Some Testors Model Master paints being discontinued?

Growing up with Model Masters, Mission is what I went to.  It's all I own now.  New updated paint chart is on their site.

While that's an option, OneFour, it's not a great one, especially if you build replica stock. MCW would be a better way to go.

bluenote

The thing with MM, is being a car modeler, they had the best colour range for car modelers (enamels).  If they get rid of those, then I'm not sure which brand I'll switch to.  Humbrol enamels may be the best alternative.  

 

Why not use rattle can colors by Rustoleum for your car kits? That's what I used to use back in the day - except I spray in several light coats. Any Walmart, Lowes, Ace Hardware or any hardware store for that matter.

The Testors square bottle enamel line has only a handful of colors that match up with the Model Master colors. Especially the stuff for military exterior finish colors. Aside from Black, White, Yellow, Red, and Aluminum, Olive Drab is pretty much the only one in name and shade that is an exact match to a camouflage color. A few more are the same as certain camo colors but have different names: Flat Tan and Battle Gray being those. But beyond that, the military modeler is on their own... 

With Testors pulling out their MM figures and military colours, it leaves them with around 116 MM enamel colours.  I'm thinking they may just offer this as their basic modelling lineup for kids, casual modeller market.  What's weird though is their 1/4 ounce square bottle enamel lineup is roughly 88 colours, and is almost exactly the same as their MM lineup now.  Their square bottle product was aimed at the casual market, while their MM lineup was aimed at the more serious modeller (with 250-300 colours at one point).  Now, both products are essentially the same.  Will they continue like that?  Doesn't make sense to keep both.  Their acrylic lineup has around 150 colours.  

Will be interesting to see what they eventually do.  I'm guessing they will eventually get out of the enamel business and focus just on acrylic, but who knows?

The thing with MM, is being a car modeler, they had the best colour range for car modelers (enamels).  If they get rid of those, then I'm not sure which brand I'll switch to.  Humbrol enamels may be the best alternative.  

Hi BlackSheep ;

 Yes indeed . Black Chrome is an actual color . I must ask you to look at the black trim on new cars .Around the windows and things .You are looking , Not at satin or flat black or semi - Gloss black . It is indeed " Black Chrome " . Now as to MM acrylics .I have used them .I don't ,Like the Tamiya line , Like them at all .

   To get good coverage you have to have an airbrush .Try telling that to the directors of craft clinics at the V.A. No Airbrushing there ! ! So you tell me which are good for " brush spreadability " I have yet to find a good one .T.B.

Don;

 I still find Black Chrome . It's not everyday I do , but it shows up from time to time . T.B.

Don Stauffer

My guess is that enamel paints will disappear from all brands.  I have heard that emissions problems may be part of the issue.

 

Hopefully I'll be dead before that happens... 

The EU has far stricter regulations on those sorts of things, yet Revell, Humbrol, and Xtracolor all have enamel lines with no word of being discontinued. 

My guess is that enamel paints will disappear from all brands.  I have heard that emissions problems may be part of the issue.

plasticjunkie

Well, this move by Testors suck BIG TIME! I hate using acrylics specially their Acryl line so like stik , when the time comes I will be moving on to another brand. First they killed the Floquil line and now another one bites the dust.

And as for bulking up on paint, good luck. I have been noticing a steady decline of shelf life with the MM paints, some going bad after a year or even less. That didn't happen with the older products.

 

 

Yes, Testors has some quality control issues over the past several years. How the mighty have fallen...

Well, this move by Testors suck BIG TIME! I hate using acrylics specially their Acryl line so like stik , when the time comes I will be moving on to another brand. First they killed the Floquil line and now another one bites the dust.

And as for bulking up on paint, good luck. I have been noticing a steady decline of shelf life with the MM paints, some going bad after a year or even less. That didn't happen with the older products.

That's too bad. They discontinued multiple colors in the original MM enamel line, which was pretty much US centric.  And the MM II line expanded that to new or old overlooked US colors as well as lots of great and needed international colors. Most of which, but not all, Humbrol thankfully has in their enamel line. When the dust settles, we shall see what is left. 

Not to beat a dead horse, but I did call Testors (Rustoleum) directly and they did confirm that they are in fact discontinuing the Model Master II enamel line (International Military and Figure).  

We'll see if this is a general shift from enamels to acrylic or perhaps the military colours were too specific and just didn't sell well?  Perhaps the average modeller is just fine with the colours offered in the standard MM lineup.

I find the MM auto enamels (bottle) selection is by far the greatest in the hobby.  I hope they don't move away from those.  

Don Stauffer

We had a discussion in a model club meeting last night on this subject.  Some claim this is part of a movement to eliminate, eventually, all enamel paints.  I love enamel- dislike acrylics- but I guess I should get on the ball and learn how to use them properly.  I have used them a few times for flat finishes.  I have been completely unsuccessful in getting a good gloss finish.  I guess if I have to go to acrylics I will have to glosscoat everything I want glossy.  Right now all the glosscoats I use are either enamel or lacquer- I hope a decent acrylic glosscoat exists :-)

  

I imagine you're right.  I primarily use MM enamels as well.  I wonder if they will increase their acrylic line with the discontinued enamel paints?  If they are eventually moving away from enamels, I would love to see more variety with their acrylic line (specifically their automotive colours)

We had a discussion in a model club meeting last night on this subject.  Some claim this is part of a movement to eliminate, eventually, all enamel paints.  I love enamel- dislike acrylics- but I guess I should get on the ball and learn how to use them properly.  I have used them a few times for flat finishes.  I have been completely unsuccessful in getting a good gloss finish.  I guess if I have to go to acrylics I will have to glosscoat everything I want glossy.  Right now all the glosscoats I use are either enamel or lacquer- I hope a decent acrylic glosscoat exists :-)

BlackSheepTwoOneFour

Word has it they are doing away with is ONLY the "Model Master II" line (numbered in the 2xxx)

 

 

The Model Master II line of enamels would be a serious blow to military modelers because it covers a lot of different subjects. The numbers 2000-2100 are illustrated in the link below:

https://www.megahobby.com/products/model-master-ii-enamel-paint-2000-2100-series-1-2-oz-bottles-testors.html

All of the RLM colors for Luftwaffe modelers, most of the base colors for armor modelers, and a lot for figure painters as well, are all potential candidates for being discontinued under the conditions reported. Perhaps not cause for "panic", but arguably a point of concern.

