I've been using Wicked since it came out about 4 years ago I think.
Let me make this easy for you, because the 2 product lines are not well named.
Wicked Base Colors: are the opaques.
Very good fine detail, good coverage, quite versatile.
Wicked Detail Colors: are the transparents.
Very clean and transparent.
Crap fine detail - heaps more tip dry at small level, which shouldn't matter if you are doing a tonal painting with base colors and then coloring over the top with the transparents, which is a classic method but obviously won't cover all bases.
I think the system is a lot easier to use once you know this.
Although it took me about 2 years to learn how to get to where I wanted with Wicked by learning how to deal with tip-dry. I highly recommend you see The Airbrush Tutor's Videos regarding this, and save yourself a heap of headache.
RE: W500
I put up my thoughts on this a little earlier
I've given it a good whirl, and here's my .25 cents worth:
Pros:
- It addresses pigment pooling well
- It addresses tip dry on large and medium large jobs
Cons:
- It has shocking tip dry at tight detail, not worth the trouble
- It's loaded with ammonia, and for all money seems identical to Trident = bad asthma trigger
- You have to wear a cartridge mask, even if you don't have asthma
I think this is an objective assessment.
I can get waaaaaay better fine detail performance from the old reducer and my tip clean method.
What I like about it:
- good for spraying out large areas or panels, because it deals with pigment pooling
What I hate about it:
- It makes a really safe product hazardous.