Paint Poll

[Geoff M]

There is always a bunch of questions/problems about paints on the forum.  Lets find out where most people are put there paint money.

[Camus272]

Just to clarify: Model Master was my favorite, but in it's demise I've gone to lacquers - primarily MRP, but also AK, and the I'm not disappointed at all, as the performance all around is much better. There are downsides however, color accuracy is not on the level of MM and there's no way to know until you get a color, and availability is a pain.  For basic colors I've increased use of Tamiya.

[Chuck1945]

Your choices leave some gaps/confusion. For example Tamiya and Gunze each have two series acrylic paints with one line that is alcohol based and one that is solvent based. Hataka has both water based and solvent based acrylics as does AK and MRP. If for example I choose Gunze and acrylic, does that count as solvent or alcohol acrylic?

[Ken Cartwright]

14 hours ago, Camus272 said:

Just to clarify: Model Master was my favorite, but in it's demise I've gone to lacquers - primarily MRP, but also AK, and the I'm not disappointed at all, as the performance all around is much better. There are downsides however, color accuracy is not on the level of MM and there's no way to know until you get a color, and availability is a pain.  For basic colors I've increased use of Tamiya.

Yes, same here with Model Master paints - they had the right colors, were durable, and easy to apply and clean up.  I really miss them.  I've switched largely to Tamiya paints now - they are easy to use and clean up, and are durable, but they don't have as good of a color selection.

[phantom]

Agree with the Model Master. Still have at least 100 bottles of various colours. Next....whatever the local hobby store has in stock.

[Geoff M]

20 hours ago, Chuck1945 said:

Your choices leave some gaps/confusion. For example Tamiya and Gunze each have two series acrylic paints with one line that is alcohol based and one that is solvent based. Hataka has both water based and solvent based acrylics as does AK and MRP. If for example I choose Gunze and acrylic, does that count as solvent or alcohol acrylic?

I understand the poll has some fundamental flaws.  It is not scientifically based.  But we can see where people are putting their money when it comes to buying hobby paint. 

Thanks for your reply.

[Geoff M]

Interesting to see that Model Master has a 20% capture for a paint that hasn't been produced for around 10 years.  I know that I still have 20 to 30 bottles that are still good after all these years.

 

Edited August 8, 2024 by Geoff M

[A-10 LOADER]

25 minutes ago, Geoff M said:

Interesting to see that Model Master has a 20% capture for a paint that hasn't been produced for around 10 years.  I know that I still have 20 to 30 bottles that are still good after all these years.

 

A few of my oldest bottles are dated 1997 and, they are as fresh as the day they were made.

Since MM is all I use for my basic colors, I stocked up when I heard the rumors of them being discontinued, so glad I did.

Steve

 

 

[Rando]

The last question I could give two answers--ease of use and durability, but you could make the case that durability falls under ease of use. There's nothing more frustrating than trying to mask something off only for the tape to lift paint under it, which is why I moved on from Mission Models. Alcohol/lacquer based acrylics give me no trouble, ever.

 

I also picked Gunze as my "favorite" but Tamiya is like 1B to 1A. Their main drawback to me is they don't have certain specific colors in their range like Gunze does, but they're also way more available. 

 

Thanks for the poll Geoff, it's cool to see what people like for their paints and why. Can be helpful for new modelers too!

[Ken Cartwright]

2 hours ago, A-10 LOADER said:

A few of my oldest bottles are dated 1997 and, they are as fresh as the day they were made.

Since MM is all I use for my basic colors, I stocked up when I heard the rumors of them being discontinued, so glad I did.

Steve

 

 

I'm jealous! 🙂

[Geoff M]

On 8/7/2024 at 5:41 AM, Camus272 said:

Just to clarify: Model Master was my favorite, but in it's demise I've gone to lacquers - primarily MRP, but also AK, and the I'm not disappointed at all, as the performance all around is much better. There are downsides however, color accuracy is not on the level of MM and there's no way to know until you get a color, and availability is a pain.  For basic colors I've increased use of Tamiya.

Pretty much where I settled too.  I "grew up" using Model Master and got the best out them by thinning a lot.  When they went away I thought at first of going with acrylics to be "safer".  I tried Mission Models and Vallejo Air.  My painting methods involve lots of masking and these did not hold up to it.  That left lacquers.  I have been using Mr Color lacquers for several year now.  I trashed the Mission Models and I use Vallejo Air for brush painting small stuff.  I like their drip style bottles.  I am still looking for the best metallic paints.  I have been using Alclad but it is not masking friendly.  

Edited August 8, 2024 by Geoff M

[Geoff M]

4 hours ago, A-10 LOADER said:

A few of my oldest bottles are dated 1997 and, they are as fresh as the day they were made.

Since MM is all I use for my basic colors, I stocked up when I heard the rumors of them being discontinued, so glad I did.

Steve

 

 

That is too organized to be a real hobby room.  Must be a hobby museum! 😁

[A-10 LOADER]

3 hours ago, Geoff M said:

That is too organized to be a real hobby room.  Must be a hobby museum! 😁

😆

I'm very fortunate, this is my paint room with the spray booth. I have another room where I do my building.

