"Montana Black spray paints?" Topic

I tried the Montana Gold range long ago, under the impression it was Montana Cans' matt range. Ten very shiny space marines later, I swore off it; but I didn't read between the lines and I've only recently learned that Montana Black is the matt range. It's stocked by a skate shop right in the middle of the Belfast model shops I visit, so it's convenient, and I'll have an excuse to try it out when I have to paint a lot of redcoats soon. (Even with foundation or heavy pigment paints, I don't fancy brushing on all that red)

I know other people here have tried the Montana Gold set:

TMP link

… (you can even see me there, being misguided) but has any tried the Black? I'm not sure entirely sure what the 'nitro-combination lacquer' is like, to apply, paint over, and possibly strip.

link

And if no-one else has tried it: watch this space.

(Oh, and: what shade would you recommend for British Redcoats? Code Red? Power Red?)

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Warren B.
minisculpture.co.uk

Thanks, I bought a couple for base-coating. Also the universal plastic primer.

The MB seller I knew about had no reds in stock, and told me Montana Gold had been reformulated to be matt. I bought a can, tried it today, and kicked myself for believing it a second time. The only non-gloss patches on the test minis were there because the MG put down a layer of fuzzy grit on 'em.

I know some people'll be fine with that, and run some matt varnish over it or something; but I can't be bothered with something that needs that extra work, and still end up with substandard results. And I can't be bothered throwing more money at skater boiz who don't know the meaning of 'matt' (or who maybe do) to find out if Montana Black is better. (right now I doubt it).
People've been recommending airbrushes to me, so that's what I'm going to go for next. Couldn't turn out any worse.

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Warren B.
minisculpture.co.uk

warren,

I hate that crap -- salesmen who tell you anything. I once had an LHS staffer tell me that <Model Master paints were no longer being made. Didn't bite on that one. Still, if it were me I'd take it back and tell the guy that he better know his product before he tries to sell it. If he won't refund your money (and he should be glad you're just asking for the price of the paint), contact Montana Paints directly.

I received my cans of Montana Black. Hopefull will try them out this week and will post back.

OK, I just used 'em. Herewith an account of my experience. I primed 32 Essex 25mm Moscow Militia (Napoleonic). Weather was sunny and temperatures in the mid 50s.

Montana Black is flat paint. It's not what I call "dead flat," which is a kind of light-sucking effect that makes you stare a bit longer at a figure. But it is flat, not semi-gloss or satin at all. I used a beige color.

The downside to this paint is low pressure. It's about 60% of Testors or Rustoleum rattle-cans, perhaps because of the Montana brand's tagging market. The spray won't get into nooks and crannies without a couple of passes, and even then some of the little spaces between crooked arms and mustkets are paintless.

The low pressure means that it's easy to make gloopy paint build up on figures while trying to get into recesses and tight spots. I did that with a couple of figures. But the paint dried and snuggled down nicely, which I didn't expect. Drying time is relatively fast -- these guys were dry to the touch in 30 minutes. Odor is fairly intense while spraying, but while drying they smell up my painting room a lot less than Rustoleum or Krylon.

On the whole, I recommend the paints. Once I get the hang of the misty low-pressure discharge, they'll be invaluable for priming or base-coating. The range of colors is extremely broad -- just in the range of color I was looking for they had dark brown, hot brown, beige, tan, ivory, sand, etc. If I had hundreds of ACW figures I'd definitely check into the blues and greys. I don't paint like that, but somebody else might find that fact valuable.

I have yet to try the universal plastic primer, which is part of their Gold line. But I'll report back once I do.