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End of the line for Testors Floquil and Polly Scale paint
Although I don’t use these paints often, there will probably be times in the future where I will need these. Guess I should stock up now.
I think that TESTORS should be boycotted for this, I mean it’s bad enough when Walthers keeps discontinuing their line of passenger cars, But to discontinue the line w/o even explaining way is an insult.
They made the best match for D&H blue and gray.
Unbelievable!!! Are there any other model railroad paint brands on the market? I have to wonder; did Testor try to sell the brands to another company?
This will be a real loss for model railroaders. It’s going to make it harder to build things rathere than just getting ready to run.
Well that’s a kick in the pants. What, are we suppose to paint our rail cars pink, purple, or maybe brilliant blue. I have always purchased these paints because they were rail car specific. So much for progress!!!
DAMMIT!!! This sucks! Why bother with model railroading anymore? Can’t paint or decal undecorated cars. Can’t buy a simple kit. Everything is selling for half the cost of a paycheck. Great way to help kill the hobby. Athearn, you started it. Horizon Hobby, you kept the downhill slide going. Champion Decal’s owner passed away. We have no more John Allen’s. No more Wescott’s. This stinks big time!
Hopefully a company like Walthers will pick up the lines. These paints are essential to the hobby. No more Grimy Black!?!?! Something needs to happen.
This is bad! Don’t kill it, sell it! Come on Walthers or somebody, buy Polly Scale/Floquil!
If Testors doesn’t produce specific US railroad colors, that leaves a big hole to be filled, what other brands are available for these colors, if any? That would probably mean having to use European or Asian brand colors designed for the plastic modeller market.
That would imply using such brands as Humbrol, MR Hobby, Life Color, and Vallejo instead. That means color matching to create the colors needed. Hmm! More humbug!
Now that’s something I never thought I’d hear! First Hostess goes bankrupt and stops making Twinkies and now this.
Looks like a great opportunity for Walthers or one of the big model makers to buy up the formulations and sell themselves.
This is an unbelievable blow. I have over 200 undecorated cars and 20 engines to paint RR50 to match my existing free-lance fleet. A terrible way to treat someone who have supported them for 40 years. Can you recommend any other brands that will be compatible?
well, this sucks! Thank you Testors (TIC).
Must be in response to fewer and fewer modelers actually building and painting with the advent of so many fine ready to run items.
I guess Scalecoat is our only option. It would be nice to see the fomulas sold to someone like a Walthers. I don’t see that happening.
Yes, this leaves a ‘big hole to be filled.’ It seems that in the last 15-20 years, the business model of the hobby industry has changed for the worse. I generally disagree with published comments about this ‘being a great time in the hobby with all that is available.’ Basically, MODELING has been removed from model railroading. The wave of the hobby industry appears to be limited run, collectible, ready to run etc. This is where these companies (read as BIG companies) make their money. Everytime a relatively smaller manufacturer is swallowed up by a larger corporation, as is the case with Athearn, Life Like, and Floquil, we see a substantial increase in price, limited availability, and/or a discontinuance of the product.
I would encourage all of us to support the small manufacturers that do still exist. Many are small enough that personal contact with the owner is possible, as there may only be a few, if any employees. Thank them for what they offer. Encourage them to continue their fine work, as a little thanks can go a long way. For many of them, it is not their primary income. Granted, this announcement by Testors will not make things any easier for small resin casting or laser kit businesses that sell kits, but I’m sure that we’ll figure out ways around the loss of one way to finish these fine models.
If there’s really a market then someone will step up to fill the gap.
Well that sucks!