Whose Paint Do We Use Now?

[Pete Steinmetz]

After the initial shock of the Testors announcement wore off, I started thinking. 

What brand will modelers use now?

Scalecoat
True-Color
Star Brand
True Line Trains

Model Flex (Not a fan)

Humbrol
AK Interactive
MIG Productions
Life Color
Tamiya

Did I miss any?

Pete Steinmetz

[kalbert]

Valejo. The military and figurine modelers seem to like that stuff, I see the chain craft store here carries some of it now so I may give it a try.

[wcfn100]

Valejo. The military and figurine modelers seem to like that stuff, I see the chain craft store here carries some of it now so I may give it a try.

That's probably where I'll go.  I don't know if the Academy and Fort Carson make Springs a big military modeling town, but Vallejo paint is readily available.

The big question is how much time and money will it take to get the colors mixed right.


Jason

[C855B]

Scalecoat here, both I and II; I haven't used Floquil for years. I have my concerns about long-term availability since it's solvent-based. Also the product's fade-out then fade-back-in after Weaver acquired them has me on edge slightly.

I like Dave V's idea to get closest colors in craft paint lines for things (like buildings) that aren't critical matches.

[jdcolombo]

Agree that for buildings and so forth, I'll just use whatever is available that looks OK.

I don't paint much rolling stock any more, since I've pretty much reached the layout saturation point.  Will probably try Tru-Color if I need a specific RR color; I've always used water-based paints in the past (PollyScale has been my recent favorite), but also have always had a bottle of Dullcoat, which is solvent-based lacquer.  So moving to a solvent-based paint won't bother me.  I'll adjust.  It isn't the end of the world here - lots of options, and if Testors' exit means an opening for a smaller manufacturer, all the better.

John C.

[VonRyan]

Be wary of Humbrol. Their Brunswick Green is entirely different from the Brunswick Green we know and love (unless you know and love the much lighter, UK version)


-Cody F.

[kalbert]

I just found that Vallejo has a 9 piece set just for us! I couldn't find much info on it on their website, but here's a link that says what's in the box. Sounds like there's stuff in their catalog that will work for me anyway, maybe change is a good thing?

http://www.scalehobbyist.com/manufacturers/Vallejo_Acrylics/Paints/VLJ00073099/product.php?man=tam

[Puddington]

True Line Trains has many Canadian colours....don't know who makes em however so..... ?

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I've been using Polly Scale for years now, I like that it is acrylic, and I've had very good luck brush painting with it.

I'm really at a loss for what to do from here on. Mixing my own every time is just annoying and really something that I don't want to have to do every time I need to paint something.

I really wish some other manufacturer would step in and fill the massive void that Testors is leaving by axing this really important stuff.

[ljudice]

Been using Scalecoat forever - with the exception of Polyscale RR Tie Brown, I don't think I've bought any Testor's stuff in ages - except for some of their other hobby paints where I was not matching RR stuff per-se.

But frankly, I've sort of lost interest in painting and decaling anyway, so this is not a huge personal loss.

I feel badly for a lot of folks who've used and depended on this stuff for ages.

[johnhale]

I'm with Ed. I shoot acrylic almost exclussively, and have no desire to move my primary paint back to solvents.

I shoot both, and can say that I much prefer acrylic from an ease of use, cleanup and speed of drying perspective. I know some folks are going to say "solvents are just as easy and look better", *BS* I have shot both for 20 years, and there is no comparision in the factors I listed. 

I will have to find a new acrylic "goto" paint.

John

[Ed Kapuscinski]

But frankly, I've sort of lost interest in painting and decaling anyway, so this is not a huge personal loss.

The thing though, is that it's not even "from scratch" projects that this hoses.

I've got a Reading GP35 that needed its handrails painted (it's from the dark ages) and rain gutters added. I went to MBK, grabbed a bottle of Reading Yellow and Reading Green and I was good to go.

Now, in this brave new world, I'd have to go grab... I don't even know what, and then custom mix some paint, and make sure to take copious notes so that if I have to touch it up at some later point, I can recreate my original mix.

So even if you're not painting from scratch, the second you need to touch up some detail parts, you're fscked.

[SD452XR]

What options do we have for primer now? 

[Pete Steinmetz]

What options do we have for primer now? 

Tamiya Grey Primer

[Pete Steinmetz]

True Line Trains has many Canadian colours....don't know who makes em however so..... ?

RPM makes True Line Trains Paint.  Guess what RPM is Testor.  Don't know how they will be affected.  I sent an E Mail to True Line Trains asking.