Can anyone ID this paint please???

Those front three are Pactra Pla Enamels.

Those are long gone, but, back in the day that they were sold head to head with the Testors square bottles in the background, they were the "first choice" of modelers (at least the teenagers in the sixties)

I hoarded Pactra Olive, and bought every bottle I saw back then, for use on my tanks, aircraft bombs and any USAAF aircraft I might have built.

Those two bottles on the left came in glass or plastic at different times, they are the bottles the old timers are talking about when we mention "grenade pattern" or "pineapple bottles"

If you have some Testors Airbrush Thinner, you can rejuvenate those Pactra paints if they are liquid at all, even if they are pretty thick.

Rex

That's it, TarnShip!

My favorite "go-to" paint back in the '60's & '70's, also. They had some unique colors, including a really good shade for RLM 70 called Black Green (which I still have a bottle of). I was basically "forced" to switch to Testor's MM paints in the '80's when I couldn't find Pactra paint at my LHS anymore. One thing I WILL say for Pactra paints is that they seem to last (almost) forever; I have some older bottles of Pactra paint that have to be at least 30 years old, and they're still usable; all I have to do is add some thinner every once in a while and they're as good as new. Can't say that about Testor's MM paints. In fact, certain shades only seem to last a few months before they start to congeal and go bad (the lighter colors seem to be the worst). Whenever possible, I'll purchase the smaller 1/4-oz. bottles so that I'm wasting as little paint as possible, instead of the larger 1/2-oz. bottles.

Boy, I haven't seen that stuff in decades!

Brings back old memories!  It also was packaged in a small, tall, skinny bottle with a brush in the cap.  Reminded me of how nail polish was sold.  I am amazed that it is still useable.  I think I last used it in the 50's!

That Pactra enamel that's still viable probably had the good stuff in it, lead and mercury!  I have some Testors enamel in the 1/4 oz. bottles that still says .29 on the top of the cap, heck, it may say .19, I'd have to check for sure.  That stuff must be from about '65 or '66, maybe 1967 at the latest.  I believe it might still could be used with a bit of judicious thinning!?!?

Gary

Lead and Mercury are natural elements, and there ain't nothin' wrong with them!  Just don't eat 'em, that's all you have to worry about!

If I recall correctly Pactra was cheaper than Testors.

Another competitor's paint line that Testors eventually bought up and discontinued. They had some great colors that I miss to this day as no one else makes them... Oh for a time machine and a stack of $20 bills to visit certain old hobby shops that are long gone and bring back what I miss...

I seem to recall some bottles labeled "Testor's Pla", which indicates that perhaps Testor's gobbled up Pactra / Pla long ago.

Cadet Chuck

I seem to recall some bottles labeled "Testor's Pla", which indicates that perhaps Testor's gobbled up Pactra / Pla long ago.

Yes, I remember those as well, had some of the same at one time.

mitsdude

If I recall correctly Pactra was cheaper than Testors.

 I recall the same and pactra was in light plastic bottles while Testor's was in thick glass bottles, and I think Pactra actually had more paint in theirs, so it was a double win: lower price and more paint.  

I used to buy Pactra all the time in the drug store, it was about all they had.  I still have some left including what could pass for desert pink because I had intended to do a couple aircraft from the area my Father was in early in the war, especially the Strawberry *** that had arrived at the A.F. museum.  Shame I just never got aroundto it.  It appears that all the paint in still useable.

ikar01

It appears that all the paint in still useable.

That's one of two things I remember about Pactra: even opened bottles seemed to last forever, staying good to the last drop of paint.

The other was the odd fruity smell.

gregbale

 That's one of two things I remember about Pactra: even opened bottles seemed to last forever, staying good to the last drop of paint.

The other was the odd fruity smell.

 

I seem to recall the shape of the inside of the bottle matched the outside and was not easy to mix/stir down in the bottom corners.

I still have one bottle of Pactra and yes, it's still good. :)

Yes thet are Pactra paint. they were bought up by testerss and kept them for a few years then fased them out. I remember them from when my dad worked at a hobby shop. Theywere cheaper than testers . Boy does that bring back memories.