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The future of Model Master

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  • Member since
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  • From: my keyboard dreaming of being at the workbench
The future of Model Master
Posted by Aaron Skinner on Thursday, April 30, 2020 1:55 PM
Seeking information about the status of the status of several of Testors long-standing paint lines, we have received the following from Vince Pierri, Senior Manager, PR & Corporate Communications for Rust-Oleum:
 
“With a long history of producing quality hobby kits and supplies, we are evolving our strategy to focus more keenly on Testors, our flagship brand. To that end, we are discontinuing our PACTRA, AZTEK, and Model Master brands as demand for these products continues to decline. We will continue to support the hobby market with a robust line of aerosols, brush paints, tools and accessories – always looking for opportunities to innovate in these categories.”
 
We have no idea how long this change will take to implement or how soon it will affect the availability of the paints and supplies.

Aaron Skinner

Editor

FineScale Modeler

  • Member since
    August 2015
  • From: the redlands Fl
Posted by crown r n7 on Thursday, April 30, 2020 4:05 PM

wow Pactra,floquil,Snj spray metal now model masters oh well I guess we still have testors gloss paints wait and see. Thanks for the up date.

 

 

 Nick.

  • Member since
    November 2003
  • From: State of Mississippi. State motto: Virtute et armis (By valor and arms)
Posted by mississippivol on Thursday, April 30, 2020 4:45 PM
I wonder if some of the more popular colors will end up in a square bottle? Regardless, I have a gift card at a retailer that, when they get rid of them, will go 75 off! Guess I'm sticking with Gunze...
  • Member since
    January 2020
Posted by Space Ranger on Thursday, April 30, 2020 4:52 PM

Enamel users still have Humbrol, Xtracolor, Colourcoats, North Star, and Tru-Color, none of them owned by Testors. 

  • Member since
    May 2013
  • From: Indiana, USA
Posted by Greg on Thursday, April 30, 2020 5:06 PM

Thoughtful of you to share that, thanks.

  • Member since
    March 2015
  • From: Close to Chicago
Posted by JohnnyK on Thursday, April 30, 2020 5:18 PM

I use Model Master Metalizer rattle can paints a lot. There is no substitute. Not happy. I'll need to search the Internet and see if I can stock up.

Your comments and questions are always welcome.

  • Member since
    June 2018
  • From: Ohio (USA)
Posted by DRUMS01 on Thursday, April 30, 2020 7:21 PM

And here I understood that the Aztek airbrush has a lifetime warranty(?). 

Wink

 

Ben

"Everyones the normal until you get to know them" (Unknown)

LAST COMPLETED:

1/35 Churchill Mk IV AVRE with bridge - DONE

NEXT PROJECT:

1/35 CH-54A Tarhe Helicopter

 

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Sonora Desert
Posted by stikpusher on Thursday, April 30, 2020 8:38 PM

Revell Germany is supposed to be exporting their enamel and acrylic paint lines to North America in the near future. That will help make up for the loss of Model Master. 

 

F is for FIRE, That burns down the whole town!

U is for URANIUM... BOMBS!

N is for NO SURVIVORS...

       - Plankton

LSM

 

  • Member since
    November 2008
  • From: Central Florida
Posted by plasticjunkie on Thursday, April 30, 2020 9:28 PM

Thanks for the heads up Aaron. I don't swallow the reason they gave otherwise these paints would sit on the display racks gathering dust. 

Plenty of competition coming out like the AK Real Colors, Mr. Color and MRP lacquers that perform like enamels.

 GIFMaker.org_jy_Ayj_O

 

 

Too many models to build, not enough time in a lifetime!!

  • Member since
    January 2020
Posted by Space Ranger on Thursday, April 30, 2020 10:15 PM

That lifetime warranty on Aztek airbrushes apparently means "until we decide to kill them."

I own two Aztek airbrushes and will continue to use them until they break. But I'm never again buying anything from Testors.

  • Member since
    July 2013
  • From: Chicago area
Posted by modelmaker66 on Thursday, April 30, 2020 11:09 PM

Sounds like there is no future for them.

  • Member since
    May 2013
  • From: Indiana, USA
Posted by Greg on Friday, May 1, 2020 7:13 AM

Space Ranger
That lifetime warranty on Aztek airbrushes apparently means "until we decide to kill them."

