Airfix

[kitnut617]

I'm not sure I'm in the right thread for this question, but Humbrol was part of Airfix. Not sure of their status now though. Mods, please move this if I'm in the wrong place.

For my 'Out of Retirement' GB build, I'm going to use satin black. I bought a brand new tinlet of Humbrol 85 to do it. But there seems to be a problem with it, it's too glossy. Has anyone bought very recently a new tinlet of this paint, and had the same problem. Humbrol seem to have reverted back from the tin lid being the colour of the paint to using those little paper stickys pressed into the lid top if this helps identify what type it is.

[Dizzyfugu]

Not recently, but my latest 85 lacks opacity and dries up unevenly, it takes several days to cure properly. I have issues with 22 at the moment (Gloss White): even in brand new tins, the pigments seem to clog together in a lump, a process which cannot be stopped, even with Humbrol thinner. Total rubbish.

[zenrat]

For reliable satinnicity (real word, honest) I will never trust the paint, preferring to rely on the known satinness (also a real word) of my trusty satin clear.

There's a delay on the MiG 17, something about supply issues, shipping, blah blah.  But Jamal Islam of IPMS Somalia is very happy with the container load he's got.

Shame, I'm looking forward to this, so many options for it.

Me too, but as they won't reach us here for at least six months I will have to satisfy my cravings with either a KP or Hasegawa radar nosed example.

[PR19_Kit]

I'm not sure I'm in the right thread for this question, but Humbrol was part of Airfix. Not sure of their status now though. Mods, please move this if I'm in the wrong place.

For my 'Out of Retirement' GB build, I'm going to use satin black. I bought a brand new tinlet of Humbrol 85 to do it. But there seems to be a problem with it, it's too glossy. Has anyone bought very recently a new tinlet of this paint, and had the same problem. Humbrol seem to have reverted back from the tin lid being the colour of the paint to using those little paper stickys pressed into the lid top if this helps identify what type it is.

Humbrol still is part of the Hornby empire at the moment, yes.

As for their Satin Black, I won't touch it with a barge pole frankly. I had EXACTLY the same problem as you did Robert, but mine never really dried properly, and the only solution was either to strip it all off or give it a coat of Klear, so it ended up glossy anyway! 

My preferred Semi-matte black is the Revell variety these days, not the acrylic though, I HATE those square 'tins' they come in.

[kitnut617]

Not recently, but my latest 85 lacks opacity and dries up unevenly, it takes several days to cure properly.

I tried it again after stirring it for like 15 minutes, and now I get the same results as you have Dizzy. It's not quite as glossy as the first time I used it though --

Oddly the previous tinlet of 85 I had (for years) worked just fine.

[kitnut617]

I'm not sure I'm in the right thread for this question, but Humbrol was part of Airfix. Not sure of their status now though. Mods, please move this if I'm in the wrong place.

For my 'Out of Retirement' GB build, I'm going to use satin black. I bought a brand new tinlet of Humbrol 85 to do it. But there seems to be a problem with it, it's too glossy. Has anyone bought very recently a new tinlet of this paint, and had the same problem. Humbrol seem to have reverted back from the tin lid being the colour of the paint to using those little paper stickys pressed into the lid top if this helps identify what type it is.

Humbrol still is part of the Hornby empire at the moment, yes.

As for their Satin Black, I won't touch it with a barge pole frankly. I had EXACTLY the same problem as you did Robert, but mine never really dried properly, and the only solution was either to strip it all off or give it a coat of Klear, so it ended up glossy anyway! 

My preferred Semi-matte black is the Revell variety these days, not the acrylic though, I HATE those square 'tins' they come in.

Thanks Kit, I'll have a look for some Revell paint.

EDIT a bit later:  I think I'll add some satin clear to the H85 and see what it does.

[kitnut617]

I'm not sure I'm in the right thread for this question, but Humbrol was part of Airfix. Not sure of their status now though. Mods, please move this if I'm in the wrong place.

For my 'Out of Retirement' GB build, I'm going to use satin black. I bought a brand new tinlet of Humbrol 85 to do it. But there seems to be a problem with it, it's too glossy. Has anyone bought very recently a new tinlet of this paint, and had the same problem. Humbrol seem to have reverted back from the tin lid being the colour of the paint to using those little paper stickys pressed into the lid top if this helps identify what type it is.

Humbrol still is part of the Hornby empire at the moment, yes.

As for their Satin Black, I won't touch it with a barge pole frankly. I had EXACTLY the same problem as you did Robert, but mine never really dried properly, and the only solution was either to strip it all off or give it a coat of Klear, so it ended up glossy anyway! 

My preferred Semi-matte black is the Revell variety these days, not the acrylic though, I HATE those square 'tins' they come in.

Thanks Kit, I'll have a look for some Revell paint.

EDIT a bit later:  I think I'll add some satin clear to the H85 and see what it does.

So --- what do I find while looking for my tinlet of satin clear, another practically unused older tinlet of H85 ---   

[Green Dragon]

I don't buy Humbrol anymore, it's just not the same stuff. Luckily I used to buy several at a time so I still have stuff I bought in the 70's/80's that still work great. I stoppped getting it when they lost the UK factory and shifted production overseas, tried a couple of new tins and it was crap. Never went back.

Paul Harrison

[NARSES2]

I agree with you Paul. I've been thoroughly disappointed with my last few Humbrol purchases, both enamel and acrylic, and yet I still have loads of the old Authentics range that are perfectly usable.

[zenrat]

I last bought Humbrol enamel, what five years ago? Gunmetal.  It was an odd semi jelly consistency and proved impossible to apply with a brush.  I haven't tried thinning and airbrushing it.  I just put it away.
Since then if i need enamel I buy Tamiya or, if I need automotive colours, Model Master.
But I mostly use Vallejo, Gunze or Tamiya acrylics.

[rickshaw]

Vallejo mainly for me.  Followed by Tamiya acrylics and Gunze.   

[NARSES2]

I last bought Humbrol enamel, what five years ago? Gunmetal. 

I still have some treasured tinlets from their Metal Cote range 

Go to paints now are Xtracrylic and more and more Hataka.

[kitnut617]

I used the 'old' tinlet of H85 for my project, I can report no problems with that one.  I'm wondering if I should mix the 'old' with the 'new' and see what happens, or am I pushing my luck ---

[Old Wombat]

I still, primarily, use Tamiya acrylics. Like old Soviet armour, perhaps not the most technologically advanced but extremely reliable & virtually indestructible.

I'm developing a dislike for many of the "latex" based acrylics except for brush work, as they gum up my airbrush something terrible.

I've also just tried out Mr Hobby Aqueous Hobby Color, as I've found a hobby shop in Adelaide that stocks a good range of them, & they seem to be excellent paints, too..... Maybe even better than the Tamiya!

The Humbrol paints I have will be the last I buy, as most of the new tins have been jellied or near-solid on opening for the first time, but I'll have to find a new source of enamels, as there are still things I like using them for.

[Old Wombat]

I used the 'old' tinlet of H85 for my project, I can report no problems with that one.  I'm wondering if I should mix the 'old' with the 'new' and see what happens, or am I pushing my luck ---

I'd suggest not bothering, you're likely to end up with an unusable mess & will have wasted some (or all) of your limited supply of good old Humbrol in the process.