With the upcoming Testor’s paint reorganization I thought I would be able to switch to True Line Paints.
I have just been notified Testor’s makes True Line Paint. Hence, True Line is now looking for a manufacturer.
I guess I should not be surprised.
I wonder if there are any other paint brands that are currently being made by Testors that are also looking for new manufacturers?
Well Scalecoat is not made by Testors, and the nice people at Weaver have plenty of it!
Sheldon
As far as I know, Badger’s Model Flex isn’t. I tried some for the first time last night through my airbrush. Using a Paasche VL with #3 tip, it handled pretty much the same as Polly-Scale, although I found 30 lbs was a bit better than the 20 lbs air I had been using.
Greg
One problem I encountered ( or created ) with Badger Model Flex was where I had two bottles of the same color. One had started to dry out, so I poured it into the second bottle. Then, seeing a bit of thickness after remixing with a battery powered paint mixer, I added some distiller water to this second bottle and remixed. When I used it in my airbrush Paasche VL at 30 lbs, it made a mess- the paint was watery and the pressure caused spatter thru the tip and at the feed tube point. Perhaps 30 lbs was too much, I guess, but next time, I’ll leave the paint at the viscosity I find it- straight from the bottle! Cedarwoodron
They should look for a Canadian manufacturer. Chemcraft AkzoNobel has a plant in Ontario.
I would suggest Tru-color paint as an alternative http://www.trucolorpaint.com/
Its an acrylic, but acetone based. Flows much better than water based, wont hide details. The stuff is nothing short of amazing. Recently did a 3 color paint job in an afternoon, 20-30 minutes between masking for the next color. [:D]
Here was the result. OK, it was an experiment brought on by a LHS. They gave me 3 bottles and an undec shell and told me to try it, have fun. Brunswick green, primer gray and Tuscan Red was what he handed me, this was the result of an afternoons painting. Very little bleed, no lifting of the previous coat, no details hidden.
Testors, I have 1 word for you…Goodbye![:P]
Some of the problem may have been from using the distilled water–you not only thinned the pigment, you changed the concentration of the carrier. Try using Airbrush Medium from either Liquidtex or Golden to thin your paint. This is the same “solvent” as Acrylic paints are made with, and will preserve the overall paint composition while thinning the pigment out.
I switched from 20 to 30 lbs because the Model Flex was building up on the tip at the lower pressure, and then causing uneven spraying. At 30 lbs, the paint apparently “moves” fast enough that it doesn’t build up. I’ve had this problem with Polly-Scale also, and usually have to gently wipe the tip with a Q-Tip soaked in denatured alcohol from time to time–usually when changing colors.
Greg
Thanks for the tip- I had assumed that the water base of acrylic paints was just that- water, and was taking a precaution in using distilled water. I believe airbrush medium is available at Michaels Crafts, so to have it on hand next time I want to play paint “chemist”. Cedarwoodron
It may take a while but at some point you’d like to think the Econ 101 prof was correct and that given enough demand, someone will take the risks and attempt to satisfy it – and hopefully will make a go of it. But unless the formulas almost exact match the Floquil/Testors versions there will still be unhappy folks who cannot for example readily paint and add a new car to an existing passenger train without it sticking out as obviously different.
Dave Nelson
But a slight mismatch is prototypical in a lot of cases [;)]
Not to belabor the point of the OP, but isTrueColor being produced by Testors as a private label item, separate from Testors own product line? If so, then Testors own marketing plans would not impact ATtueColor would they? I went to their website and was impressed by their color line (variety), and- not having heard of them previously- would be interested in hearing more from other modelers who have used their products. Cedarwoodron
It is True LIne Paint that is being produced by RPM , which is Testor’s parent company. Hence, why they are being shut down.
Tru-Color paint is not made by RPM, hence they are not affected. I will definitely give their paint a try.
Note, on their web site you can request a color chart, they have quite a selection.
TruColor is not related to Testors in any way, shape, or form. As I understand it, two guys who have a history in paint formulation acquired the old Accupaint product and reformulated it. It is definitely acetone-based (thinner smell is indistinguishable from fingernail polish remover).
I have only good things to say about the paint and my brief experience with the company. I started looking for an alternative to Floquil & Polly Scale when their death warrant appeared here. I used mostly Floquil.
I noticed the same things Karl. It airbrushes very well and I am yet to thin it for that purpose. That had me thinking it might not brush well (for touching up my own goofs). In probably a half dozen sessions with the airbrush, ranging from 20 minutes to over an hour, it is yet to clog. I was using about 25 psi. Cleans up as well. Finish is good. As Karl said, did not hide details.
I touched up some missed spots with a brush and had no problem. When it dried, I could not tell where I had touched up from the surrounding area.
I have not tried doing the three colors in a single afternoon, ala Karl. Frankly, I’m too lazy to do that much masking in one afternoon, given I am applying color to 24 undecorated locomotive shells and 5 cabooses in various batches of 8-14 per session.
Color mixing I found to be good. I use a purple similar to ACL purple (Polly Scale purple is not ACL purple, in my experience), a white dull
I have pretty much switched to the Trucolor line of paints and really like them. I thin 'em with about 20% lacquer thinner for airbrushing with my Paasche VL and it goes on very nicely and leaves a superb, glossy coat for decaling. I am currently finishing up a BN caboose with the Trucolor line, and all I can say is WOW!!
The one difficulty I had initially was with brush painting it to touch up a model. It took a bit of practice, but I have found that I can now brush paint without issues. Good stuff!![C):-)]
My reason for this posting was that I thought I was now buying a product from a Canadian business, I had thought, for whatever reason, that True Line has a Canadian manufacturer and that it made no difference to me what was happening over at Testors.
That’s what I get for not doing my homework, the manufacturer was RPM which is Testors (parent company) and they were in the same boat.
Yes I will try - True Color and see what I think about their product.
I was at my LHS yesterday and the owner asked me about TruColor. I told him, I thought it was an acrylic similar to Poly-Scale. He said that (IIRC) Horizon, someone along the line of them, has bought the line from Testors.
Have any of you heard this??
Karl…were you high as a kite afterwards?..Acetone bothers my sinuses…so I am hessitant to try it.
Dennis,
Smells just like when SWMBO does her nails, so I’m used to it. She does her nails so often you would think she was Vietnamese.[;)]
Now seriously ,
I usually paint out in the garage. Its well ventilated and dries so fast I barely have time to smell it. Once I clean the airbrush and carry the shell downstairs, it is dry enough to touch and has VERY little, if any smell. Floquil would stink for a week. Try it, you’ll like it![:D]