The Model Master II line of enamels would be a serious blow to military modelers because it covers a lot of different subjects. The numbers 2000-2100 are illustrated in the link below:
All of the RLM colors for Luftwaffe modelers, most of the base colors for armor modelers, and a lot for figure painters as well, are all potential candidates for being discontinued under the conditions reported. Perhaps not cause for “panic”, but arguably a point of concern.
How about it, FSM? Can our esteemed editors and forum moderators confirm or disprove the matter? Please, put those press connections into motion and put this to rest?
We had a discussion in a model club meeting last night on this subject. Some claim this is part of a movement to eliminate, eventually, all enamel paints. I love enamel- dislike acrylics- but I guess I should get on the ball and learn how to use them properly. I have used them a few times for flat finishes. I have been completely unsuccessful in getting a good gloss finish. I guess if I have to go to acrylics I will have to glosscoat everything I want glossy. Right now all the glosscoats I use are either enamel or lacquer- I hope a decent acrylic glosscoat exists
I imagine you’re right. I primarily use MM enamels as well. I wonder if they will increase their acrylic line with the discontinued enamel paints? If they are eventually moving away from enamels, I would love to see more variety with their acrylic line (specifically their automotive colours)
Not to beat a dead horse, but I did call Testors (Rustoleum) directly and they did confirm that they are in fact discontinuing the Model Master II enamel line (International Military and Figure).
We’ll see if this is a general shift from enamels to acrylic or perhaps the military colours were too specific and just didn’t sell well? Perhaps the average modeller is just fine with the colours offered in the standard MM lineup.
I find the MM auto enamels (bottle) selection is by far the greatest in the hobby. I hope they don’t move away from those.
That’s too bad. They discontinued multiple colors in the original MM enamel line, which was pretty much US centric. And the MM II line expanded that to new or old overlooked US colors as well as lots of great and needed international colors. Most of which, but not all, Humbrol thankfully has in their enamel line. When the dust settles, we shall see what is left.
Well, this move by Testors suck BIG TIME! I hate using acrylics specially their Acryl line so like stik , when the time comes I will be moving on to another brand. First they killed the Floquil line and now another one bites the dust.
And as for bulking up on paint, good luck. I have been noticing a steady decline of shelf life with the MM paints, some going bad after a year or even less. That didn’t happen with the older products.
The EU has far stricter regulations on those sorts of things, yet Revell, Humbrol, and Xtracolor all have enamel lines with no word of being discontinued.
Yes indeed . Black Chrome is an actual color . I must ask you to look at the black trim on new cars .Around the windows and things .You are looking , Not at satin or flat black or semi - Gloss black . It is indeed " Black Chrome " . Now as to MM acrylics .I have used them .I don’t ,Like the Tamiya line , Like them at all .
To get good coverage you have to have an airbrush .Try telling that to the directors of craft clinics at the V.A. No Airbrushing there ! ! So you tell me which are good for " brush spreadability " I have yet to find a good one .T.B.
With Testors pulling out their MM figures and military colours, it leaves them with around 116 MM enamel colours. I’m thinking they may just offer this as their basic modelling lineup for kids, casual modeller market. What’s weird though is their 1/4 ounce square bottle enamel lineup is roughly 88 colours, and is almost exactly the same as their MM lineup now. Their square bottle product was aimed at the casual market, while their MM lineup was aimed at the more serious modeller (with 250-300 colours at one point). Now, both products are essentially the same. Will they continue like that? Doesn’t make sense to keep both. Their acrylic lineup has around 150 colours.
Will be interesting to see what they eventually do. I’m guessing they will eventually get out of the enamel business and focus just on acrylic, but who knows?
The thing with MM, is being a car modeler, they had the best colour range for car modelers (enamels). If they get rid of those, then I’m not sure which brand I’ll switch to. Humbrol enamels may be the best alternative.
The Testors square bottle enamel line has only a handful of colors that match up with the Model Master colors. Especially the stuff for military exterior finish colors. Aside from Black, White, Yellow, Red, and Aluminum, Olive Drab is pretty much the only one in name and shade that is an exact match to a camouflage color. A few more are the same as certain camo colors but have different names: Flat Tan and Battle Gray being those. But beyond that, the military modeler is on their own…
Why not use rattle can colors by Rustoleum for your car kits? That’s what I used to use back in the day - except I spray in several light coats. Any Walmart, Lowes, Ace Hardware or any hardware store for that matter.
