^^^ Oh yea, the hobby' s over. Another nail in the coffin. Guess we should all just stop now. Pack em up boys!
Okay, I sent a crappy Email to Testors. Now Im over it. As I run out I will replace with Tru-Color. http://www.trucolorpaint.com/
Way to go, Ray! Hey Lou, Don't give up yet! I'll send you some from my stash if you need it, Just don't tell anybody I have 50 bottles of EL Grey. oops Hoarding seems like a better idea now. A shoe box full of MS decals and a Sh**load of RR colors. Like sitting on a sack of seeds. Maybe I could try that virtual model railroad stuff on my flip phone. or set a loop of Kato track on the DR table and become a box opener.
As Peter and Ray mentioned, Tru-Color is an viable option. As a matter of fact, this just might be the ticket to having Tru-Color ramp up production to fill the void left by Testors. Nice mini-review of Tru-Color paint in the Inspection Pit.
I can't say I've ever tried (or, for that matter, seen) Tru-Color but looking through their catalog their variety is amazing. A company that takes that much time and care with boxcar reds? Wow!
Only bad thing is Tru-Color is solvent based and therefore cannot be shipped by air to locations outside the U.S. Great for you guys stateside, but sucks for us overseas. I'm NOT paying 19% tax on a bottle of paint over here... This hurts, but guess I'll go back to using Modelflex. If you use and shoot it correctly, Modelflex is fine. Is it thin, yes, but very workable. Brian
Since I'm not a fan of acrylic outside of scenery uses, what are the other options for solvent based after my cache of floquil runs out?
Testor has posted a reply to one of the Facebook comments. "Many of you have expressed disappointment regarding our decision to exit Floquil and Polyscale. Decisions such as these are never easy. Trends in model railroading have changed over time. Creating product for weathering and scenery has been more of the focus as train cars have moved to pre-decorated. The good news is that the same great products for weathering and scenery can be found in Testor's CreateFX line that is available now. Please check your local hobby shop or www.testors.com for information regarding this product line. "We appreciate your passion for our business. We look forward to introducing you to this exciting new product line that is great for today's modeler as well as future generations." Cheers David
It wouldn't be so bad if they incorporated some railroad colours into their other lines. I actually stopped using Floquil when Accu-Paint came out but when dangerous goods regulations changed to make it impossible to import it into Australia in model railroader quantities I went back to Floquil, which I have to agree with some about it not being as good as it used to be but at least they make railroad colours. It's all well and good saying to use Tru-Color or Scalecoat and I'd love to be able to use Tru-Color if it's as good as the old Accu-Paint but down here in Australia we pretty much have to make do these days with what the big guys Testors and Tamiya bring in to the country.
I wonder if they have given ANY thought about the fact that Enamel based paints are going to phased out, since they are more toxic? Is there a chance someone could buy those brands, get it into the hands of someone who wants to promote the hobby and not tear it down?
