Advice on most accurate range of enamels.........

[mackem01]

As a painter of plastic aeroplane-shaped things I am a bit died in the wool and prefer to use enamels. Usually I will use Humbrol/Revell but recent

purchases have been a little disappointing. Despite being well mixed the colours appear off (to my eye) and drying seems to take longer than usual.

What decent alternatives are out there - what would you recommend? I only model RAF/FAA so would need the applicable colour range.

Any advice much appreciated.

[Graham Boak]

Colourcoats, although Xtracolour is pretty good.

[Rob G]

What Graham said.

[lasermonkey]

Another recommendation for Colourcoats. Few companies are as diligent in ensuring the colours are accurate. As for drying times, I understand that if you use the Colourcoats brand thinners, drying time is perfectly normal for enamels. It also has the advantage that you can safely return thinned paint back into the tin, something I wouldn't chance otherwise.

Personally, I used cellulose thinners for airbrushing in the past, but have been using bog-standard white spirit with a drop of Rustins Dryers added, which also speeds up drying time and can be used when brush painting.

[spitfire]

Hi, I am a 100% enamel user and my two favourite paint ranges are Xtracolor and Colourcoats, both of them are accurate and easy to apply, the Colourcoats range especially is being constantly revised to make it even more accurate.

For detail brush painting I do still use Revell and Humbrol.

 

Cheers

 

Dennis

[PhoenixII]

If it's enamels, only way to go is Colourcoats (formally White Ensign)

Should you move away from RAF / FAA, answers still the same!

Jamie at Sovereign Hobbies owns the company.

Just click link ^^^^^^^!

 

Paul

[SleeperService]

Colourcoats here too. I have no issue with the drying time and Sovereign have a video showing how to use their paint which will resolve most issues. I've not been so impressed with Xtracolour recently but that may be me. I think Sovereign are in a league of their own for accuracy though.

[Harley John]

Another vote for Colourcoats. I brush paint - no issues.

[sapperastro]

Colourcoats. There is no contest.

[Tony C]

My order of choice is...

 

Xtracolor

Colourcoats

Humbrol for detailing work

 

My experiences with Revell paints is such that I consider them to be a complete waste of money!

Limited colour range, requiring certain shades to be mixed, doesn't brush well as it lifts the previous coat regardless of how long the paint has been left to dry, doesn't spray without clogging, no matter how well it is stirred and/or thinned!

[John Laidlaw]

Colourcoats, then Xtracolor.

[mackem01]

Thanks guys - seems to be an outright winner there then. I shall start changing over to Colourcoats on a rolling basis.

Thanks for all your replies.

[Graham Boak]

As you may already have found, one problem with CC is the minimum order size.  So planning ahead on your buy is helpful.  Unless you attend the Scottish shows, of course, but that'd cost you more than a few extra tins of paint.

[Jamie @ Sovereign Hobbies]

Folks I am genuinely humbled by this level of regard for our work, and I thank each and every one of our customers for their support on this.

 

To pick up on Graham's point about postage; it is a real pain. We introduced a minimum quantity of 6 because frankly I lost whatever black colouring I had in my hair responding to emails from people who wanted 1 tin and, unburdened by any facts (isn't that so often the case?), wrote fairly accusative and abusive emails with catchwords like "profiteering", "rip off", "scandalous" etc in relation to seeing the true Parcelforce cost to *LEGALLY* send between 1 tin and 150 tins on their flat rate pricing. As I've said before, I am entirely unwilling to risk my wife and/or myself potentially going to prison for the sake of someone's modelling hobby.

 

When we first starting I thought not to have a minimum order quantity and the postage would self-regulate, but the old 80/20 rule applied gloriously and 80% of my hassles came from what was in reality well under 20% of the revenue sources. The new system may put off the occasional potential customer, but we don't get any complaints any more because the customers are getting more of something tangible for their money and less lost on delivery.

 

So, 6 it is and we pay half the postage. If we paid half and sold less than 6, I'd be actively getting poorer with each sale. Here's the blurb on our site detailing postage options for paints:

 

 

 

 

Colourcoats Paint/thinners - We are able to post to mainland UK (no islands or Northern Ireland) only at present. Due to enamel paints/thinners being classed as dangerous goods, posting requires us to adhere to certain regulations. At present we are able to post using Parcelforce at a flat rate of £6.50 for up to 4kg (which works out to around 150 tins). We offer a lower postage rate at £4.50 for 12 tins or more. We also offer free postage for paint orders over £50. We off these rates greatly reduced from the rate we are charged by operating a minimum order on paint and thinners. Please see below for more details.

We aim to post all orders within 3 working days. Please advise if you wish this to be sent same day.  Parcelforce items are sent under their express48 service. However please allow up to 4 working days for your item to arrive before contacting us. We have found that their express48 service can take an extra day or two.

 

Minimum order - dangerous goods - Paint/thinners

Paint and thinners classify as flammable liquid and can only be sent via our specialised contract as they are dangerous goods. The cost of this is rather high per parcel so we have a minimum paint/thinners order of 6 tins/bottles to allow us to reduce the postage cost to our customers. 
The minimum order is 6 tins of paint or bottles of thinners or a combination of both. 1 bottle of thinners counts as 1 tin. The paint can be a combination of any colour and tins within coloursets count as individual tins.  If you require any help with this please contact us.
We can send out orders of less than 6 tins/bottles but they incur an extra postage charge. Please contact us if you wish to order less than the minimum. 

 

All other products - WEM Photo etch brass, Infini Models & Pontos Models are all posted Royal Mail, options available at checkout. All orders over £50 have free postage.