Shin-Kai (Deep Sea) - Crv - Group Review - 2014-12

[Barnaby Bumble]

Very thorough, reflex. Thanks.

[Lou Erickson]

What great reviews we've had!

 

I've been carrying these scans around all month - it's been a crazy month! - so here they are, finally.

 

I used both the Pilot Blue-Black and the Tsuki-yo from October.

 

First, Amber's CRV (and yes, Amber, this will make it home to you. Someday.)

 

http://www.rdwarf.com/users/wwonko/images/fpn/iro/03-Shin-kai-Amber-CRV-1.jpg

(Click to enlarge.)

Edited December 28, 2014 by Lou Erickson

[Lou Erickson]

http://www.rdwarf.com/users/wwonko/images/fpn/iro/03-Shin-kai-Amber-CRV-2.jpg

(Click to enlarge.)

Edited December 28, 2014 by Lou Erickson

[Lou Erickson]

http://www.rdwarf.com/users/wwonko/images/fpn/iro/03-Shin-kai-Amber-CRV-3.jpg

(Click to enlarge.)

Edited December 28, 2014 by Lou Erickson

[Lou Erickson]

Here's a CRV I did with two inks, just so I could contribute something, not realizing Amber had something on the way already.

 

http://www.rdwarf.com/users/wwonko/images/fpn/iro/03-Shin-kai-Lou-CRV-1.jpg

(Click for the bigness!)

Edited December 28, 2014 by Lou Erickson

[Lou Erickson]

http://www.rdwarf.com/users/wwonko/images/fpn/iro/03-Shin-kai-Lou-CRV-2.jpg

[amberleadavis]

So, now that you have done some writing....

 

Do you prefer your nibs to be finer or broader?

 

If you could only afford one - Tsuki-yo, Shin-Kai or Pilot Blue Black?

[Lou Erickson]

So, now that you have done some writing....

 

Do you prefer your nibs to be finer or broader?

 

If you could only afford one - Tsuki-yo, Shin-Kai or Pilot Blue Black?

 

Tough questions! I have done some writing... if I were home, I'd post a picture of the two shoeboxes full of words.

 

I started with "fine" nibs, assuming that's what you needed to write properly with. And, if I'm writing small, they are the right answer. I've moved to "medium", as my handwriting is a little bigger than a fine likes. I've picked up a couple of stubs - a broad stub is very usable for normal writing, but the really huge ones mean I have to write too big. So, "medium" or a not-huge stub.

 

I like either drier or wetter writers; with one, you get more shading, the other more sheen. Both are fun.

 

If I had to pick only one of Tsuki-yo, Shin-kai, or Pilot Blue-Black, I'd probably go with Shin-kai. Tsuki-yo is a little green for my tastes and looks off for professional use, while Pilot B-B is a little bluer than I like for a blue-black. Picking Shin-kai also means I'd get the pretty bottle.

 

Anyone else?

 

One CRV I should do when I get home, if there isn't one out there already, is Pilot Blue, Blue-Black, and Black. I could also do a Pilot Black, Noodler's Borealis, Aurora Black, and Waterman Black set of comparisons. In my copious free time. Maybe after I move.

[GSteer]

Hello again folks, I'm so far behind that it's taken most of the morning to catch up with the editing on the Shin-Kai and Fuyu-Gaki posts but I'm there and I've got the Feb, March and April inks already lined up on my desk too! Now to get Syo-ro done, catch up on Fuyu-syogun and I'll be back on track finally.

Once again it's an image heavy post but in my opinion the more detailed the pictures the better. Now I don't have a scanner, but I do have a reasonable camera. Still practicing and improving the lighting should be a bit more even. My handwriting hasn't improved much though, but practice practice practice, I've decided to move to the Rhodia 'Ice' grid pads for the next tests after these, I find my handwriting improves more on the grids than the dots. Thumbnail images are 1024 along the long edge and all images are links to full resolution images so click away, it's worth it. I've re-calibrated my monitor so hopefully some colour bias I'd been seeing should be improving.

