Did Less, Swatched More, First Impressions

(Kimberly (she/her) took the express train down the fountain pen/stationery rabbit hole and doesn't want to be rescued. She can be found on Instagram @allthehobbies because there really are many, many hobbies!.)

In the vein of last week’s article where I drastically reduced the number of steps to swatch inks, I am happy to report that I have made progress! From the first of January until last week, I had swatched 7 inks (and yes, that included the ones I did for reviews). Since last week, drumroll please, I’ve swatched 20, yes TWENTY, more inks!!! Woohoo!

As you may already know, I like to be matchy matchy with my pens and inks (black, white, clear, silver, and gold pens are the exceptions). Which means I usually start with “what general color pen do I want to use”, then I go through my swatches to find the best match, which is either an exact match, if possible, or slightly lighter or darker depending on mood. Occasionally, I like to go the other route and start with an ink that I really want to use and then pick the pen after. Don’t worry, I’m neither reviewing nor inking up all 20 inks because that would take too long; instead I’ll share some first impressions. Who knows, maybe some of these will jump out and demand to be inked!

A few things to note: (1) Some of the pictures are at an angle because the shimmer showed up better than with head-on photos, (2) even with angled pictures, shimmer is hard to pick up in photos, (3) the picture below has a different colored mat than the other swatches, hence the vastly different background color, and (4) a lot of these are Wearingeul swatches because that’s what I bought samples of and happened to trade with a friend.

Look at all these swatches - I am SO happy to be over the swatching slump!

Here are the 20 inks that I swatched in the past week, sorted roughly by color:

-- Montblanc Le Petit Prince, Rose Burgundy - I knew that I would be inking up a LPP pen since I am nearing the completion of writing out the book, but I had to make sure it matched the pen first. It is a nice shade of burgundy with a hint of copper sheen on very wet swatches. I can’t wait to use it!

-- Wearingeul Anna Karenina - This is a rich red, but not quite burgundy, ink that also has red shimmer and a touch of green sheen on wet swatches. Pretty color but I don’t need to ink up any more red pens right now.

A bit hard to see the shimmer near the bottom.

-- Wearingeul Anne of Green Gables - Yes, this is a red ink, which I was not expecting. Yes, I know that the gables are green but still, it messes with my mind. The ink is actually named “Lucy Maud Montgomery”, and is a bright red ink with some greenish-gold sheen. Off the top of my head, it reminds me a bit of Iroshizuku Momiji.

Anne of Green Gables shows up as a bit more orange than in real life but you can still see the gold sheen in the swatch.

-- Wearingeul Wendy Darling - I am so glad I got a sample of this because I would be a little annoyed with myself if I bought a whole bottle. It is a really pretty, but extremely light, pale, borderline invisible, pastel blue ink with hints of pastel pink, and has silver and turquoise shimmer. I don’t know how readable it is, especially after seeing Kelli’s review from Mountain of Ink, but I’m kind of tempted to put it in a wet Pelikan, but not now, as there are too many other colors that are catching my eye.

Wendy Darling is way too light at any angle.

-- Robert Oster Romeo & Juliet - Ooh, now this one is different, especially from Robert Oster, who isn’t typically known for chromashading. This one is a dusty blue with grey shading that is visible in swatches and I suspect, fairly visible with a wetter pen on Tomoe River and similar papers. This is definitely a contender for “ink it up”!

I really want to see Robert Oster Romeo & Juliet on some Tomoe River!

-- Wearingeul Tinkerbell - Another ink from Wearingeul’s Wendy & Peter collection, this is a light muted, dusty green ink with pearlescent (silver? gold? both?) shimmer and is surprisingly readable. Not my usual jam but that might make it a contender as well?

Wearingeul Tinkerbell looked more readable than I expected.

-- Wearingeul Tick Tock Croc - Also from Wearingeul’s Wendy & Peter collection, Tick Tock Croc is a slightly teal leaning green ink. It looks alright, but it’s not jumping out at me. And yes, silly me forgot to get Peter Pan and Captain Hook.

-- Inkebara #236 Sand - A warm yellow-brown that has some green chromashading in wetter swabs. I’ve got a lot of brown inks in pens right now but this is definitely high on the list for the next light brown pen inking.

The “line” near the light part of the swatch is where there’s some green in Inkebara #236 Sand.

-- Sailor Moroccan Mint Tea - This ink is a touch darker than the Inkebara Sand and doesn’t seem to have the green hint to it either. I’m very curious to see how it compares to Sailor x Tinterias Homemade Tortilla.

-- Diamine Tobacco Sunburst - Part of the Gibson Les Paul series of inks from Diamine, Tobacco Sunburst is a medium golden brown. I wasn’t expecting much but was pleasantly surprised at the golden tone and how nicely it shades. Again, if I didn’t have so many browns inked up already …

-- KWZ x Newcastle Pen Show, Newky Brown - A kind friend surprised me with this ink and I am over the moon because I loved drinking Newcastle in my (much) younger days and I also love KWZ ink! This is a darker reddish/orangish brown ink that could potentially show some nice shading in a drier pen.

