What happened with my humbrol?

[Hulk]

Hey guys

Yesterday I opened a new jar of Humbrol Black Matt #33. I mixed up for a will, but when I applied it (handbrushed), it was very too much liquid and it applied too wet and could not get a nice coat on my parts. I also add this problem with Humbrol Crimson #20.

Is it just because I dont mix it enough in the jar, or my jar just separate and it's scrap.

Thanks for the advises.

Hulk

[SERNAK]

Hey guys

Yesterday I opened a new jar of Humbrol Black Matt #33. I mixed up for a will, but when I applied it (handbrushed), it was very too much liquid and it applied too wet and could not get a nice coat on my parts. I also add this problem with Humbrol Crimson #20.

Is it just because I dont mix it enough in the jar, or my jar just separate and it's scrap.

Thanks for the advises.

Hulk

Hi Hulk and welcome to the forum.

From what you're describing you have applied the paint (Hu33) directly from the jar. Now, this is something you should avoid doing it because these colors are not ready to be applied. What you should do is to take a small quantity of thinner - preferably Humbrol's thinner - and mix it with the paint on a different jar or, you could do it even on a beer cap (depending on the scale of the surface you want to paint).

When I first started with scale modelling, a friend of mine suggested a technique which was quite helpful when I was painting with a brush. What you do is dip the brush in a jar that contains paint thinner; lightly wipe off most of the thinner from the brush; and then dip your brush in the paint's jar up to the middle. Then just take it and apply it on the surface you want to paint and stroke it just a couple of times. This way, you will get an even painted surface.

Sernak

[Neo]

i brush on Humbrol strait from the tin and works great too

i would say you did not stirr it enouph

best thing i discovered are Tamiya stiring spoons they really do magic. Humbrol often creates a crust at the bottom of the thin that you need to break up and stirr into the paint

[Hawk10]

I've used Humbrol enamel paints forever and don't remember ever having a problem like you describe. From your description, it sounds like the paint needs more stirring or shakeing (depending on your preferences).

[Richard M]

Is this Humbrol acrylic or enamel?

[Hulk]

I used humbrol emanel since always and never got this problem before. I know that I have to stirr it, I've restarted shaking and stirring for a good 10 minutes, it's get better but still give me a more glossy look than my previous jar of flat black, but I think that after maybe 3 or 4 coats it should look ok.

Thanks for the advises

Hulk

[breadneck]

First things first. Yes Hulk, this happened because you did not "stir it up" enough. This applies to most all Humbrol 14ml enamel tinlets. I always start with a new tinlet by shaking it really vigorously for 2 whole minutes (or throw it in the laundry machine inside a pair of tucked socks etc (if you dare) :wacko:/>/> No Humbrol tinlet is ever 100% ready to use so to speak.

One thing i would like to say to you. When opening a completely new tinlet, have a portion of your central work space cleaned out/empty of other stuff. After the shaking process, sit the tinlet down in the middle and with one hand, restrain the tinlet with lots of force/strength and start to stir it up really slowly but vigorously and do your best to get all that gooey stuff mixed into the rest of the paint. This has to be done with some serious comittement. The reason you need to hold on tightly to the tinlet is so it won`t slip or spill etc. If you have some Humbrol thinner or similar thinners, it will really help loosening up the actual colour pigments or "mud" in the bottom of the jar. This substance must be mixed thoroughly into the blend! The Humbrol matt 33 is not always easy to get a decent matt colour from. Say you do not mix it properly, and the finish may come out looking like gloss black. Even after mixing the black 33, it may still not become perfectly matt. When i paint tires, i try to use tamiya acrylic for the best matt black effect. Still you should be able to get a good matt colour from the Humbrol 33. It just may be a bit more of a challenge.

When painting, try to place your tinlets a good distance away from the area where your hands are most likely to be swiveling about when building, painting etc. This way you`ll avoid any unwanted spills from accidental hand movements (so you have to reach a bit for the tinlet;-) Seems logic i hope!

One last remarque: Try to clean up the lid after use. These tinlets are notorious for building up layers of old dried paint residue clogging the airtight seal of the tinlets. As long as you do this, you will be able to close the lid without any air seeping through, and in the long run avoid ruining your enamel paint (having it dry up)

Edited January 16, 2013 by breadneck