Edit - looks like the calibration was skewed so excuse any balance issues. Also it looks like there's a hard 30 image limit per post even if they are hosted externally. The last three images are in the next post and I'll look at combining some of the less important shots / comparisons in the future. I'll probably drop the music sheet shots as those are the less relevant and just take up space.

A couple of important notes regarding the below.

1) Feathering... The art pad seems to feather in a number of odd locations with all the inks in flex nibs, I'll have to put that down to the nibs tearing some fibres or similar.

2) The Shin-kai bottle really does look like that at the bottom, the glass is twisted, I've found the bottle of Fuyu-syogun that's turned up is similar. I guess the manufacturing process isn't perfect, it's kinda funky though.

3) Cleaning... I've stated easy and it was for most of the pens, I did find the TWSBI held onto some though that required the section of and a bit more cleaning than normal, but I'm tending to find this with most inks and that pen.

4) Apologies for the few spelling/writing mistakes, I need to slow down more. Or drink less caffeine.

So... Iroshizuku Shin-kai.. it rocks doesn't it and what a sheen! There's just something about writing with this ink, it lays down such a gloriously rich and wet blue line which then, in front of your eyes, dries and darkens to a deep blue black with a red edged sheen. It's simply a joy to watch and this ink deserves a big juicy nib. I picked this ink up a couple of years back when it was first released and probably haven't used it as much as it deserves. When I do use it though it reminds me why this is at the top of my list of blue blacks.

This months ink name music related song: The Lure of the Sea by The Beautiful South

Pens Used

Omas 360 Vintage - 14k Extra Fine Extra Flessible

Lamy Al-Star - Steel Medium

Pelikan M805 - 14C Broad

Bexley Corona - Steel Broad Stub (Pendleton Brown Butterline)

TWSBI 540 - Steel 1.5mm Stub

Paper Used

Rhodia Dotpad - 80gsm

Rhodia No 12 Grid - 80gsm

Rhodia R - 90gsm

Clairefontaine Clothbound A5 Grid - 90gsm

Opus Essential Paperback Sketchbook - 128gsm

Onto the writing samples and photos:

Written Summary of the first photo

Colour: Blue Black

Shading: Medium in wet/flex

Flow: Medium

Saturation: Medium/High

Cleaning/Staining: Easy/none seen (see note above regarding TWSBI)

Feathering/Bleedthough: None seen (except on Art Pad)

Drying time: 30+ (was almost dry at 30)

Waterproofness: [see test sheets] (ergo none)

Most preferred test combo: TWSBI 540 1.5mm

Least preferred test combo: Pelikan M805 Broad

Personal Opinion: I really love the way that it writes from the nib as a vibrant wet deep blue & then dries to a blue/black.

 

Overview - Rhodia Dotpad / Lamy Al-Star

http://gregsteer.uk/resources/images/fpn/inks/iroshizuku/shin-kai/009_ink_shin-kai_20150204_705A6780_Web1024.jpg

 

Shin-kai Water Resistance Before

http://gregsteer.uk/resources/images/fpn/inks/iroshizuku/shin-kai/007_ink_shin-kai_20150204_705A6772_Web1024.jpg

 

Shin-kai Water Resistance after 60 second soak

http://gregsteer.uk/resources/images/fpn/inks/iroshizuku/shin-kai/008_ink_shin-kai_20150208_705A6836_Web1024.jpg

 

Art Pad Doodle Page

http://gregsteer.uk/resources/images/fpn/inks/iroshizuku/shin-kai/010_ink_shin-kai_20150204_705A6794_Web1024.jpg

 

Sample Page 1 - Rhodia Dotpad

http://gregsteer.uk/resources/images/fpn/inks/iroshizuku/shin-kai/011_ink_shin-kai_20150204_705A6781_Web1024.jpg

 

Sample Page 1 - Rhodia Dotpad Shin-kai & Tsuki-yo Comparison

http://gregsteer.uk/resources/images/fpn/inks/iroshizuku/shin-kai/019_ink_shin-kai_20150204_705A6807_Web1024.jpg

 