http://weavermodels.com/page7.html one of my personal favorites http://www.debenllc.com/servlet/the...ium-cln--dsh--Weathering-Solutions/Categories Another Floquil substitute
Well this really doesn't surprise me in the least bit, having worked there seven years and being the Floquil Brand Manager from 2002 - 2006. Any of the veterans to Trainboard (Members before 2006) will remember I would answer questions ranging from color mixtures to thinning consistency. While at Testors I introduced the Decal Maker, worked with BNSF and CSX to introduce the new at the time colors into both Floquil and Polly Scale and developed the Floquil Weathering and track markers. For those needing proof, look at the header card of some of the old Floquil Markers and it will say "Models by Jim Wiggin". I made the art work and detailed and painted the MRL SD40, BNSF SD40-2 and the DPM building. I went around the country doing seminars on the paint as well as the Aztek brand airbrush, a sin I have since regretted as I find the Aztek brand of airbrush to be utter junk and has caused headaches for many. Why did all of this originally happen? The management at the time was into hobbies and was a damn good business man, Mr. Ernie Petit. He was was my boss, mentor and friend and while not a model railroader himself, knew I would do well if given the opportunity to do more than answer phones in "Consumer Affairs". He as well as another mentor and friend Mr. Lewis Nace did all they could to produce good quality hobby items across the board. But in early 2006, corporate forced Mr. Petit into retirement and all hell broke loose. Before I could jump the sinking ship, I was let go. I was told in my exit interview that the brands no longer needed a Manager and my views on management were against their grain. Soon the brands stopped advertising and what ads they ran featured a Bachman pre-painted F unit in Santa Fe, direct from a train set. The culmination was their head R&D guy airbrushing Model Master in the Floquil booth at Milwaukee last fall. RPM the owner of Testor, Bondo, Rustoluem, and other smaller brands cares about one thing, the bottom line to top dollar. They don't care about your fully detailed GP9 or DPM building. They don't care about the locomotive you ruined because their gloss clear was labeled flat. Their decision to discontinue Floquil, Polly Scale and Pactra is no real surprise. Personally, I'm glad to see them go. It allows other companies such as Tru-Color to step up and take over which they were already doing. Tru-Color has a better selection, is easier to use and the colors are dead on matches to the OEM prototype. I have said it before and will say it again. If you are sick of this corporate mentality, then support the "little guys" who do care about the hobby. People like Craig from BLMA, Steve from Bluford Shops. 9 times out of 10, their products are better than the "big boys" and they care. They know they are not going to be rich, they do it for the love of the hobby. They still are in it to make money but just remember the response you received from these small companies versus the Testor Corporation. I stopped using the Floquil/Polly Scale after getting turned off with quality in color and consistency. Tru-Color is a superior product in every way. Nuff said.
Wow, thanks Jim. That's a firsthand account if there ever was one. I've vented and will continue to vent on their Facebook page. I'm still astounded why they simply didn't sell the line. The 'shareholder value' thing also dictates that if you can't make money doing something, see if you can sell it. They've failed there as well. The other thing that baffles me and somewhat falls into line with what you're saying is that they're clueless about hobbies in general. Rapid Prototyping does have one common denominator - painting and decals are back. All those hundred/thousands of projects out there (and this is the dawn of the age) need painted. They have the best-known and best selling line of railroad colors. And they can't see it. Again, if you can't see it, sell the line and the rights to somebody that can. I'm curious about the experiences you guys have had with painting FUD with Tru-Color. I'm not a fan of solvent paints except for brushing smaller stuff. Retiring my solvent-based Floquil was nice, no more paint fumes in the house. I've been pretty happy with PollyScale, particularly the colors I use the most.
Has anybody looked at the CreateFX line? http://www.testors.com/category/667494/CreateFX Looks like it's just new branding for the same old crummy enamel paint and crummy accessories from the square bottle basic line. They're going after the arts & crafts segment, but without investing in any new products designed to meet specific needs of the customer, just flashy new packaging with more appeal. Some of the other products are still there. These textured paints used to come in a Floquil can, but the little train logo on the wrapper probably didn't identify with scrapbookers the way FX!!!! does. http://www.testors.com/category/667790/Enamel_Texture_Paints Here's your Floquil rail weathering pen kit in the new improved FX!!!! line: http://www.testors.com/products/667499
But doesn't help those who wish to spray water based acrylics. I don't see myself painting with anything that recommends acetone for cleaning. Jason
Me neither really... I don't like having to run solvents through my airbrush to clean it out, then having to dispose of the mess. I know, I probably shouldn't be rinsing acrylic paint down the drain either, but it makes me feel a little better. I dont' like how solvent based paints stink up the house, even if I do my painting outside the parts still smell for days after I bring them in. I'm going to get a few bottles of ModelFlex and see how it goes. I see the local chain craft store is now stocking some Valejo paints, I may pick up some of those to try as well.