How about it, FSM? Can our esteemed editors and forum moderators confirm or disprove the matter? Please, put those press connections into motion and put this to rest?

There is no "panic" but like I posted earlier, all the military enamel paint is being discontinued.  That's the model master II line and is over 120 colours and half of their enamel lineup.  Fairly significant for one of the oldest brands in this hobby.

again no panic but worthy of a discussion

I'm going to put this to bed once and for all regarding this needless panic of Master Model enamels are being discontinued. I've got word in another forums by a knowledgable member there who got the real story.

Word has it they are doing away with is ONLY the "Model Master II" line (numbered in the 2xxx)

The older Model Master enamel line is STAYING!! Model Master I is NOT part of the International Military & Figures Enamel line. The IM&FE is a portion of the Model Master line. (IM&FE is the real name of Model Master II that comes with the 2xxx numbers)

Rest assured the Model Master Acrylic line is completely safe.

Tanker - Builder

Hi;

   Based on this thread and a very recent experience I contacted the company .The very nice lady I spoke to was as confused as I am . Especially when I told her Hobby - Town was out of the flat black in any size because they were having difficulty getting them .

 She explained that the shipments were up to date , But , the mystery is , Where did those paints go ? They have NO intention of doing away with Flat Black Model Master as many Model railroaders use it too .

 I am awaiting a reply . I may start buying it in Bulk to save the poor little grey hairs on my head from disappearing faster by being pulled out !  T.B.

 

did she mention anything about all the military colours?

Interesting... I didn't know such a color Black Chrome existed.

I have no trouble finding flat black, but can no longer find the black chrome.  This was a great color- a semi-matt black useful for several uses.  I heard that Testors is coming out with a color just called semi-matt or semi-gloss black (forget which), but I have sure not seen it on racks yet.

Hi;

   Based on this thread and a very recent experience I contacted the company .The very nice lady I spoke to was as confused as I am . Especially when I told her Hobby - Town was out of the flat black in any size because they were having difficulty getting them .

 She explained that the shipments were up to date , But , the mystery is , Where did those paints go ? They have NO intention of doing away with Flat Black Model Master as many Model railroaders use it too .

 I am awaiting a reply . I may start buying it in Bulk to save the poor little grey hairs on my head from disappearing faster by being pulled out !  T.B.

hypertex

No, Rustoleum didn't "buy out" Testors. Both Testors and Rustoleum are part of the RPM Conglomerate. They have been for some time. About 4 or so years ago, RPM appeared to be "consolidating" Testors and Rustoleum, whatever that means (RPM's words, not mine). Since both are already owned by RPM, it's not a "buyout". So this part of the story is old news.

I don't know about the status of their enamels, I don't use them.

Their acrylics work fine. I just wish they would give us a decent lid for the jars.

 

You are correct. I wasn't sure if it was bought out was already part of the company- or somewhere along that line. I, too, use MM acrylics as well and never was an issue to me. Maybe for some but I do respect those who prefer MM enamels. I'd love to see Humbrol in my area LHS. But then again, he's the only one left. I don't go there much anymore because he always has the same old stuff, nothing exciting. Paintwise, he has Gunze/Mr Color, tons of MM enamels, a few MM acrylics, and recently added a full line of Tamiya paint line. 

No, Rustoleum didn't "buy out" Testors. Both Testors and Rustoleum are part of the RPM Conglomerate. They have been for some time. About 4 or so years ago, RPM appeared to be "consolidating" Testors and Rustoleum, whatever that means (RPM's words, not mine). Since both are already owned by RPM, it's not a "buyout". So this part of the story is old news.

I don't know about the status of their enamels, I don't use them.

Their acrylics work fine. I just wish they would give us a decent lid for the jars.

I prefer enamels. And Testors acrylics are probably some of the worst out there. I guess I'll buy up whatever enamels of theirs I will need before they are extinct. 

Then I will be strictly Humbrol for enamels and whoever else for acrylics. Bad move on their part.

Ok, this explains everything. They're only discontinuing the ENAMEL line, not the acrylics. Not all is lost. I know some prefer enamels but in reality, acrylics are starting to be more in favor than enamels.

Besides, there's always Humbrol......

Also here:

http://members.boardhost.com/Warship/msg/1496861594.html

nothing official from testors in the form of a press release but would they normally do a press release?  Anyway ive reached out to them to see if they can confirm

http://www.arcforums.com/forums/air/index.php?/topic/299198-testors-products-being-discontinued/

A few people on the forum above contacted rust oleum and got the confirmation.  I hope it's "fake news" too but where there's smoke there's fire.  

I have emailed them as well and will let everyone know if I get a respnse. 

Well, if they do discontinue their enamel line and stay strictly with acylics, then we shall be parting ways. I do not care for their acrylics. Too many issues with them, and too many better products out there. Looks like Humbrol will be the last man standing in the enamel world. At least here in the USA, as Revell enamel paints are not available here.