Sample Page 2 - Rhodia R

http://gregsteer.uk/resources/images/fpn/inks/iroshizuku/shin-kai/012_ink_shin-kai_20150204_705A6782_Web1024.jpg

 

Sample Page 2 - Rhodia Dotpad - Shin-kai & Tsuki-yo Comparison

http://gregsteer.uk/resources/images/fpn/inks/iroshizuku/shin-kai/020_ink_shin-kai_20150204_705A6808_Web1024.jpg

 

Combo Shot

http://gregsteer.uk/resources/images/fpn/inks/iroshizuku/shin-kai/018_ink_shin-kai_20150204_705A6800_Web1024.jpg

 

Omas 360 Vintage Full Page Sample - Clarefontaine Grid

http://gregsteer.uk/resources/images/fpn/inks/iroshizuku/shin-kai/030_ink_shin-kai_20150204_705A6828_Web1024.jpg

 

Lamy Al-Star Full Page Sample - Clarefontaine Grid

http://gregsteer.uk/resources/images/fpn/inks/iroshizuku/shin-kai/031_ink_shin-kai_20150204_705A6829_Web1024.jpg

 

Pelikan M805 Full Sample Page - Clarefontaine Graph

http://gregsteer.uk/resources/images/fpn/inks/iroshizuku/shin-kai/032_ink_shin-kai_20150204_705A6830_Web1024.jpg

 

Bexley Corona & TWSBI 540 Full Page Sample - Clarefontaine Graph

http://gregsteer.uk/resources/images/fpn/inks/iroshizuku/shin-kai/033_ink_shin-kai_20150204_705A6831_Web1024.jpg

 

Pilot Custom 74 Full Page Sample & Comparisons - Clarefontaine Graph

http://gregsteer.uk/resources/images/fpn/inks/iroshizuku/shin-kai/028_ink_shin-kai_20150204_705A6826_Web1024.jpg

 

Pelikan M605 Full Page Sample - Clarefontaine Graph

http://gregsteer.uk/resources/images/fpn/inks/iroshizuku/shin-kai/029_ink_shin-kai_20150204_705A6827_Web1024.jpg

 

Omas 360 Vintage Closeup - Rhodia Dotpad

http://gregsteer.uk/resources/images/fpn/inks/iroshizuku/shin-kai/021_ink_shin-kai_20150204_705A6816_Web1024.jpg

 

Lamy Al-Star Closeup - Rhodia Dotpad

http://gregsteer.uk/resources/images/fpn/inks/iroshizuku/shin-kai/022_ink_shin-kai_20150204_705A6817_Web1024.jpg

 

Pelikan M805 Closeup - Rhodia Dotpad

http://gregsteer.uk/resources/images/fpn/inks/iroshizuku/shin-kai/023_ink_shin-kai_20150204_705A6818_Web1024.jpg

 

Bexley Corona Closeup - Rhodia Dotpad

http://gregsteer.uk/resources/images/fpn/inks/iroshizuku/shin-kai/024_ink_shin-kai_20150204_705A6819_Web1024.jpg

 

TWSBI 540 Closeup - Rhodia Dotpad

http://gregsteer.uk/resources/images/fpn/inks/iroshizuku/shin-kai/025_ink_shin-kai_20150204_705A6820_Web1024.jpg

 

Omas 360 - Arty Sheen Shot - Rhodia Dotpad

http://gregsteer.uk/resources/images/fpn/inks/iroshizuku/shin-kai/026_ink_shin-kai_20150204_705A6821_Web1024.jpg

 

TWSBI 540 Arty Sheen Shot

http://gregsteer.uk/resources/images/fpn/inks/iroshizuku/shin-kai/027_ink_shin-kai_20150204_705A6823_Web1024.jpg

 

Art Pad Doodle Arty Closeup Shot

http://gregsteer.uk/resources/images/fpn/inks/iroshizuku/shin-kai/017_ink_shin-kai_20150204_705A6798_Web1024.jpg

 

Music Page 1 - "The Lure of the Sea - The Beautiful South" - showing show-through as both sides were written on.

