My Kingdom for Enamel Primer and thinner - Death of Model Masters

[Hoth_902]

As luck would have it, I find myself in possession of more Enamel Model Master Paints than I really would like to admit. Sadly, my Primer was contaminated and ruined, so I am on borrowed time with about half a container of thinned out Enamel Primer. Thank you so very much Rust-olium. O how I hate you for killing the line. So let me cut to the chase....

What other manufacturer makes Enamel Paints and products? Specifically, primer and thinner.. In the future I probably will need enamel clear coats as well.

[madman]

Humbrol. Although it is dubious how long it may stay available. For thinner and cleaner I use hardware store lacquer thinner. They do have a primer. I knew the MM range has been reduced lately but haven't hear they were RIP now. Down to one make. I always found MM enamels died quickly. I have to take greater care now.

[Hoth_902]

Is Humbrol going away as well?

As for Model Masters, I was on a site where some one Posted a response from Testors. Its shown below.

"Testors Thank you for reaching out. As a manufacturer of paint products, we have a long history of producing hobby kits and supplies. To that, we are evolving our strategy to focus more keenly on Testors, our flagship brand and are discontinuing our Pactra, Aztek, and Model Master Brands as the demand for these products continue to decline."

I am not sure how the Model Masters product has declined enough to discontinue, but I don work there. As for how long it lasts, it really depends on how well the bottle was sealed. My white primer was an unopened bottle and it started to clump up and no amount of Thinner has made it usable. Same thing happen with some gunmetal color. However, my grey primer i am using right now was a bottle that was thinned for airbrush use and the remaining amount in the container it came in, that was last used 10 years ago and still good. Just used it to prime up some buildings two days ago. Over all I have had good results with most of the paint I buy from model Masters.. or did buy!!!! Anyway, that is spilled milk under the bridge.

Ultimately I am making a move to Acrylics.. but I have a ton of enamels to burn through before I fully switch.

[Brigade Commander]

Same with Model Masters acrylics. Everything I have already painted of my brigade is in FS34079 which MM called Dark Green. It is already gone. There are many, oh so very many, rude names that should be thrown at Rustoleum. Have 127 vehicles left from a previous order and 321 vehicles in the next order with an unresolved issue of what paint to use. Alas, both Tamiya acrylics I have tested are not even close. So the corporate creeps at Rustoleum have put finishing my units on hold for a spell.

*****Dr. Evil has nothing on the Rustoleum Corporation.*****

[Hoth_902]

I am in the same boat. I have only a little bit of color left for the some of the vehicles I have. I am not totally put off by one company having a slightly different color compared to another company.. I think for game pieces, it adds an element of realism. However, I would like to make this decision, not taken out of my hand.. Plus, It is pushing me to finish up some vehicles.. Most are based coated and camo'ed. They are getting nicked up and if I don't touch them up and seal them.. I may never be able to touch them up without the color being off in spots.

I will tell you from the bottom of my heart, I will do all I can to find an alternative to Rustoleum product. I will survive but not happy with it.

[Brigade Commander]

I am in the same boat. I have only a little bit of color left for the some of the vehicles I have. I am not totally put off by one company having a slightly different color compared to another company.. I think for game pieces, it adds an element of realism. However, I would like to make this decision, not taken out of my hand.. Plus, It is pushing me to finish up some vehicles.. Most are based coated and camo'ed. They are getting nicked up and if I don't touch them up and seal them.. I may never be able to touch them up without the color being off in spots.

I will tell you from the bottom of my heart, I will do all I can to find an alternative to Rustoleum product. I will survive but not happy with it.

I hate to admit this but after trying different hobby paints trying to get a match I went to Sherwin-Williams and had them use their paint match scanner and got their smallest can of acrylic paint matched. It really matched the color! I painted up five vehicles and put them side-by-side with the original color. Match!! But the paint is thinner, I guess would be the right term. I had to use a second coat. The two coats covered like a single coat of MM and did not cover the details any more. Still when the container is sixty times the size it becomes a major project to do any painting at all. So I never progressed beyond the five test vehicles. It is just sitting on the shelf. Back to trying to figure out where the next hobby paint to test will be found.

[chrisswim]

Try Hobby Lobby for MM paints.

[Brigade Commander]

Try Hobby Lobby for MM paints.

It was not in the local store, again, so I ordered from them online and that was when I learned it was discontinued. Tried several online hobby stores and was excited to see my order went through at one of them. Next morning I received "The Call." "We are sorry but we cannot get that paint anymore." It seems they do not have any inventory of their own. So much for internet stores.

[Hoth_902]

Brigade Commander,
Nice on using the Sherwin Williams. I airbrush, my base coats, so the fact that its thinner is probably not as much of a big deal. In addition, touch ups would not be a big deal if I have to do several layers. I actually heard of someone using house paint for there buildings.. he said he would ask for a sample and they would give it to them in a small container. Not sure if he said he got it for free or if there was some nominal charge. This person even said he ran it through his airbrush with no issues... hmmm..

Chrisswim,
I have a Hobby Town and a Hobby lobby in my area. The Hobby town use to have a huge selection of Model Masters but the display shelves are empty. When asked about it.. the kid there said that he thought it was because overseas deliveries are slow.. I already knew the answer to a degree. Funny his manager or the guy that orders, did not clue him in.. O well. What is left in both locations does not help me get another bottle of Nato Tri color Green or gunmetal... I will go over there this week and see if they have the primer. LOoked on line and did not see anything at a reasonable price.

[chrisswim]

I thought that the MM line was being scratched. My belief currently is reducing the line keeping the most profitable line items (SKU)
I just bought Dark Green and Olive Drab spray.cans. SAC green & SAC Tan among others seem to be gone, can and bottle.

[Hoth_902]

The whole kit and kabboodle is done and dusted.