SPA Modeler

I apologize if this subject has been discussed in length already. I'm kind of late to the game, as I only really model in the Fall/Winter time, and I still have a fairly good supply of Model Master enamels. But alas I discovered my bottle of Insignia Red dried up, and became a solid glob.

So I'm wondering from former Model Master users what they have replaced it with? I really like their enamel paint. I find most colors worked fine using a paint brush, or an airbrush, the thinning ratio I used was 2:1(paint to thinner)and it worked well every single time. I never had any issues using it. It worked well with the Testors clear coats in the spray cans, no adverse reactions there. Which I do sometimes get with Tamiya acrylics, just the white though. It's very strange. I also like the fact they had the FS numbers right on the bottle. Price was good as well, until of course they discontinued them, and now I've seen outrageous prices I'm not willing to pay. I just don't want to play the game of messing with another paint to get it down pat. Things are also a bit tight around this time of year, Hubby spends all his money on hunting. So is there anything out there enamel wise that would be pretty comparable to Model Master?

I'd like to find something to replace MM as well. I've used it, and Humbrol enamel, almost exclusively since I returned to this hobby back in the mid-80s. Like yourself, I've had few issues with it, other than an occasional bottle turning to "gel". I'll be watching this thread and eagerly waiting some suggestions. Thanks for posting this!

I like Mr Color paints with their leveling thinner 1:1 to airbrush. They cover well and can be brushed. MRP is another good one but it's airbrush only. I've used the Revell line of enamels (EMail color) a couple times and they are very nice. They come in tins like Humbrol. MegaHobby now carries them in the US.

I have a wide variety of paint brand in my stash - both acrylics & enamels. I still have Testors Model Master (again... acrylics & enamels) and the small square bottles colors.

Other brands:

Pollyscale

Aeromaster

Tamiya

Gunze/Mr. Color

Mission Model

Humbrol enamel - 3 or 4 colors. Great color selections but they come in small tins.

AK Interactive Real Colors - 2 colors

Vallejo - not Model Air. I rarely use them nowadays except their Off White which is a great match for D- Day stripes.

I ran out of Aeromaster Finland I.D. Yellow not too long ago and am having an issue to finding a close match. This color I use mostly for yellow wings aircrafts.

I’m still a die hard enamel fan as well. Humbrol is my #1 go to brand there, and they do have an extensive color selection. But learning to work with their tins is a bit of a learning curve. I’ve also worked a bit with Revell enamels, which are now supposedly being imported into the US. I’ve liked them as well, but they also come in the little tinlets. The key to using both brands is stirring them thoroughly in the tin, to insure proper mixing. Revell has a smaller color selection than Humbrol, but when you combine the two, you have a really comprehensive line!
Lastly, there is always the 1/4 oz. square bottle Testors enamels. Certain of their older colors are great matches for ANA & FS colors such as insignia red, insignia/chrome yellow, true blue, olive drab, sand, and neutral gray.
Now if I can just find a few more tins of their Universal Enamel Airbrush Thinner…

For brush painting vallejo is the best. For airbrush Tamiya, Mr. Hobby and AK real color all thinned with Mr. Leveling thinner

Stikpusher wrote:I’m still a die hard enamel fan as well. Humbrol is my #1 go to brand there, and they do have an extensive color selection. But learning to work with their tins is a bit of a learning curve. I’ve also worked a bit with Revell enamels, which are now supposedly being imported into the US. I’ve liked them as well, but they also come in the little tinlets. The key to using both brands is stirring them thoroughly in the tin, to insure proper mixing. Revell has a smaller color selection than Humbrol, but when you combine the two, you have a really comprehensive line!
Lastly, there is always the 1/4 oz. square bottle Testors enamels. Certain of their older colors are great matches for ANA & FS colors such as insignia red, insignia/chrome yellow, true blue, olive drab, sand, and neutral gray.
Now if I can just find a few more tins of their Universal Enamel Airbrush Thinner…

from me - and that's not just because I'm English and they're the home team!

I do miss brush painting with enamels, I do love my Hataka acrylics, but I miss that old school vibe of a pot of enamel, you can't beat the smell - not that my family would agree with me on that, which is why I stopped using them. But as Stik says, they're good paints (hopefully better now they've been reformulated and made in the UK) and they have a really big range.

They have a really useful colour chart if you needed - I have a hard copy which lives on my bench. If you look they might have a good signal red replacement.

https://uk.humbrol.com/support-and-advi ... -wallchart

As an aside, as good as their enamels are, their acrylics have never been the best. However they're just bringing out their 'series 2' acrylics which sound like they might be good, I'm looking forward to trying some.

Floki wrote:For brush painting vallejo is the best. For airbrush Tamiya, Mr. Hobby and AK real color all thinned with Mr. Leveling thinner

I have to agree with you there. I have a ton of Vallejo but it sprays like crap so I use it all for brush painting. I started using AK Real Air colors and I love them. They're lacquers though.

My only gripe with hand brushing Vallejo Model Color is that primer is an absolute must. Otherwise the paint adheres poorly to the plastic. On the other hand, enamels do not require primer for hand brushing to styrene and tolerate handling quite well once dry and cured. Vallejo, not so well.

Agreed, that's one of the reasons I miss painting with enamels - mind you, when I finally get my AB set up at the new house, that's what I'll be using.