MODELLING PAINT.

PAINT.

I have always used Humbrol enamel modelling paints. I admit they are not quite as good as years ago but still I find them best for me. During the over fifteen years from the mid 80's to early 00's when my army resided in the loft, all my paints were also packed away. When recovered and set up in my , then new, modelling unit, I found that of 19 tins of paint only one had dried up. The others were perfectly usable.  Strangely however all the hairs on every single paint brush had fallen out leaving me with a pile of sticks and a birds nest of hairs !!!

 Today my main complaint is that some of the colours display odd characteristics. For example the gloss red number 19, tends to change into a jelly like consistency long before even half used. I have not found any way to stop this process despite remixing with both thinners and even acetone. I complained once to Humbrol who responded that the barcode on the tin could not be identified !!!!  Others like the matt black number 33, when newly opened,  tend to dry to a glossy finish.  I think it is the thinners they use. Despite trying endless mixing the only cure I have found is to leave new tins open, without mixing, for several hours to allow this agent to evaporate. That does tend to solve the problem and also makes the paint a little thicker and thus give better coverage too.

When painting screws I do not use any primer. I have found that the normal base colour together with the top satin varnish coat, number 135,  is fully serviceable. Indeed although virtually all screws have at least a slight rust covering to start with, that seems to aid paint coverage. To date I have never found any rust on my painted soldiers. I do use primer, number 01, on wheels (drawing pins) flags ( paper and pins) any exposed glue and all plastic components on vehicles and equipments. The top coat then covers so much better.

The only mixing I do is for the base colour of my soldiers (screws). The original colour used was HU17 in the Authentic colour range. Since that range has become unavailable the online colour comparison charts indicate 116 is the current equivalent. However I find it to be rather lighter so I add about 20% matt black to each new tin to get the shade I need. I usually make up two or three tins at a time as it is a messy job !!!