http://gregsteer.uk/resources/images/fpn/inks/iroshizuku/shin-kai/013_ink_shin-kai_20150204_705A6784_Web1024.jpg

 

Music Page 2

http://gregsteer.uk/resources/images/fpn/inks/iroshizuku/shin-kai/014_ink_shin-kai_20150204_705A6785_Web1024.jpg

 

Music Page 3

http://gregsteer.uk/resources/images/fpn/inks/iroshizuku/shin-kai/015_ink_shin-kai_20150204_705A6786_Web1024.jpg

 

Music Page 4

http://gregsteer.uk/resources/images/fpn/inks/iroshizuku/shin-kai/016_ink_shin-kai_20150204_705A6787_Web1024.jpg

 

Equipment Overview

http://gregsteer.uk/resources/images/fpn/inks/iroshizuku/shin-kai//001_ink_shin-kai_20150204_705A6723_Web1024.jpg

 

Shin-kai bottle and TWSBI 540

http://gregsteer.uk/resources/images/fpn/inks/iroshizuku/shin-kai/002_ink_shin-kai_20150204_705A6728_Web1024.jpg

 

Shin-kai bottle from the rear

http://gregsteer.uk/resources/images/fpn/inks/iroshizuku/shin-kai/003_ink_shin-kai_20150204_705A6735_Web1024.jpg

Edited March 14, 2015 by GSteer

[GSteer]

Shin-kai bottle from the front

http://gregsteer.uk/resources/images/fpn/inks/iroshizuku/shin-kai/004_ink_shin-kai_20150204_705A6739_Web1024.jpg

TWSBI 540 with a miniature deep sea contained within

http://gregsteer.uk/resources/images/fpn/inks/iroshizuku/shin-kai/005_ink_shin-kai_20150204_705A6741_Web1024.jpg

Shin-kai ink on nibs

http://gregsteer.uk/resources/images/fpn/inks/iroshizuku/shin-kai/006_ink_shin-kai_20150204_705A6770_Web1024.jpg

[Lou Erickson]

Amazing review, as always! Clearly, I need to get myself some wetter pens. I was just admiring a VP from John Mottishaw's site - maybe I'll get it with a broad stub, adjusted to 8/10, or higher. There clearly isn't enough sheen in my life.

 

When you're taking the time to do such amazing reviews, the timeliness is not important. I know I've enjoyed seeing them whenever they get posted, and that anyone searching for comparisons later will be thrilled to find these.

[GSteer]

Amazing review, as always! Clearly, I need to get myself some wetter pens. I was just admiring a VP from John Mottishaw's site - maybe I'll get it with a broad stub, adjusted to 8/10, or higher. There clearly isn't enough sheen in my life.

 

When you're taking the time to do such amazing reviews, the timeliness is not important. I know I've enjoyed seeing them whenever they get posted, and that anyone searching for comparisons later will be thrilled to find these.

Thanks Lou! I must admit to being a bit of a sucker for wet flowing nibs, I love the flow, although it does mean I need to be a bit more selective in paper choices. I guess I feel bad about being late, especially as I should have plenty of time to get things up in a month, hehe. At the end I'm thinking of doing a single compilation comparison post with some of the pages stitched together into bigger images for easier comparing, we'll see

[amberleadavis]

WOW

[Lou Erickson]

Thanks Lou! I must admit to being a bit of a sucker for wet flowing nibs, I love the flow, although it does mean I need to be a bit more selective in paper choices. I guess I feel bad about being late, especially as I should have plenty of time to get things up in a month, hehe. At the end I'm thinking of doing a single compilation comparison post with some of the pages stitched together into bigger images for easier comparing, we'll see

Don't feel bad about being late. In the long run, that's the least important part; the Internet search engines will keep these around a long time and they'll help a lot of people.

 

I am mildly bummed, because the VP I was admiring sold earlier in the same day; too much admiring, not enough buying. I'll just order the nib unit. I have a VP (and a Decimo) it'll fit in.

[amberleadavis]

From our fellow FPNer.

 

http://sheismylawyer.com/She_Thinks_In_Ink/2015-Inklings/2015-Ink_0281.jpg