Lamy Petrol V. Noodler's Aircorp Blue Black (Picture-Heavy)

[Intensity]

I'd like to do a comprehensive comparison of Lamy "Petrol" and Noodler's "Aircorp Blue Black" (hereafter ACBB) inks. It's more for those who want but can't get the "Petrol" ink due to its limited availability (or maybe this will change their mind toward "Petrol", or the other way).

 

I'm going to base my comparative review on the following qualities:

• color/hue
• texture/surface reflectivity once dry on paper
• sheen
• shading
• water resistance

Preface:

I already had Noodler's ACBB when I learned about Lamy's limited edition Petrol pen and ink. I bought the pen and for some odd reason thought that the ink might be more blue than my ACBB (which is known to be sort of a green-blue-black). I should have known better, seeing as my Lamy Safari Petrol is quite green. Anyway, I was able to get a bottle and some cartridges of the Petrol ink, so now I can compare both.

 

In summary/TLDR:

"Petrol" is more murky green and subdued compared to ACBB. ACBB is a slightly more intense turquoise. Petrol is more matte on paper once dry, ACBB looks slightly glossier dried. . Petrol has some sheen, which is very slightly visible either on very high quality paper with a generous ink flow (around Rhodia or better) or in ink splashes. The metallic sheen will only be visible on Tomoe River or in a splash. You will only get a hint of the sheen otherwise, more like a slight color shift than sheen. ACBB basically has no sheen to speak of. Both inks display good water resistance, leaving behind a legible dark gray-black line, though ACBB leaves a well-defined line, whereas that left by Petrol is slightly fuzzier. It can be difficult to distinguish one ink from the other with narrower nibs, especially if you don't have them next to each other, and even then the difference will be very slight.

 

Detailed comparison (disclaimer: camera slightly accentuates color differences more than they appear in person)

 

HUE / SHEEN:

 

No sheen on ACBB. Slight shift toward magenta for Petrol in pooled up areas, faint rose gold sheen in highly concentrated areas, but only visible on Tomoe River paper or in very high concentration. ACBB is glossier, Petrol is matte.

 

ACBB is more clean turquoise compared to the more murky green tint of ACBB (in comparison with each other).

 

Both inks are basically the same intensity/darkness. Most differences are simply due to the different pens and nibs used.

 

Both inks can have a good degree of shading, but it greatly depends on the pen and nib they are used with. Low shading with more measured out or else very high flow with narrow nib pens. More shading with broad nibs or less even flow.

 

Even though alone the inks can look more murky turquoise sort, when next to other more blue inks, they are clearly very green.

 

(Natural daylight, white Col-O-Ring paper)

 

(Natural daylight, white Col-O-Ring paper)

 

(LED lights overhead, mixed lighting, white Col-O-Ring paper)

 

More glossy appearance of ACBB

(Natural daylight, white Col-O-Ring paper)

 

(Natural daylight, white Col-O-Ring paper, cream Fabriano Bioprima paper in the middle)

 

(Natural daylight. Lamy Petrol writing with Lamy 1.5mm nib on the left side, ACBB with 2 different pens in the middle)

 

ACBB top and bottom (in a somewhat dry cursive italic nib pen), Petrol in the middle (juicy Lamy 1.5mm nib). Fabriano Bioprima paper. Notice any sheen on Petrol is basically not really visible. The inks look really similar.

 

ACBB left and top (in a somewhat dry cursive italic nib pen), Petrol in the bottom right (juicy Lamy 1.5mm nib) Fabriano Bioprima paper. Notice any sheen on Petrol is basically not really visible. The inks look really similar.

 

Vs other inks on Fabriano Bioprima cream paper:

 

 

WATER RESISTANCE:

 

Edited November 4, 2017 by Intensity

[lapis]

Excellent comparison of two absolutely "comparable" ink colors! Especially your news about the sheening!!

[pajaro]

I think the main value of Lamy Petrol ink is as a collectible together with the pen. If you are a Lamy Safari collector. Then you might want the pen, a box of cartridges and a bottle of the ink.

 

As an ink to use in my Petrol Safari, I used a few cartridges of Petrol, and I was not wildly enthusiastic about it, but is OK. My bottle remains unopened, I think.

 

If you are an ink collector, you might want the Petrol, and you can taunt the wannahaveits.

[Intensity]

That was basically my opinion after I tried the cartridges following already having the ACBB. I'm still not sure if I want to keep my unopened bottle of Petrol, since I paid 3x for it at a pen show compared to the price of ACBB bottle of a much larger volume. The reason it's growing on me is that I like the unique rose gold sheen on Tomoe River and the matte appearance, but on the practical side of things, I only draw on Tomoe River and occasionally, I don't write on it. For other uses, there are similar, more easily obtainable inks, and ACBB has better water resistance properties. So my advice to others is, unless you just want the exclusivity or some specific behavior on high quality paper, go for a similar different ink. If you already have the ink, enjoy using it, of course.

[Chrissy]

I bought my Lamy Petrol from La Couronne du Comte in August and they were regular price. I don't know if there are any left.

[Intensity]

I got mine from a B&M store team, not a private individual, but they raised the price on it over 3x anyway due to the rarity. And at the same pen show, someone else (a small business, I think) was selling a bottle for even more than that: $60! My stack of Petrol cartridges was quite cheap though, like 2 euro a pack in Italy.

Edited November 4, 2017 by Intensity

[The Good Captain]

I got my Air Corps from Ross ages ago - it's still a cracking ink.

[white_lotus]

Thanks for the comparison. I had traded my Petrol for a Sailor Japanese shop exclusive, but kept a sample to try out. Been using it recently and it's not bad. Good to know that Noodler's ACBB is an excellent match.

[SpecTP]

anyone try comparing Colorverse Constellation or Organics Studio James Joyce to Lamy Petrol?

[Intensity]

My new Diamine Twilight bears a resemblance to Petrol in writing with a fine nib.

[namrehsnoom]

Great comparison, thank you. The ACBB looks like a good alternative for Petrol. I enjoyed Petrol while my cartridges lasted. Since I prefer less saturated inks more, I feel no urge to get ACBB, but it’s good to know that this alternative exists.