Model Master Enamel going away

Sad news.

I weaned myself from the few MM paints I still used once Rustoleum took them over, since that seemed to be the way the wind was blowing. But back in the days when I used enamels, they were the core of my 'paint locker.'

If you’re a die hard enamel user, Humbrol is still around. And showing no signs of going away. They have actually recently expanded their color selection. 

When the MM enamel line came out, I was thrilled.  My paint box is filled with them.  But over the years I noticed their performance was declining.  First it was unstable batches going gooey, then I started having opacity and thinning issues.  While the majority of my paint collection is still MM, I have been looking to Gunze lacquers and Tamiya acrylics for replacements.

It is sad that another piece of the US model industry is dying.

stikpusher

If you’re a die hard enamel user, Humbrol is still around. And showing no signs of going away. They have actually recently expanded their color selection. 

 

Yes stik, I've watched your many posts on enamels and Humbrol. As I said, I've been on a burn towards acrylics anyway but the enamels just work in that certain application. I already have done a few models in acrylic and all my interiors and undercarriage, engines are acrylic. Custom paint works out well with Tamiya clear colors over metallics Or solid colors with Tamiya X 22 clear coat comes out nice. But classic car bodies I really like enamel for. The shop owner is a die hard enamel guy for sure, I may have to put a bug in his ear about Humbrol if he hasn't already thought of it. I've been to the Humbrol site recently, they ship direct and prices are decent. I'll think on that whether he goes that route or not..

I'm not adversed to mixing colors, I can probably survive on Testors enamels if they don't fade away too ( thet're so tiny though, have to buy 4 at a time maybe, for a car body between base color and tint)..

Oh well,it will all shake out in the end.

I think maybe that rumor was a bit off.  What seems to be true is that Testors is dropping military colors.  But I have seen a number of new colors in the regular line.  And, I have seen new racks at stores.  Seems to me if they were dropping enamel they would not have gone to the trouble of issuing those recent ones.  Also, they seem to have added new lacquers.

Don Stauffer

I think maybe that rumor was a bit off.  What seems to be true is that Testors is dropping military colors.  But I have seen a number of new colors in the regular line.  And, I have seen new racks at stores.  Seems to me if they were dropping enamel they would not have gone to the trouble of issuing those recent ones.  Also, they seem to have added new lacquers.

Ya Don, the shop owner said this whole rack is going, pointing to the military and RR colors. My topic post was maybe a bit energetic. He did say auto colors would stay.

Hi;

   You know ,many years ago someone told me Pactra( No Brush Marks) paint was going away. I ddn't believe them . Otherwise I would've stocked up. They were the first I remember to actually have two colors I used a lot and then one gloss that was incredible.

   The two colors? Flat Black and Red! The Gloss? A color they called Mandarin Red! This color matched many of the cars Chrysler had in 1966! especially the fancier cars. Like a fully loaded and custom paint optioned Dodge 440-6 Pack Charger!

   Now what puzzles me about the M.M. issue is this How can they even say the flat black and red are Military colors? Even in semi gloss they are used heavily in the Maritime industry! That's not military, now, is it?

 I think the marketing folks at Rustoleum have their heads up you know where !!, I would always try to be at my local Hobby-Town in Concord, Ca. when I knew his paints were coming in. Why? Well if I didn't, the colors I needed would be gone in at least two days!

       Rustoleum or whoever they are in reality, I think shot themselves in the foot. Why? Well sure, the Hobby market fluctuates. That fact is infallible! But even the train buffs have had to take hard turns for paint. Now because of s%$t like this,they have all gone to acrylics.

    Take Humbrol. They removed a lot of colors just before they disappeared from the American market. Most of them were military, but a lot were colors model Ship builders used, like say " Deck Bleached Teak". Then they were back a short time from MONOGRAM. They went Bye - Bye When Monogram was absorbed by Revell.

 Now they are back. They smell the same, But they don't seem to cover as well or have the shelf life of the original either. I do have a Pharmacists Mortar and Pestle for making fine shellacs for real boats. Am I going to have to do this for models too?  T.B.     P.S - The Pactra, Mandarin Red was very close to Maroon, but not quite ! 

I remember that manderin red TB, I had switched to mostly Pactra back then because they were really great paints ! Then poof, gone. Floquil poof, gone.

I think Rustoleum is too big and hobby paints too small a market ( just my personal opinion with no concrete evidence to back it up).

