Rome Is Burning - Noodler's

[visvamitra]

Noodler's is one of the companies that don't need introductions. Nathan's Tardiff work is unimaginable. The guy must be a vampire who doesn't sleep and feeds on developing ideas: new inks, new pens.

Rome is Burning has cool name. I enjoy it a lot. There's of course quite a biy of history / philosophy behind it as it was created by Nathan Tardiff who describes this ink as follows: "Rome Burning” has a bulletproof patrician core color of Caesar’s purple with the colors of the inferno that wash away from it with excess liquidity. As it dries there are shades of brass that can actually shine on some paper grades and can halo the darker core when using the right nib/feed combination. On very absorbent cellulose paper the patrician core can be seen in the center as the fire surrounds it – as if an eclipse of the sun. The image on the webpage and the attached film demonstration should make the ink’s design and inspiration manifest to all…and if more is desired please see the YouTube video on link below"

Sounds great. The guy knows his way with words And now time to make a confession. Lately my enthusiasm toward inks reviewing weakens. Rarely I find / discover new inks that would delight me. Rome is Burning isn't good ink. It has it issues. It causes feathering on absorbent papers but I absolutely love it. The color is amazing, especially when the ink is wet and you see it on the paper. With time the colors becomes more muted yet still I find it great.

Ink splash

Software Id

Tomoe River, Kaweco Sport Classic, B

Leuchtturm 1917, Kaweco Sport Classic, B

Oxford, Kaweco Sport Classic, B

Water resistance (after 30 minutes of soaking)

Yes, it turns purple after soaking

 

[mehandiratta]

it is amazing....and love the waterproofness...

[migo984]

I call this colour Baby Poop ;-)

[Ursus]

Makes me want to watch Quo Vadis again soon.

[Tas]

Oh the feathering

[gerigo]

Wow it's one of my most hated ink!

 

When I first got into fountain pens back in 2013, my first batch of inks I purchased from Goulets were inks in shades of sepia and olives. This very ink was in my first order. Little did I know of it's permanence properties, and proceeded to fill a Visconti demonstrator full of this ink. To my horror, it stained the barrel a beautiful uniform pink of which nothing was able to remove said hue.

 

Still love this shade of sepia. Ina ho is still one of my favorites. After the staining fiasco, this ink only goes into Noodler's pens. Visvametra, if you'd like the rest of my bottle, I'd be happy to send it to you.

Edited December 30, 2015 by gerigo

[visvamitra]

@gerigo - that would be cool but bare in mind I live om different continent. I won't say no though

[inkstainedruth]

I keep thinking about trying a sample of Rome Burning. And then keep not doing it. Why? Because i think of it as "the dog and pony show ink".... And I have more Noodler's inks than any other brand.

But thanks for the review.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[Luma]

Vis, have you tried Noodler's Banker's Tan?

[visvamitra]

Nope - I need to check it

[Ursus]

 

I call this colour Baby Poop ;-)

 

I hope you are not in marketing.

[migo984]

I hope you are not in marketing.

That's the last thing I'd ever have considered for a career :-)

[Luma]

Vis, have you tried Noodler's Banker's Tan?

Nope - I need to check it

If I remember correctly, I was told it is very similar to RIB. Will post a photo of it as soon as I find my sample.

[EKE]

I love this color. Others may see baby poop, but I see it as a beautiful flax or wheat color...soft, earthy and organic. Sometimes I see it as a true gold color, not really yellow, but truly the color of the unburnished metal.

 

I've avoided RIB because of the behavior of the ink, as described in many reviews. But it seems that Iroshizuku Ina Ho is a similar color, slightly warmer. Ina Ho is one of my all time favorites, and I can attest to its friendly behavior and incredible shading.

 

Color appreciation is such a subjective thing.

Edited December 31, 2015 by EKE

[Luma]

INK: Noodler's Banker's Tan

PAPER: Tomoe River - White

 

 

The lines are done with a poster nib. This one in particular is 10mm wide and fits perfectly in a sample vial.

 

[visvamitra]

Not bad but I prefer RiB

[Luma]

I have not tried RiB yet but it is on my list

[amberleadavis]

RIB is really a unique ink. I bought it, I gave away samples. It's too strange for me...but I am really impressed with it.

[Morphling27]

Maybe I'm in the minority and agree with OP here more? This is a great ink to me. I use incredibly cheap paper at work (You'd think moving from the public sector to private sector they could afford better despite saving money). It doesn't feather that bad, at least more than any other ink would on the paper I use.

 

I LOVE the color, once it's dry of course. When wet, it looks... eh gross I guess. Dry, it's a gold to me.

 

My only issue is the insane nib creep and crud to wipe off. The nib creep is the purple core, which isn't shocking as that's the bulletproof part and that's what usually spreads all over the nib.

 

I really couldn't get the color of purple to come out in the center or anything with thick lines, but I didn't try every pen and paper combo (mostly writing just on junk paper with it).

[chewytulip]

INK: Noodler's Banker's Tan

PAPER: Tomoe River - White

The lines are done with a poster nib. This one in particular is 10mm wide and fits perfectly in a sample vial.

 

A thirty-second intermission from FPN browsing later, and I've "accidentally" bought a set of poster nibs. Thanks, Luma. (How did I not own these before?)

 

Slightly more on-topic: I don't love brown inks, but I do enjoy Rome Burning. It might be because I'm waiting for it all to turn purple.