-- Franklin-Christoph Bronze Age - Was anyone surprised that I bought this one? Me neither. The color isn’t one that instantly grabs me but it is more interesting than the photo shows - it is a darker chocolate brown that has very slight green undertones, like patina’d bronze.

-- Wearingeul 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea - Ooh, this is a pretty royal blue ink with gold shimmer. I am VERY curious to see how this compares to Pelikan’s Ink of the Year, Golden Lapis, which looks quite similar (I can’t wait to get my bottle). This is a contender since I will be need to ink up a mid-toned blue soon.

The shimmer is much more pronounced in real life.

-- Wearingeul Iaros Orna Eperanto - This is a darker, richer blue with gold shimmer and a hint of red sheen in wetter patches. It reminds me of a shimmery Diamine Blue Velvet.

-- Lamy Pink Cliff - One of those instances where I can’t get past the name because it’s not remotely pink. Not a contender for near-term inking but I will be curious to see how it compares to Lamy Blue Black, which is a favorite.

-- Wearingeul Frankenstein - A slightly blue-leaning, royal purple ink with a hint of copper sheen? Yes, please, but is it unique? Not so much, but I still love the color!

-- Color Traveler Miyoshi Pione Purple - A little moodier and more red-leaning purple than Frankenstein, this is right up my alley, but I’m looking at 8 pens with purple ink right now, so this one has to wait a bit. I’m curious to see if it sheens or has shading properties on TR paper.

Oops, accidentally added an extra “L” in my Color Traveler Miyoshi Pione Purple swatch.

-- Wearingeul Persephone - Ok, Wearingeul, I love this one. Dusty purple with purple shimmer? Yeah, short list. I don’t care which purple pen I have to clear out to make room for this one.

Don’t see purple shimmer that often!

-- Wearingeul x EndlessPens, The Black Cat - My witch-crazed friend shared a sample of this one with me and I’m glad that it’s not a “plain black ink” but has a subtle purple and grey tint to it, as well as some pink (?) shimmer. Not in any rush to put black inks in any pens but this one could pass for almost purple-black.

-- Wearingeul Hades - I got a sample of this because I was hoping it would be more blue, but it’s really a dark black ink with blue shimmer, which is kinda cool.

One of the few ways to get me to use a black ink is to put shimmer in it!

So, out of these 20 swatches, which ones am I most eager to ink up?

Top 3 picks:

Montblanc Rose Burgundy - I already knew this was going into a pen, so maybe this is an unfair pick.

Montblanc Le Petit Prince, Rose Burgundy ink with the Le Petit Prince, Red Planet pen.

Robert Oster Romeo & Juliet - the chromashading looks promising

Robert Oster Romeo & Juliet pairs pretty well with S. T. Dupont D-Inital in Shark Blue.

Wearingeul Tinkerbell - This one is giving me all the feels and I don’t know why.

It’s like Wearingeul Tinkerbell and Sailor Pro Gear Slim, Solar Term, Fuki were made for each other!

Honorable mentions:

• Inkebara #236 Sand - I wanna see how this ink shades on TR or Cosmo Air Light paper.
• Wearingeul Persephone - I know, I said shortlist but there are too many purple pens inked up!

There you have it, some (relatively) quick thoughts on 20 different inks. Now to write some more pens dry so I can start using these inks, and get back to swatching!

(Disclaimer: All inks are my own, either purchased from various retailers at recent pen shows including Jimmy Dolive, Franklin-Christoph, and Vanness Pens, or samples swapped with a pen friend.)

The Pen Addict Podcast: Episode 616 - What to Expect at a Pin Shown

uniball Jetstream Lite Touch.

When AI creates chapter markers for your podcast about pens, funny things happen. Myke and I discuss this new discovery, go over my Pelikan M200 review, and I give my initial thoughts on the new uniball Jetstream Lite Touch ballpoint pen.

Show Notes & Download Links

This episode of The Pen Addict is sponsored by:

St Louis Pen Show: Join us June 20-23. Tickets on sale now!

Pen Chalet: Check out this week's special offer, and to get your code for 10% off.

Mad Science Pen Company Beta Type-R Vanness Collaboration Fountain Pen Review

(Jeff Abbott is a regular contributor at The Pen Addict. You can find more from Jeff online at Draft Evolution and Twitter.)

It's not often that we get a pen that is so unique that it's difficult to compare it to anything else already out there. For the most part, fountain pens follow the same basic design language with added flair and character to distinguish the brand. With Mad Science Pen Company, the Beta Type-R is unlike any other pen you've seen or used.

