Model Master Paint use survey

[uncchains]

In response to some recent inquiries about the availability of Model Master Paints, I would like to conduct a survey. Model Master paints have been discontinued due to "...diminished sales..." Model Master paints, as some of you may know, was manufactured by Testors, which also made the Floquil paints used mainly, I think, by model railroaders, and Testors' parent company is Rustoleum, another manufacturer of pretty good paints. I heard that one excuse for the discontinuation of Floquil was that model railroad equipment makers are focusing al;most entirely on pre-labled/painted engines and rolling stock. Ok...I have used many a bottle of Floquil over the last 40 years or so and miss its availability.

I reached out to Rustoleum recently and got this: "We do apologize for the disappointment in having the Model Master line discontinued and can understand the frustration as well. While we cannot say if this line will ever be brought back, your comments and feedback will be shared with our internal product team to review." Really? In my opinion, MM was the best paint available among all the manufacturers for matching Mil-Spec colors. I have built 25 aircraft and used MM on each for accurate, correct color schemes. Sure Tamiya and Humbrol do have some limited matches but the supply of "rattle cans" by these two is also somewhat limited and they are rather pricy. MM paints were economically priced and much more readily available in stores like Hobby Lobby. I may have to start buying bottles and fire up my air brush again.....

I am curious to know:

1. How many of us members have used MM paints on their models and for how long;
2. What types of models was MM used on (a: Ships/boats, b: model train engines, rolling stock, and/or structures, c: cars and trucks, d: other models (i.e., figures, dioramas, etc.);
3. How many different colors one used (if determinable);
4. How many models one has built using MM paints either exclusively or with other brands;
5. How was /were MM paints obtained, Local availability or by mail-order?
6. Age of modeler, general location, (city, state, if publishing this info is acceptable), most frequently built models

I would like to think and hope that if enough of us speak out to Rustoleum, we may be able to convince them that there is a very viable market for their paints among a wide variety of model builders in a wide variety of locations.

So, to start off (I hope I wont be the only respondent, ,:
1: Me, see above...
2: a, & b (1/32, 1/48, 1/32 scale aircraft, HO scale locos, rolling stock and structures)
3. At least 15
4. Somewhere at or more than 50 of the above (25 aircraft, lots of RR pieces, 8 ships)
5. Hobby Lobby, Sprue Brothers, Amazon
6. 71, North Carolina, right now splitting my time between a cross-section of the HMS VICTORY (Corel) and a Trumpeter1/32 scale A-10 Warthog (for which I cannot find two of the three colors I need)

Thanks

 

[bluenos2]

As someone who spent over 14 years in coporate I can assure you there is no chance what so ever that Rustoleum will bring back Testors paints or Model Master paints. When a company determines that it isn't profitable "enough" to justify production due to demand it's game over. It's all about core manufacturing strategies. Even if they were to consider a relaunch it would cost millions to ramp up production again with no clear idea of a profitable customer base. There are many companies out there that have taken up the slack and provide excellent products. I lament the loss of these products as I cut my teeth on Testors and later on Model Master. The same goes with Humbrol. Time to move on.

 

[bluenos2]

Just so you know Rustoleum's parent company is RPM. It is owned by several institutional and private investors. They don't know or care about people who need little bottles of paint to finish their models. It is about maximizing shareholder value.

 

[X Bubble Head]

I switched over to Vallejo Air acrylics and have looked back. Great paint when properly thinned for airbrush applications.

 

[AllanKP69]

In response to your question regarding what paints. As my area of interest is mainly about wooden ships in the age of sail I use professional grade acrylics from Liquitex and Golden brands and have never been disappointed.
Allan

 

[kg4kpg]

I still use Model Master acrylics when I can find them, for aircraft or ships. I would love to see them come back.

 

[uncchains]

Amen to that. So far, the responses have I have received from Rust-o-leum, the company that manufactured Model Master, have not been positive. I would like to think that enough of us modelers of ships, planes, cars, various types of armor, etc. politely complain, the company may realize that they are overlooking a very large market for its paint. See my previous posts.

Can I ask for "likes" from members of SoS who have used MM, currently use MM (when it can be found) and who would resume use if becomes available again. Maybe we can convince R-o-L to rethink its decision.

 

[bluenos2]

I have switched to #1 Tamiya, #2 AK Interactive and Vallejo. Tamiya is very high quality as well as these other products.. All are available are at many good hobby shops.The resurrection of Model Master is a dead duck. Rust-o-leum told you as much. For those interested please read my last post. I speak from the corporate side of this issue. This is not good news for people like us who depend upon a quality product of any sort to serve our needs. We are too small of a market share to justify production based on profit margin to satisfy investor value.

 

[Bob Cleek]

I have also taken the route Allan described in his post above, I've gone to using top quality tubed artists' oil paints since Floquil was bought out and then discontinued and haven't looked back. (Acrylics, too, for a few limited applications, but I favor oil-based paint and clear coatings over water-based paint and varnish. Learning to mix one's own colors and condition their own paint is not at all difficult once one learns the technique and, if necessary, has a color wheel. For ship modeling purposes, the palette is rather limited, so there's no need to buy a bunch of pre-mixed colors. (Floquil's biggest customer base were the "rivet counting" model railroaders who wanted to be sure they had exact matches for the trademarked liveries of the various railroad companies whose rolling stock they modeled and military modelers who wanted exact mil-spec color matches for particular nation at a particular time.) Tubed oils have a relatively long shelf-life, compared to those little, but very expensive, one- and two-ounce bottles that dry up in short order once they've been opened. (Or, God forbid, those super costly and often poorly performing damned aerosol "rattle cans." While I still miss the old Floquil products, I don't miss throwing out the dried-up bottles or dealing with the Floquil's proprietary DioSol solvent one bit. I'd much rather enjoy the aroma of good old fashioned linseed oil and turpentine.