A while back I posed a question concerning opinions on Modelflex Paint. Well, that doesn't matter anymore because Badger has announced discontinuation of that product. So....What is the preferred paint by you modellers for airbrushing. Accuracy of color is not so important because I have my own road name. What about Accuflex (same as Accu-Paint?) Also, what is the difference between Pollyscale and Polly-S? Thanks again for your opinions; this forum is the greatest!
What?! Are you sure Modelflex paint is discontinued? Neither the Badger web site nor Walthers makes a reference to this. Where did you hear this? Modelflex is the only acrylic I have much experience with so I can't answer your questions about the others. I think Poly S and Poly Scale are the same thing, just different names. (and hard to find down under) If this news about Modelflex paint is true, I might have to start learning more about Poly Scale. It does last longer then Modelflex - bigger bottle and you have to water it down for the airbrush.
Is Badger owned by the Testors Corp.? I though I read some time back that either Accu-Flex or Model-Flex was being discontinued with one replacing the other (they are one and the same). From memory, Badger has the Model-Flex name and Testors the Accu-Flex. Neither are like Accu-Paint from what I understand (would love to get hold of Accu-Paint downunder ). Polly Scale I believe is also called Polly S (older name?) and is an acrylic too, but different to either of the above. As for preferrence, I use what I have at hand, how quickly I want to do the job, and what I can get hold of. I painted 14 covered hoppers last week using Model-Flex BN Green (2x FMC, 2x PS2) and Polly Scale BN Green (4x FMC) for a slight difference plus 6 CNW in green and yellow (3 each) using Scalecoat II. 4 PS2's were done in my Soo White Model-Flex mix. All went on beautifully with the advantage of Model-Flex and Scalecoat not needing a clear gloss coat to ready them for decals. But I had to wait several days for the Scalecoat II painted cars to lose their 'tackiness' and harden. The Polly Scale cars got their clear coat 4 hours after the colour, then waited 24 hours for that to dry off, and the Model-Flex cars were ready for decalling within 30 mins of air drying. From the above, you can extrapolate time required before masking and applying the second, third, and so on, colour/s. As you are aware of, Accu-/Model-Flex paint can be dried quicker with a hand held hair dryer and be ready for masking 10 mins after the previous coat. Rob, Tom's usually has a good range of Polly Scale in stock, though not the full range. Accu/Model_flex is available from Gary Spencer-Salt at the Model Railroad Craftsman out at Blacktown. As for anyone else stocking any of the above paints in Sydney, I don't know of them. The alternative is trying J and J Hobbies or Austral Hobbycraft in Brisbane or RailNthusiast in Melbourne. As far as I know, no-one brings in Accu-Paint. Gary. [ 18 January 2002: Message edited by: Gats ]
I don't think Testors owns Badger (Badger is in Franklin Park IL, Testors is in Rockford - IIRC there's a few hours in a car between the two) But Testors does own Floquil and Poly S (Scale) paints. Since Accu-Flex would directly compeate with Poly S I would not expect Testors to make the stuff (but they may own the name) I thought Badger purchased the Accu-Flex line and re-badged it Modelflex several years ago - but come to think of it - last time I was at Gary S-S (last week) I remember seeing more Accuflex then I had in the past (but it looked like old stock.) He even had a few bottle of Scalecoat II in stock - I didn't think customs let that stuff in! I've sent an email to Badger asking if it's true. And yes - it's hard to beat being able to mask, decal or put on a second coat after 10min with a hair dryer! [ 18 January 2002: Message edited by: yankinoz ]
Accu+Paint is my preferred poison. It goes on super smooth and very thin (thin enough to see the tooling marks on a shell), and it dries very quickly. I was able to neatly mask and paint the 3 colors (oxide red body, white excess height panel, steel roof) for an SP 60' Hi-cube in under an hour. Colors are dead-on for my needs, and it also dries nice and glossy, ready for decals. [ 18 January 2002: Message edited by: SP 8299 ]
Nope, its not acrylic, but it really doesn't seem like an enamel, either. I'm not really sure what's in it; one of the guys in my club that's experienced with the stuff told me it's almost like a printing ink (like for silk-screening). Not sure if that's true or not, but you can thin it with acetone, if their thinner can't be had. Here's their website: http://www.smp-mlw.com.//smp-mlw/indexx.html
Aha! Guess I should have read their website first. On their "History" page it says that Accu+Paint is an alcohol-based printing ink & paint mix.
