Testors / Model Master Paints

Testors has been around for years and they're still popular to the hobbyist. I'm not a strictly a Model Master user. I also use Tamiya, Aeromaster, Pollyscale/Floquil, Gunze/Mr. Color, Vallejo, Akan, Alclad, Badger and LifeColor. I'm lookng to add AK Interactive and AMMO Mig Jimenez as well.

Almost every hobby online store carries Model Master paints. Here are a few you may or may not have looked:

www.hobbylinc.com

www.scalehobbyist.com - This is site hands down has the best prices in paints, supplies, and kits. This site has the biggest selections of Testors Model Master colors in both enamels and acrylics.

I find Testors Enamels at all the hobby shops I frequent, plus craft stores such as Michaels and Hobby Lobby.  But-- I still have a big problem finding a color I need.

The problem is that Testors features so many colors, and lines of color by model genre and country, that it is a big problem for retailers.  Most stores do not want to stock all those colors- it would take a lot of display space!  And, Testors makes a number of variations of display racks, none of which feature all the colors.

I have looked for a good mail-order place to order, in an emergency, colors I cannot find locally, but find ridiculous prices and high shipping costs!

I guess it is nice having all those colors, but not much help if you cannot buy them :-(

Thanks for the input.  I have ordered from hobbylinc.com with success, so they are one of my goto websites. 

I haven't tried scalehobbyist.com yet, but I have just finished looking at it and I like what I see. I am going over some of my kits and will order more paints.

I think I will also look into some of the brands you have mentioned, after all varity is the spice of life.

My hobby shop carries a lot of the ModelMaster paints, but not many of their car colours, mostly just the armour/millitary colours.  However, if there is a colour I need and they don't have it, they will order it in for me.  

Would your local hobby shop perhaps order in the colours you need?

I have also noticed the maufactures and retailers are breaking down the paints into sets. Some sets still seem incomplete, but not all are available in all areas.

At 52 years old this old dog is going to have to learn and new trick or two. I will invest a little more time and a few extra bucks in order for me to get what I need.

bluenote

My hobby shop carries a lot of the ModelMaster paints, but not many of their car colours, mostly just the armour/millitary colours.  However, if there is a colour I need and they don't have it, they will order it in for me.  

Would your local hobby shop perhaps order in the colours you need?

 

I don't have a local hobby store, the nearest one is a 120 mile one way trip.  That makes for a long trip to just puchase a few bottles of paint or any other misc supplies.  So my efforts are internet related, I just let my fingers do the walking.

CaddMann - I have been buying from Scale Hobbyist for a few years, faultless service and quick deliveries. I can recommend them from personal experience. Shipping costs seem in line with the usual.

It's just a thought, but my local hobby shop can often order things they don't have in stock. Then I have no shipping charges to pay. You might ask them, all they would need is to find a supplier to ship to them.

Patrick

CaddMann05

 

I think I will also look into some of the brands you have mentioned, after all varity is the spice of life.

 

Sadly, Pollyscale and Aeromaster are no longer in production. How I wish they never discontinued them. Although, looking in eBay could yield a lucky chance of finding them. Grab what little left of Aeromaster and Pollyscale are out there. 

CaddMann05

I have also noticed the maufactures and retailers are breaking down the paints into sets. Some sets still seem incomplete, but not all are available in all areas.

At 52 years old this old dog is going to have to learn and new trick or two. I will invest a little more time and a few extra bucks in order for me to get what I need.

 

DasBeav

 

CaddMann05

I have also noticed the maufactures and retailers are breaking down the paints into sets. Some sets still seem incomplete, but not all are available in all areas.

At 52 years old this old dog is going to have to learn and new trick or two. I will invest a little more time and a few extra bucks in order for me to get what I need.

 

 

 

 

I have bought the Vallejo Model Air Axis/Allied set from Amazon ($52) and was quite pleased. I have since bought the 16 bottle USAAF set and USN 8 bottle set. $120 was a little much for my modelling budget, but I shouldnt have to buy paint for awhile.

 

 

Yikes! I think you could have found better prices elsewhere other than through Amazon. Amazon prices are kinda high compared to most online hobby stores.

BlackSheepTwoOneFour

 

DasBeav

 

CaddMann05

I have also noticed the maufactures and retailers are breaking down the paints into sets. Some sets still seem incomplete, but not all are available in all areas.

At 52 years old this old dog is going to have to learn and new trick or two. I will invest a little more time and a few extra bucks in order for me to get what I need.

 

 

 

 

I have bought the Vallejo Model Air Axis/Allied set from Amazon ($52) and was quite pleased. I have since bought the 16 bottle USAAF set and USN 8 bottle set. $120 was a little much for my modelling budget, but I shouldnt have to buy paint for awhile.

 

 

 

 

 

Yikes! I think you could have found better prices elsewhere other than through Amazon. Amazon prices are kinda high compared to most online hobby stores.

 

I would have used it towards either an airbrush spray booth or a new airbrush instead. LOL! But paint? Never.

BlackSheepTwoOneFour

I would have used it towards either an airbrush spray booth or a new airbrush instead. LOL! But paint? Never.

 

I have easily just purchased $200 worth of Tamiya paints as well as Model Master Paints.  2016 tax refund paid for it all.  Next is an air compressor.

patrick206

CaddMann - I have been buying from Scale Hobbyist for a few years, faultless service and quick deliveries. I can recommend them from personal experience. Shipping costs seem in line with the usual.

 

 

I will echo what CaddMann has stated about Scale Hobbyist. I order from them frequently and have been very pleased with their service and selection. Even though they ship from New Hampshire to Idaho for me, the delivery arrives very quickly.

Another online store that I use frequently is Hobbyworld-USA, they tend to carry a lot of the other brands that you cant find in other places, like Mr. Paint, Hataka (I think from Poland) and others. They also carry the Ultimate Modeling Products line which I enjoy using.

jelliott523

 

 

patrick206

CaddMann - I have been buying from Scale Hobbyist for a few years, faultless service and quick deliveries. I can recommend them from personal experience. Shipping costs seem in line with the usual.

 

 

 

 

 

I will echo what CaddMann has stated about Scale Hobbyist. I order from them frequently and have been very pleased with their service and selection. Even though they ship from New Hampshire to Idaho for me, the delivery arrives very quickly.

Another online store that I use frequently is Hobbyworld-USA, they tend to carry a lot of the other brands that you cant find in other places, like Mr. Paint, Hataka (I think from Poland) and others. They also carry the Ultimate Modeling Products line which I enjoy using.

 

Gonna check out Hobbyworld USA when I get a chance. Sounds promising.

Im in that same boat; I just built my first model in 17 years and went looking for MM enamels, Hobby Lobby has a nice selection but NOT the specific Panzer colors. I found a hobby shop 5 minutes from where I work( hour away from home) but he carries even less of a selection! Guy said he would order me any I need but he did have a huge stock of Tamiya acrylics. With the research Ive done Ive made my mind up to switch to Tamiya or Vallejo acrylics due to the local availability! I just like the specific Model Master colors though, plus I was a kid when they came out so I always regarded them as "top"choice! but its time to evolve and adapt I guess..

Due to the lack of MM, my current inventory is now Tamiya acrylics.  I have found enough MM though to suit my needs, and have gone to more of the enamels with MM.

Sign of the times I guess.