for B&G, and soon found out, it has a lot more in it's locker....
I usually bring out a Fast running, Soft hitting Coil Machine for B&G, so I decided to compare the Pinta alongside my Coil...This wasn't a test to see what machine was best, as I don't want people taking sides, it was to see how the Pinta, with a 2.6mm Stroke, with the adjustment almost tightened right down, maybe only a tenth of a turn from being "fully home", would carry out the task. I didn't change my handspeed, and I like to line with a Mag, if I am doing clouds, so this was going to be tried as well......
I loaded it with a Cheap Rubber grip dispo, 9 mag1 (not curved) as I need the edge to line, dialled in 5.5 v's, tested "Hit/Force" with my thumb, was the same "approx" as my coil, probs slightly harder, but, not enough to worry about, and off I went...
Handspeed, was almost identical to that which I would use with my Coil Machine, so I upped the v's to 5.8, and this matched my "usual" handspeed, I usually hang the needle, but with the smaller throw, I rode the tube....Effortless, comes to mind, or simple, or easy, or any other word, which is the opposite of hard, or difficult........Shading and Blending, is soooo controllable, match your handspeed with needle depth, and if you lift the needle slightly off the skin,numerous colour blends are achieved, flip the tip on its side, and the Mag lines like a Liner, turn the angle slightly, and because of the Power in this Machine, Line weight can be achieved, very easily, almost like a Calligraphy Pen.So with this in mind, and the 2.6mm throw, I decided to Line with it...
I loaded a 7rl, my fav by choice, kept the v's at 5.8, "thumb" force was ok, so I ramped it to 6v's, cos it's a nice round number...Tightened the adjuster so it was "fully home".....Romeo, has kept this a secret form us....This is a Liner, disguised as a B&G Shader, think Refined Cranker, and you are on the right track......I never even tried it for Colour work, I have it in a box, marked as B&G/Liner....so take from that what you will....If you have one, try it out for Lining, you won't be disappointed, it has more tricks up it's sleeve than a Magician..
How does it compare to my B&G Coil Machine, every bit as good, however, I can't line with my Coil B&G Machine...Need I say anymore..Its got 10 out of 10 written all over it, no matter what you throw at it...