Yes, but "lifetime warranty" is meaningless marketing babble in most if not all cases anyway.

  • Member since
    November 2008
  • From: Central Florida
Posted by plasticjunkie on Friday, May 1, 2020 7:46 AM

Greg

 

 
Space Ranger
That lifetime warranty on Aztek airbrushes apparently means "until we decide to kill them."

 

Yes, but "lifetime warranty" is meaningless marketing babble in most if not all cases anyway.

 

Reminds me of some car dealerships offering "lifetime oil changes" only to be bought out by another a couple of years later and so ends the free oil changes.

 GIFMaker.org_jy_Ayj_O

 

 

Too many models to build, not enough time in a lifetime!!

  • Member since
    October 2019
  • From: New Braunfels, Texas
Posted by Tanker-Builder on Friday, May 1, 2020 9:16 AM

Mr Ranger:

 I don't mean to criticise you sir: Maybe you have access to all that including Humbrol. I have NEVER even heard of the other brands. At least around here!

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Sonora Desert
Posted by stikpusher on Friday, May 1, 2020 9:51 AM

DRUMS01

And here I understood that the Aztek airbrush has a lifetime warranty(?). 

Wink

 

Ben

 

If the company is not gone, and the warranty is in writing, they have a legal obligation to honor the warranty. Of course once spare parts run out that becomes a problem...

 

F is for FIRE, That burns down the whole town!

U is for URANIUM... BOMBS!

N is for NO SURVIVORS...

       - Plankton

LSM

 

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Fort Knox
Posted by Rob Gronovius on Friday, May 1, 2020 12:07 PM

Space Ranger

That lifetime warranty on Aztek airbrushes apparently means "until we decide to kill them."

I own two Aztek airbrushes and will continue to use them until they break. But I'm never again buying anything from Testors.

Does Testors even exist any more beyond a brand name owned by Rustoleum?

  • Member since
    September 2006
  • From: Bethlehem PA
Posted by the Baron on Friday, May 1, 2020 12:08 PM

Meh.

For me, the only surprise in this story is learning that Pactra was still a brand.  I thought it was discontinued years ago.

The bigger the government, the smaller the citizen.

 

 

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: Twin Cities of Minnesota
Posted by Don Stauffer on Friday, May 1, 2020 1:17 PM

crown r n7

wow Pactra,floquil,Snj spray metal now model masters oh well I guess we still have testors gloss paints wait and see. Thanks for the up date.

 

I don't believe the Testors brand will be all gloss.  They have come out with new flats, as well as semi-gloss.

 

Don Stauffer in Minnesota

  • Member since
    January 2020
Posted by Space Ranger on Friday, May 1, 2020 1:33 PM

Tanker-Builder

Mr Ranger:

 I don't mean to criticise you sir: Maybe you have access to all that including Humbrol. I have NEVER even heard of the other brands. At least around here!

 

 
Google 'em. Some have been around for quite a while.
  • Member since
    March 2008
  • From: Central Ohio
Posted by WigWag Workshop on Friday, May 1, 2020 1:37 PM

I am glad I stocked up on the black bottle liquid cement with the needle.  I only use it for certain tasks, but I really like this product.

  • Member since
    September 2006
  • From: Bethlehem PA
Posted by the Baron on Friday, May 1, 2020 1:52 PM

WigWag Workshop

I am glad I stocked up on the black bottle liquid cement with the needle.  I only use it for certain tasks, but I really like this product. 

I wonder if the Model Master liquid cement is the same formula as the liquid cement sold in the same bottle but with the Testors label:

I use this, though I use Tamiya's extra-fine, too.  I think it flows better.

The bigger the government, the smaller the citizen.

 

 

  • Member since
    March 2008
  • From: Central Ohio
Posted by WigWag Workshop on Friday, May 1, 2020 2:05 PM

I think that one has a plastic tip, not the thin metal needle type tip.

the Baron

 

 
WigWag Workshop

I am glad I stocked up on the black bottle liquid cement with the needle.  I only use it for certain tasks, but I really like this product. 