Ok my thoughts on behalf of this thread being I do tons and tons of painting almost 3 and 4 times a week.... Polly S, was the short name for Polly Scale, which is made by Floquil. On this, Polly S was at one time Railroad colors only, well as time has progressed into todays world, we have military modelers, airplane modelers, boat modelers, car and truck modelers, and the biggest hobby, railroad modelers. Well Polly S used to make different shades of paint for all these modeling worlds. And it was always known as "Polly S" Well being that model railroading has become what it is for any and all the scales involved they had given the railroad modelers a "paint" thats a specific, So Floquil went and created "Polly S" for railroad modelers, and all for a long time... I believe this was up onto the early 1990's like '93 or '94. Then they had changed the name for reasons of wonder to "Polly Scale" which is the same. And now. "Polly S" and "Polly Scale" has all the different types of paint under one name, "Polly Scale" As For Testors Corp, Their is a few differences their as well... As we all know Testors regular stuff, the small, what is it? Off top my head I can't remember 1/4th ounce bottles? And then they have "Testors Model Masters" which I think personally is an overall good paint in the spray, or brush bottles. And for those that this may be new, and for those that already know and have used this, "BOYD" paint, which is also made by Testors. And is a really good grade then most of the Testors line of paints. I haven't yet seen the "BOYD" paint in a brush bottle as of yet, but I have seen it in the spray cans, and I've used it. As I was also at one time in building car and truck models of 1/24th scale and 1/25th scale and even 1/16th scale, I used this "BOYD" spray for painting the car and truck bodies! A little side note guys, if for any reason you may want a good color that represents "Plum Crazy Purple" for any reason my advice to you is either get to an autobody shop for automobiles, for this color, or find a hobby shop, and look for a Testors paint center with a rather large selection of spray paints and look for the "BOYD" paint cans... Their color called "Grape Pearl" an is a prefect match to a paint chip at a local garage for "Plum Crazy Purple". Being this shade of purple is rare and far in between to find I thought this would be of some usefull advice and knowledge for those out their thats modeling the 70's era and wanted some real mucsle cars on their layouts in authentic colors..... Mopar was a big user of the color, which is my car... Even though I own a Pontiac... No offense to the GM guys out their....But the "Rats run when a R/T comes to town" Just stokin' yer boiler guys! [ 18 January 2002: Message edited by: 7600EM_1 ]
I just got a very long email from Badger. Badger is NOT discontinuing Modelflex. Here is the email from Badger: The Real MODELflex Story [ 20 January 2002: Message edited by: yankinoz ]
As one who has been a strong supporter of Badger and their acrylic paints, I have seen this rumor many times in the past 5 years or so. I believe most of these rumors come from hobby dealers who are just ignorant of exactly what is available, while others make these claims on purpose because they don't want to stock the Badger line and want the customer to buy from the line of whatever paints they do stock. Some confusion did occur when Badger discontinued the original Accu-Flex line of acrylic paints due to the many problems associated with that formula. They quickly introduced their new and much superior Model-Flex formula, but many dealers refused to make the switch to the new line. Badger would even replace the Accu-Flex paints with the new Model-Flex formula, but many dealers instead chose to take a loss and sell off their remaining Accu-Flex at huge discounts. I know I bought a lot of the stuff at $1 a bottle or less and Badger was quick to replace all of my paints with the new Model-Flex colors. The owner of the Accu-Flex formula struck a deal and the line of paints was picked up and marketed by Testors. The only change was the switch to a glass bottle, as they claimed the plastic bottle used by Badger was to blame for the problems with the stability of the paint. However, Testors discontinued the line several years later. I am sure this also added to the confusion regarding the Badger Model-Flex line and it supposedly being discontinued. Thankfully, Badger continues to promote and expand their Model-Flex line and I still feel this is the best paint available for modeling purposes. I have been using it since it was first released and I rarely use anything else. I have found that it gives the best results of any of the paints I have used in over 20 years of modeling. Chris Toth
