listen folks it’s a done deal, Model Master is Gone! As we used to say in the Corps " Suck It Up" NO, really it is sad. Why, Because so many of us found the perfect American Made paints that covered our needs( Models). I have tried many of the alternates and I gotta tell you I am not satisfied. I hate Acrylics anyway, whether it is Enamel( Covers lousy) or Lacquer(Will lift some Primers) and the gamut in general.
My shop was set up for enamels and I had hundreds of dollars of ModelMaster paints. Still have some but one of my all time favorites was Their Rust. Perfect for ship bottoms. Now that said I did try ONE of their Acrylics that cleaned up with water. The Model Master “Acrylic Semi Gloss Black”. I can still get the Rust.I just have to be there when H.L puts it out. In the little bottles of course. Maybe they will make more money this way?
I was amazed at how well it brushed and covered.The rest ? BLAH! What I am hoping is this.Testors/Rustoleum will see the error of their ways and bring the colors back in the little bottles. I promise you, I will not hold my breath though. I still have Humbrol . See, this is like the thing the model RailRoaders had some years back when FLOQUIL dropped out and went away. They have survived and we will too.
It is NOT gone. They have greatly reduced the number of colors, and call them by generic names. I suspect the military terms limited their sale to crafters of other genres. They have new colors, especially metals, and are expanding their lacquer paints. HLs have a free flyer on their new lines. In fact, the flyer has a HL copyright mark and web site on it.
Some folks must learn to mix colors, but that seems to be the only problem.
Why mix colors, when other brands sell the color needed? Farewell Testors Rustoleum. Revell paints are due in North America and will fill the void for enamels.
I don’t mind mixing colors. Over the years I have accidently mixed some weird ones I used anyway on Custom Cars. Folks loved them. Besides you can be surprised.
I had a bottle of Testors " Beret Green" Flat. On the paper model I am working on ,the bottom was a strange dark, But NOT Olive green. I mixed five standard drops of Black Flat and Viola" The color I needed.
I used to think that mixing the paint was as much fun as building the model. Especially when it matched the colors indicated in the Photos or Colored drawings.
The former Revell Germany sold enamels in Europe for years. I suspect they chose not to export them to the U.S. due to Model Master’s dominance in the U.S. market. But now . . .
I don’t mind mixing colors in small amounts, such as for figures. But for a large subject, say perhaps an overall 36640 1/32 F-14, it’s nice to have exactly what I need on a paint rack. No worries about messing up the paint ratios while mixing.
Now if Testors goes the Vallejo route and gives a funky name, along with RAL and FS numbers on the label of their new line in the cases when the color matches those standards, I’ll give ‘em a try.
don, testors has confirmed that the entire model master line is discontinued, both enamel and acrylic. This has been confirmed a number of times by testors, in this forum and other forums as well. They will only be selling their traditional little testors enamel bottles and enamel sprays. Model master Auto lacquers were discontinued as well.
the Lacquer paints you are referring to are the testers extreme lacquers that have been around for years
if hobby lobby is selling mm paints, it’s current stock and will be gone once that stock is done
I enjoy the heck out of mixing paints and good thing I do since I use Tamiya paints. I keep all my empty Tamiya bottles and use those for colors I mix up that I know I will use again. Doing it this way allows me to stick with just one paint brand, which I’m sure saves me money, not having to buy multiple brands of paint.
Or, did Rustoleum sell the Testors brand to HL? Why would HL create and publish their brochure on Testors paint if they only leftover stock? My local HL still has the flyers. Check out the flyer at your local store.
Unfortunately, we don’t have a Hobby Lobby up here in Canada.
All I know is that Rustoleum has discontinued the entire Modelmaster line. I went on Hobby Lobby’s website and see lots of Modelmaster paints, so I’m assuming they are selling whatever they have left.
Is the brochure about Modelmaster paints, or Testors? Again, Rustoleum has confirmed they are staying with the Testors line, just not MM.
Anyway, thanks for the information on Hobby Lobby Don. Apologies about doubting your information, but because I don’t have access to Hobby Lobby, I have to depend on your description of the brochure.
It does make me wish that we had Hobby Lobby’s up here in Canada though!
Hobby Lobby is ok. It’s nowhere near as good as most any real hobby shop, but it’s better than nothing. In a very large store, only a single aisle is for scale plastic modeling of all genres. Sort of like the model aisles in a large department store‘s toy department once upon a time. Selection is limited.
Listen, I have to agree with you. And parts of that is 1/64 and such Hot Wheel type and Johnny Lightning stuff along with the Diecast stuff. Their tool section is a little better but it took years. The Vallejo and other lines of acrylic have loads of colors. Many Translucent!
Those “annoying little tins” will keep your paint useable far longer than the leaky screw caps used by many paint manufacturers. I have some 55-year-old Humbrol enamel in tins, and it is as fresh as the day it left the factory.
Yup. My oldest Humbrols are about 32 years old now. And still great in those tins. My Revell paints in tins are only a bit over 20 years old now. And going strong.
That’s awesome! Had no idea any paint could last that long. Gotta believe having the same tin of paint around for 20+ years it’s not a color you use much.
I discovered Humbrol some 60 years ago and mail ordered some from the UK - Dark Green, Dark Earth, Sky, etc. - for RAF aircraft models. Those tins were used up years ago, but I’ve been replacing my supply from new old stocks as I find it and now have over 600 tins. It’s like vintage wine!