| Panfilov | 06 Oct 2009 4:27 p.m. PST |
Are the old Humbrol Enamel hobby paints (in the tins) still being made, and does anyone carry them for mail order in the US? |
| Grunt1861 | 06 Oct 2009 4:44 p.m. PST |
link I not sure if it's the Old Tins, but at that price I'm even thinking about an order. You could drop Squadron a message and ask. They are pretty good at responses. |
| Camcleod | 06 Oct 2009 5:17 p.m. PST |
Humbrol/Airfix is back in business – bought by Hornby. Roll Models carries them.
link |
| BravoX | 06 Oct 2009 5:41 p.m. PST |
You can get them on EBay easily and cheap! |
| sgt Dutch | 07 Oct 2009 5:15 a.m. PST |
Michigan Toy Soldier has Humbrols in stock. They also do mail order. michtoy.com |
| Asterix | 07 Oct 2009 7:13 a.m. PST |
I recommend Michigan Toy Soldier for both Humbrol and Vallejo paints. They carry a large selection and are quick to ship out your order. |
| willievonluck | 14 Oct 2009 1:13 p.m. PST |
Squadron has been around for a long time. I used to mail order from them about 10 years ago when I was into building plastic kits. I have received a catalogue from them about twice a year ever since. I wouldn't be afraid to order from them. |
| wballard | 26 Oct 2009 8:53 p.m. PST |
Humbrol paints are still available. If you mean old the way I do, then then the old ones are NOT available. The names are not on the tins, some of the colors went away and they have been reformulated from the ones I used to get in the late 70's and early 80's. The enamels are obvious as the scent is different. They also seem not to stir-up as well, don't seem to cover quite as well and maybe not adhere as well.
There are so many safety warning on the tin you might think they were made from radioactive waste, so I suspect that may have something to do with the new formulae. The metallics are still the best though in my opinion. |
| Jemima Fawr | 27 Oct 2009 2:19 a.m. PST |
Humbrol went away briefly a few years ago when Airfix went  -up, but soon came back with the Hornby buy-out a few months later. I'm not sure what wballard is talking about, though. The Humbrol range remains essentially unchanged from what was available when I was a kid 20 years ago. I don't recall Humbrol ever putting the colour names on the tin, except on the old 'Authentic Colour' range. However, the Humbrol 'Authentic Colour' range is long-gone and the Acrylics range disappeared some years ago, but has been resurrected recently with a completely different range of colours (perhaps it is the acrylics range that wballard is talking about?). Humbrol changed their enamel formula around 10 years ago, branding it 'Super Enamel' for a time. But all that involved was making the particles finer to make it more compatible with air-brushing. The upside was that it was nowhere near as gritty as it had been. The downside seems to be that the paint is thicker (though smoother), dries out much more readily and needs more thinning. However, I find that the re-formulated Humbrols cover much better than they used to and as I said, they don't go gritty. I've never had any issues whatsoever with paint adhesion (unlike acrylics). The safety warnings are simply a consequence of modern legislation – they're white-spirit based, so they're flammable and aren't going to do you much good if you drink them. That has always been the case. I'm sure that there would have been FAR more warnings on the old tins, not to mention lead content that wouldn't be permitted now. |
| Steve Roper | 27 Oct 2009 6:14 a.m. PST |
As I recall the tins were relatively small. So besides a warning to not drink them, a warning to not swallow the entire tin would also seem to be in order. Yours in perfect safety, |
| Etranger | 27 Oct 2009 6:25 p.m. PST |
I've got 20 (& 30!) year old tins of Humbrol still going strong. Apart from the livery changes on the tin (& the warnings!)& those changes that Mark notes they're identical to the newer tins. |
Tumbleweed  | 03 Nov 2009 8:10 p.m. PST |
Someone please bring Humbrol paint to the HMGS conventions and I will buy a lot from you! |
| wballard | 03 Nov 2009 10:08 p.m. PST |
Yes I was referring to the 'Authentic Color' range. When I started painting miniatures that, Pactra and Testors model paints were the only ones in the local hobby shop. At least there all of the Humbrol paint had the name on the tin. I did say bought in the 70's and 80's. I think I agree with Mark that the solids are finer. When I bought the more recent versions I was hoping to replace exact replacements of the older ones. Yes, I have useable paint that is 30 years old. The new colors, where a numbered version is listed as equivalent, generally are only close and some had not replacement at all (Red Leather being sorely missed). All of the newer ones were enamels and not acrylics as the local store doesn't/didn't carry Humbrol acrylics. I'll stand by the coverage statement as at least with colors I have used I've gotten better one coat coverage from some of my old ones than I sometimes get with two of the new. |