You might remember the name from when Caroline's Meet Your Maker post on Jacob Pawloski, aka Mad Science Pen Company. Jacob's pen turning obsession started around the same time as COVID-19 lock-downs, and it's really impressive and mind-boggling to see how quickly someone can pick up a skill and produce amazing results when they're motivated.

Scrolling through Jacob's Instagram posts features pen after pen that each features a unique shape as well as bright, colorful, even other-worldly materials. The bright and contrasting swirls look like something you'd find in a science fiction lab. It's definitely an aesthetic, and Jacob nails it.

The Beta Type-R is a specific body style that features a friction fit cap, a contoured grip section that partially hoods the nib, and a back section that holds a standard TSWBI cartridge converter. It has all the normal pieces that make up a fountain pen, but they're all unique and fit together so well.

The specific model I have is a collaboration between Mad Science and Vanness Pens. It was a limited edition that sold out in late 2023. And that's something else that makes this pen maker so interesting. Everything is small batch and fleeting. If you see something on Instagram or the website, you better snatch it up quickly before it's gone. Jacob also takes commissions, but you'll likely end up waiting a while (or maybe not — he uses a lottery system to pick the next person in the queue). Before even talking about the pen, I can assure you that if you see something you like, buy it immediately. You won't be disappointed.

The Vanness Beta Type-R that I have features a frosted gray/white section and a swirled purple material that makes up the body and cap. The color combo is definitely more subdued than other materials, but it's just as gorgeous. The resin material is dominantly purple, but there's lots of contrasting colors swirled in as well, like white, dark gray, gray. There's even some areas where the purple has a lovely shimmer or pearlescent effect. It's a lovely material that definitely grabs attention from anyone nearby.

The grip section is made of a semi-translucent light gray material that looks like it should feel like a Dr. Grip grip, but it's actually rigid. I love the way it looks, but I think I love the way it feels even more. It's a fantastic shape, and I love that there aren't any seams or threads to detract from the shape and feel.

The cap on this pen is small! It's about the size of a regular grip section on a standard pen — about 30mm or 1.25 inches. It doesn't post on the back of the pen, but it's easy to hold while writing. What's more fascinating about the cap is the closing mechanism. It uses two o-rings to create a good seal with the pen when not in use. There's also a small hole on the side of the cap to provide air to go in and out when capping/uncapping the pen to prevent any unwanted ink spurts due to pressure changes (at least that's why I assume the hole is there). This little functional design choice is just one example of how thoroughly considered this pen design is.

Back to the grip — it's a first for me in terms of how it shrouds the nib. It's not like a hooded nib — it has a 2-5mm gap between the inside of the grip and the nib, which makes it look like the nib is floating in mid air. If you haven't seen a hooded nib in action, the Parker 51 is a great example. Notice how the nib is meant to look like an integrated part of the grip while hiding the nib and feed. I love how the grip extends halfway down the nib while still providing a substantial grip and flare for your fingers to rest while writing. Since you can hold the pen a little lower than normal, this also provides excellent control of the nib.

Jacob's pens use standard Jowo #6 nibs, and the 1.5mm stub included in mine works flawlessly. Given the excellent level of control I feel I have due to the grip section and light overall weight of the pen, I'm interested in trying a smaller F or EF nib in this pen. I've just been having too much fun using it as-is to perform the swap.

Moving up from the grip, the body of the pen provides a good length for positioning the pen on your hand when writing. It gives you access to the included TWSBI cartridge-converter, which holds quite a lot of ink. Like Jacob recommends, it's best to use a syringe to fill the converter before putting it in the pen. You could certainly fill the pen like a regular converter, but then you have ink all over the section and inside the gap between the nib assembly and inner grip. I wouldn't want the grip to be stained, either! So, follow Jacob's advice and ink the converter before installing it into the pen.

Or, you can always use the pen as an eyedropper. O-rings and silicone grease are included with the pen along with instructions in case you want to go that route. Along with the extra parts, the grip section/body connection has a lot of threads (it takes at least ten full rotations), so I have no concerns that any ink will leak out.

The top and bottom of the pen/cap are almost flat. They are slightly convex and lightly rounded over to give the edges a distinct look but soft feel. One of my other favorite things about this pen design is how all of the mating edges are beveled away from each other. Instead of the surface mating up and reducing any seam lines, the seams are accentuated and integrated into the design. I love the way it looks, though this isn't something that you'll find on all Mad Science designs.

Overall, this pen is definitely a result of something that required a lot of thought and tuning. It's a lovely writing instrument that is a joy to use and look at.

Mad Science pens are typically in the $200 ballpark. I highly recommend you check them out and keep an eye on their Instagram account to be ready for new drops. There's nothing else like them, and they're top-notch writers. Keep up the good work, Jacob!

(Vanness Pens provided this product at a discount to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

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