Paint selection at HL

jeffpez

The people who make the stocking decisions indeed may not know about our hobby but I'll bet my last dollar that they know a lot about what sells and in what quantities.

 

One would think so, makes more than sense but unfortunately sometimes it works the opposite.

The people who make the stocking decisions indeed may not know about our hobby but I'll bet my last dollar that they know a lot about what sells and in what quantities.

the Baron

I would speak to the manager of your store, too, and let him know what you're looking for.  You never know, but it might impact his decisions on what to stock.  99% of his customers probably never speak to him, and the ones who do can have an impact.  It can't hurt to try.

 

I tried that a while back and I was told the decisions come from their Headquarters and the main exec that decides what to put on the shelves. I even called their main corporate office and was told the same. I told the lady how limited their stock was in both paints and models compared to 8 to 10 years ago. All she could do was to pass my ideas up top. I’m sure my ideas got as far as her. Who ever makes their stocking selections has no clue about the hobby. I remember when they actually had a decent selection of Tamiya, Trumpeter and Revell kits and paints.

Hobby Lobby‘s paint selection has always been minimal but at least some basic enamel colors were stocked. I order 95% of my supplies online cause the other two hobby shops in my area usually don’t carry my specific needs.

I’m also an enamel user and have been trying out other paints and so far AK lacquers are great. Tamiya paints are good too. Vallejo has a great color selection but it’s a new learning curb for me, not spraying as fine or as easy as my old enamels.

I have airbrushed craft paints and they work well providing one uses at least a medium sized tip. Doesn’t work well in extra fine tipped airbrushes as with enamels or lacquers. Craft paints will scratch easily on bare plastic so it’s best to use a primer first. I remember buying a ton of bottles at a craft shop while living in South Carolina. They priced them at .25 a bottle so I have a good selection of green and brown shades and use them mostly for diorama ground work.

Chemteacher

I stopped in at my local Hobby Lobby. Admittedly, it had been a while and of course I know of the "retirement" of the Model Master line. But, even the regular Testors paints, both jars and spray cans, are just about wiped out and I don't believe they are being restocked.  All of the Model Masters are gone. I thought Rustoleom was at least keeping the regular Testors line. I know I always have the option to order online, but it sure was handy to run out and pick up a paint I needed even if I had to custom mix. I hope HL can pick up another line.  Anybody hear anything? There are no local hobby shops in my area.  

As a national chain, I don't think HobbyLobby is phasing out Testor paints.  I think you'll find that what's in stock will depend on any given franchisee's store, and when you happen to visit.  We have two here in the Lehigh Valley, and they are definitely replenishing their stock of the remaining Testor brands.

I would speak to the manager of your store, too, and let him know what you're looking for.  You never know, but it might impact his decisions on what to stock.  99% of his customers probably never speak to him, and the ones who do can have an impact.  It can't hurt to try.

One of the soutions to lack of specific colors is to learn to mix colors. Pick up a book on oil or acrylic painting at your library.  All basic painting books give enough color theory to mix color.  Then buy a color wheel- they are inexpensive.

chops1c I agree with your friend about craft paints.  I got a friend who uses them exclusively and he does civil airliners and when he's done the glossy finish he achieves is amazing!  I've been slowly transitioning to craft paints the last few years.  They're great for brush painting, thinned with blue windshield washer fluid for airbrushing, and the metallics are great for automative models.  There are a lot of videos on youtube that will walk you through their use.  Finally,the best thing about them is their price, especially if you get them at HL when they're on sale.

Ya, I'm an enamel guy.  Try Revell.  I've had great success with Mr Color and using their thinner and have dabbled in MRP with good results.

I use Vallejo acrylics mainly with craft paints as a backup. I get the craft paints at Joanne Fabrics. They have loads of different suppliers. It just takes a little time to search the shelves for the color you want. Most of the time they are around $1 to $1.50 each but they have sales every once in a while. I walked in one day and they had them 3 for $1. For $10, I walked out with 30 bottles. Vallejo is selling for around $3.20 a bottle. I've never had a problem with them. I thin them down (they are quite thick even for regular brushing) with distilled water for airbrushing or regular brushing and clean up the airbrush or brushes with Windex the same as the Vallejo paints. Couldn't be any easier, or cheaper.

Jim 

Stay Safe.

I'll second Tojo's comments. "real" hobby shops have gone away here; the last one closed about three years ago despite the fact that the owners were RC nuts and very competent repair guys, and stocked a lot of RC kits and parts.

I find that I prefer ordering supplies on line, like Tojo, when I'm planning the build and/or running low on something. I just save a list so that when I order it's big enough to justify the shipping. The online retailers have way more selection and better prices than any brick & mortar stores I could drive to in a day, and I'm sure the stock is fresher.

That said, sure do miss bumping into fellow modellers at the LHS!  

I have a friend that ONLY uses craft paint. He is very tight with his money and he says you can get very close to most colors with craft paint and they are a fraction of the cost. 

I Have an Idea;

       All of you that are feeling the paint pinch should do this. Find a reputable Gaming and Video Game shop that carries the Likes of " Warhammer" ETC. My closest one, even though the colors have weird names has scads of Vallejo and A.K. Interactive for brushing and airbrushing.

You should be able to get over it,I try to plan ahead,if I'm beginning a project I will look at my supply to see what I need and what is required for my next build and I order long before I actually need the paint.Usually takes about a week.Even in, case of emergency,like a spilled bottle or an oversight, most I wait is a week and surely I can work on something else till it arrives.Takes some getting used to,but it can be done,as many modelers will tell you.

My HL still has a fair amount of Testors, mostly in auto colors, along with the rattle cans.  A limited selection of Vallejo model color.