I'll just be curious to see what the LHS brings in, maybe he will expand on what's left in MM once this stuff is gone. He's gotta do something cause he's a MM enamel only shooter, he's told me many times how he hates acrylic.

oldermodelguy

I remember that manderin red TB, I had switched to mostly Pactra back then because they were really great paints ! Then poof, gone. Floquil poof, gone.

I think Rustoleum is too big and hobby paints too small a market ( just my personal opinion with no concrete evidence to back it up).

I'll just be curious to see what the LHS brings in, maybe he will expand on what's left in MM once this stuff is gone. He's gotta do something cause he's a MM enamel only shooter, he's told me many times how he hates acrylic.

 

TB, Model Master had recently revamped their enamel paint lines too. Discontinuing some colors, but also adding a few new ones. They had just introduced a whole series of naval colors in enamels. it really is sad that they have now canned the Model Master enamels. Thank goodness that there are other options for enamels and far better acrylics out there. 

Tamiya is introducing a new line of lacquers in bottles.  (See back cover of current FSM.)

If it's as good as the stuff in their spray cans, I will use it.  Perhaps this will fill in the void left by MM paint going away.  Would like to hear from anyone who has tried it.

Cadet Chuck

Tamiya is introducing a new line of lacquers in bottles.  (See back cover of current FSM.)

If it's as good as the stuff in their spray cans, I will use it.  Perhaps this will fill in the void left by MM paint going away.  Would like to hear from anyone who has tried it.

 

Will it be available at shops here in the USA? I bet that it will be the same colors as their existing acrylic line. 

Cadet Chuck

Tamiya is introducing a new line of lacquers in bottles.  (See back cover of current FSM.)

If it's as good as the stuff in their spray cans, I will use it.  Perhaps this will fill in the void left by MM paint going away.  Would like to hear from anyone who has tried it.

 

Good to know ! Right now the onlly lacquers I use are MM Metalizers and nail polish. I've actually been actively turning towards acrylics for many things though. I don't know, it kind of depends how Tamiya lacquers handle holding gloss and if they need three hours of hand rubbing or not. I have MM enamels going down wet, well flowed out and they dry with full gloss for antique car bodies. To me and my aging eyes no hand rubbing required . And too, if the humidity goes up a little bit then fogging isn't an issue like it can be with many lacquers.

So, well I'd surely give them a shot if I see them around though.

stikpusher

 

Will it be available at shops here in the USA? I bet that it will be the same colors as their existing acrylic line. 

 

Good point ! If it's the same color range as the acrylic I'll probably just use the acrylic. I have those going on very well. And any color can become a wet look gloss if you master their clear gloss acrylic. The only thing though is probably lacquers would go down in a thinner film.

oldermodelguy

 

 

stikpusher

 

Will it be available at shops here in the USA? I bet that it will be the same colors as their existing acrylic line. 

 

 

 

 

Good point ! If it's the same color range as the acrylic I'll probably just use the acrylic. I have those going on very well. And any color can become a wet look gloss if you master their clear gloss acrylic. The only thing though is probably lacquers would go down in a thinner film.

 

These will be basically the same paints as in their rattle can lineup, so there are/will be a number of colours that are not available in acrylic form (mostly car colours like Mica Blue, Metallic red, etc).

Here is a link to all 72 colours that are available:

https://www.tamiya.com/english/products/list/lacquer/kit82101.htm

I've used a couple of them, and they are great!  I still prefer using their acrylic paint for airbrushing, mostly because of fumes.  But, I still like these for car colours that have only been in rattle cans and are now easily available as airbrush paint.

Interesting... I do like their Olive Drab 2 for Soviet Cold War AFVs & Softskins... no need to decant the spray if I can get ahold of these bottled lacquers... 

Now I am curious as to how they hand brush?

I've used several of the Hataka Orange Line lacquers (avaiable from Sprue Bros) and really have been pleased with them. Using their lacquer thinner, they spray beautifully, cover very well, and dry quickly. They remind me of spraying the old Floquil. They might be a good alternative to the diminishing supplies of MM enamel available at reasonable prices.

Tom

tomwatkins45

I've used several of the Hataka Orange Line lacquers (avaiable from Sprue Bros) and really have been pleased with them. Using their lacquer thinner, they spray beautifully, cover very well, and dry quickly. They remind me of spraying the old Floquil. They might be a good alternative to the diminishing supplies of MM enamel available at reasonable prices.

Tom

 

They seem to have quite a color range and review well. Both lacquer and acrylic. Thanks !