 

 

I wonder if the Model Master liquid cement is the same formula as the liquid cement sold in the same bottle but with the Testors label:

I use this, though I use Tamiya's extra-fine, too.  I think it flows better.

 

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Fort Knox
Posted by Rob Gronovius on Monday, May 4, 2020 11:04 AM

Tanker-Builder

Mr Ranger:

 I don't mean to criticise you sir: Maybe you have access to all that including Humbrol. I have NEVER even heard of the other brands. At least around here!

 

Humbrol and Tru-Color are available from Squadron, right there in Texas.

Sprue Brothers carries a pretty good assortment of paints as well: https://store.spruebrothers.com/

  • Member since
    September 2006
  • From: Bethlehem PA
Posted by the Baron on Monday, May 4, 2020 12:15 PM

WigWag Workshop

I think that one has a plastic tip, not the thin metal needle type tip...

Yeah, it's a different package; this one has a plastic nozzle, with a fine wire to plug the tip or re-open it if it gets gunked up.  But I wonder if the glue is the same?

The bigger the government, the smaller the citizen.

 

 

  • Member since
    December 2003
  • From: 37deg 40.13' N 95deg 29.10'W
Posted by scottrc on Tuesday, May 5, 2020 9:25 AM

After 25 years using Model Master. I finally "mastered" how to use their paint.  Now I need to find a new enamel, which so far, has been Colourcoats that I seem to like best.  

I never trusted the small bottle suff for being flat, it always dried glossy on me and thickness always varied between bottles. 

 

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Sonora Desert
Posted by stikpusher on Tuesday, May 5, 2020 9:33 AM

scottrc

After 25 years using Model Master. I finally "mastered" how to use their paint.  Now I need to find a new enamel, which so far, has been Colourcoats that I seem to like best.  

I never trusted the small bottle suff for being flat, it always dried glossy on me and thickness always varied between bottles. 

 

 

Try Humbrol enamels. When they are thoroughly stirred they produce a superb finish. Don’t shake them in the tins, just stir them.

 

 

F is for FIRE, That burns down the whole town!

U is for URANIUM... BOMBS!

N is for NO SURVIVORS...

       - Plankton

LSM

 

  • Member since
    December 2003
  • From: 37deg 40.13' N 95deg 29.10'W
Posted by scottrc on Thursday, May 7, 2020 7:49 AM

Hi Stick,

You are right, I have a few Humbrol tins I got when I couldn't get WEM.  Both seem to be the same as far as mixing and airbrushing, which I really like, I have had no surprises.  So many of these new brands are hit and miss.  I started to really like AV until recently both AV and Tamiya have made me feel like a chemist with trying to get the mix right and the surface prepared using a collection of there special thinners, primers, and reducers with mixed results.  

Being raised on Model Masters, I felt it was a convience paint, since everyone in the neighborhood had it in stock.  

  • Member since
    January 2020
Posted by Space Ranger on Thursday, May 7, 2020 5:40 PM

Correction/update: Reports are that Rustoleum ceased all production of all Testors products today, May 7, 2020. R.I.P.

  • Member since
    February 2005
  • From: Nashotah, WI
Posted by Glamdring on Friday, May 8, 2020 6:47 PM

For 10+ years, I have ONLY used the Model Master glue with the thin metal tube applictor.  This is highly problematic!

I wonder what the shelf life is, I will have start buying a bottle every time I can find one.

Robert 

"I can't get ahead no matter how hard I try, I'm gettin' really good at barely gettin' by"

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Sonora Desert
Posted by stikpusher on Friday, May 8, 2020 8:02 PM

Glamdring

For 10+ years, I have ONLY used the Model Master glue with the thin metal tube applictor.  This is highly problematic!

I wonder what the shelf life is, I will have start buying a bottle every time I can find one.

 

If you see some, buy it. The new bottle has the cruddy plastic tube. And it comes with a plunger wire that is too short. They are getting way too chinsy on their stuff. My last bottle of the Model Master stuff was quite a few years old, but as good as day one... until I left it on a hot sunny windowsill too long and it split at the seams due to heat expansion...

 

F is for FIRE, That burns down the whole town!

U is for URANIUM... BOMBS!

N is for NO SURVIVORS...

       - Plankton

LSM

 

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