Steve

[Camus272]

On 8/8/2024 at 9:24 AM, Geoff M said:

Interesting to see that Model Master has a 20% capture for a paint that hasn't been produced for around 10 years.  I know that I still have 20 to 30 bottles that are still good after all these years.

 

Model Master went out of production in April 2020 (although colors were being cut since at least 2017). I bought what I could in 2020 and my stock is probably at least as big as what I've used in the last 40 years.

[A-10 LOADER]

On 8/21/2024 at 1:31 AM, Camus272 said:

Model Master went out of production in April 2020 (although colors were being cut since at least 2017). I bought what I could in 2020 and my stock is probably at least as big as what I've used in the last 40 years.

Smart man.

 

Steve

[Drifterdon]

Wondering if anyone else is paying the rediculous prices on evilbay for MM paints.   I am.   Same with certain Floquil paints.

[Geoff M]

I pretty much avoid that site after a few bad experiences, not related to this hobby.

 

[A-10 LOADER]

2 hours ago, Drifterdon said:

Wondering if anyone else is paying the rediculous prices on evilbay for MM paints.   I am.   Same with certain Floquil paints.

What's your idea of a ridiculous price ?

 

Steve

[Drifterdon]

5 minutes ago, A-10 LOADER said:

What's your idea of a ridiculous price ?

 

Steve

$10-15 per jar with a $4-5 shipping along with tax that the bay now charges you.

[A-10 LOADER]

2 hours ago, Drifterdon said:

$10-15 per jar with a $4-5 shipping along with tax that the bay now charges you.

Yeah, no way I'd pay that much.

When I heard the rumblings a few years ago that MM was going away I went thru my entire stash, @ 23 kits, and checked all the FS color call outs in the instructions. Then I went thru my paints and whatever color I thought I would need more of I order them by the 6 pack from SprueBros. At my age, 61 and the slow rate that I build at,  I should have plenty of paint for the kits that I have and, I already know that I will not build all of them.

 

Steve

Edited September 13, 2024 by A-10 LOADER

[Drifterdon]

22 minutes ago, A-10 LOADER said:

Yeah, no way I'd pay that much.

When I heard the rumblings a few years ago that MM was going away I went thru my entire stash @ 23 kits and checked all the FS color call outs in the instructions. Then I went thru my paints and whatever color I thought I would need more of I order them by the 6 pack from SprueBros. At my age, 61 and the slow rate that I build at,  I should have plenty of paint for the kits that I have and, I already know that I will not build all of them.

 

Steve

I tried to do that with my LHS and they were already out of most of what I was after.

[Spectre711]

I always loved using the Model Master enamel paints and they worked extremely well for me.  I'm still trying to something that is as easy to work with.

 

Xtracolor and Humbrol would be a close second but Xtra is had to get here and I'm not fond of the little tins for both.

Edited November 9, 2024 by Spectre711

[southwestforests]

I had to stop using enamels and lacquers in the 1980s for health reasons.

Had been using Testors and Pactra enamels.

Had known about Polly Scale and was already using some of their colors, military, fantasy, railroad.

So I moved completely to PollyScale.

Then Tamiya acrylics became available around 1983 to 85.

Fell in love with them.

 

Fast forward to early 2000s ...

For some unknown reason my body began to tolerate enamels again.

Classic solvent lacquers are still a bit chancey.

 

In the meantime a number of non-solvent paints came in to being in various hobby genres.

Being somewhat in to miniatures games and model ships I purchased some water-soluble paints from those makers too.

 

As of this point on the calendar. I have water-soluble, or at least water cleanup, paints from several manufacturers in several hobby categories.

Guess it can be said that those are my main paint type.

Have not tried Tamiya's other paint types.

Still have a few bottles remaining of the few Model Master enamels.

Have acquired a nice assortment of classic Testors quarterfloz enamels; there are some specific things I like them for & it is a factor to be once again using the paints from the old days.

 

I only airbrush water soluble/cleanup paints.

I like that Tamiya acrylics can be easily removed with isopropyl alcohol.

Sure wish PollyScale was still around.

[strikeeagle801]

I'm in the majority here...I "grew up" on Model Master too, and I miss them. I have a few colors still hanging around...Went to open up a Chrome Silver the other day and the top is completely cemented on. Could not get it off to save my life. I have transferred to Mr. Paint for a lot of what I do. They are on the expensive side, and I have to order them from Spruebrothers, but they hold up well, they have the colors that I need, and they last for quite a while. I do all of my airbrushing outside, so the fumes don't bother me. The local Hobbytown carries Tamiya acrylics, so I use a lot of them too, because they are available. They just got in the MiG ATOM line, and I've picked up a couple of them. They seem to be good for brush painting, but the one time I tried to airbrush, I could not get them to work...Maybe I did not thin them enough, even though I went just about 50/50 thinner to paint. I'll try again soon. 

 

Aaron 

Edited November 10, 2024 by strikeeagle801