Colourcoats Paints

[PeterB]

I know it is not about kits, but has anybody else seen the message on Sovereign Hobbies website saying that they are changing direction? Looks like they have paused production of the Colourcoats paint range. I am sad but not entirely surprised. Running that sort of business involves holding an awful lot of stock which is dead money until sold - I suspect that may be why White Ensign went out of the business themselves. If I have misunderstood Jamie's message I apologise, and wish him and his family well for the future. Hopefully the paints will go back into production eventually, perhaps under another owner.

 

Pete

 

PS If I have posted this on the wrong thread then I am sure the mods will move it to the right one.

Edited August 13 by PeterB

[JTninja]

They made a post about it on their facebook back on July 17th and provided a bit more info in the comments. It was requiring more time than they had to give. 

 

[VMA131Marine]

Colourcoats are still enamels, correct? I suspect also that there is a sense that the hobby paint market has shifted mainly to acrylics and lacquers for performance-based and environmental reasons.

[davecov]

@Jamie @ Sovereign Hobbies has made a post recently where he said that the workload was too much so he is shutting down the paint production and concentrating on research.

 

Quote

Hi, we're just winding down the company to offload the accountancy obligations, quarterly VAT returns admin etc etc. We don't have time either to make paint or to process orders which often takes an hour or two per night of picking, labelling, packing, then booking one order at a time into a courier's portal for collection etc. You also tend to get lots of emails and messages from people asking if you have something not listed etc. It all really adds up and really burns through what should be our personal time. It would be fine if it were full time, but it's not. It's after a ~45hr week of main commitment then you find you've got no friends or haven't seen them in years, the house is falling to bits, you haven't wanted to/enjoyed making a model in goodness knows how long and you can't enjoy anything nice as there's a pile of secondary-job work that isn't done. That's why we're not selling off remaining stock.

 

There is no buyer for the remaining stock, the equipment, the brand/rights etc lined up - we just need to jettison the work. If someone wants to buy it all, great, but there's nothing in the pipeline for that. We simply need the work to disappear. Someone with more time to give it would be able to do it justice and do alright out of it financially. We though are stuck between a rock and a hard place.

 

https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235142775-sovereigncolour-coats/&do=findComment&comment=5015233

 

Dave

[JamesP]

15 hours ago, VMA131Marine said:

Colourcoats are still enamels, correct? I suspect also that there is a sense that the hobby paint market has shifted mainly to acrylics and lacquers for performance-based and environmental reasons.

Apart from all the enamel washes...

[Graham Boak]

15 hours ago, VMA131Marine said:

Colourcoats are still enamels, correct? I suspect also that there is a sense that the hobby paint market has shifted mainly to acrylics and lacquers for performance-based and environmental reasons.

No.  If you read what Jamie said, this is a matter of changes in the family lifestyle meaning that the business can no longer be continued.  I don't think that Colourcoats has ever been in that part of the market affected by the popularity of acrylics  To be honest, I don't think that the lacquers are that better for the environment - they smell considerably worse, that's for sure  Water-based acrylics might be, but (at least until recently) have left a lot to be desired in accuracy, if nothing else.

[IT_Man]

17 hours ago, davecov said:

@Jamie @ Sovereign Hobbies has made a post recently where he said that the workload was too much so he is shutting down the paint production and concentrating on research.

 

 

https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235142775-sovereigncolour-coats/&do=findComment&comment=5015233

 

Dave

 

Reminds me of my short spell on the mail order side (going back 17/18 years now) - orders for a few paints were always the worst, taking a lot more time and effort to sort out, for very little profit.

 

Was around the time that getting kits direct from Japan/China directly became more reasonable (when the shop was hamstrung by buying from a wholesaler/importer - particularly Hasegawa went through the roof), so the owner of the shop got pretty frustrated at just selling paints all the time! They didn't last too much longer after that..

[Jamie @ Sovereign Hobbies]

The margins were actually alright but I never had a modest loan of a million or so from rich parents to live off whilst building up to a size where margins x volume could sustain the household - I've always had to work a "real" job to pay the bills. My wife had some capacity back when we started, but has been in full time academia for the last 4 years and will be for the next 4 years, so there's nobody around to do the volume part. It's also not sensible for me to retain all the risk and responsibility for no benefit just to pay someone else to do all the work so the only sensible thing to do is to pull the plug on it. We've always been able to sell more than we could make. We've never sought out dealers. We paid for a couple of ads then decided that was a waste of our money.

 

There's no hidden reason behind all this - I've tried to be completely transparent. I want to enjoy my life which is half gone already. My house is falling to bits, I've got old cars that need TLC. I've got a sailing boat I'm nearly finished building and want to be able to enjoy sailing. I've got a huge stash of models but haven't built one in ages because when you spend all weekend working on paints the last thing you want to do is more work with paints. If I was rich enough to walk away from my day job too I would. I might even prefer to walk away from that and keep making paints - but the day job contributes almost all of the household income.

[85sqn]

@Jamie @ Sovereign Hobbies I just want to say thank you for the time and effort you have put into your craft over the years and for producing such an excellent product. I've used a lot of your paint products on ships and aircraft and it has been absolutely superb. I will be sorry to see you stop producing those paints which have been my go to for several years. I wish you and your family all the best for the future.

 

Nick

[robgizlu]

9 minutes ago, 85sqn said:

@Jamie @ Sovereign Hobbies I just want to say thank you for the time and effort you have put into your craft over the years and for producing such an excellent product. I've used a lot of your paint products on ships and aircraft and it has been absolutely superb. I will be sorry to see you stop producing those paints which have been my go to for several years. I wish you and your family all the best for the future.

 

Nick

Ditto - Understand Jamie and remain grateful for what you've done for RN naval modelling

Rob

[Grey Beema]

@Jamie @ Sovereign Hobbies I would like to echo the sentiments above.  Only a recent convert and luckily enough I stocked up reasonably well.  I moved to Colourcoats because of the posts about colour match.  I have found your paint to be excellent and with the ability to thin it 50:50 good value (until you have to pay customs).  Good luck in what you decide to do next, please keep posting as I find your articles very enlightening.  I might not be a ship modeller but one day, you never know, I might have a crack at a Carrier.. 

 

Good luck...

[Chuck1945]

@Jamie @ Sovereign Hobbies, I’ve not ever used your paints since I quit using enamels about 30 years ago, but I’ve always enjoyed and learned from your posts here about paint, comparisons, manufacturing and so forth. Always worth a read!

[Jochen Barett]

3 hours ago, Jamie @ Sovereign Hobbies said:

The margins were actually alright but I never had a modest loan of a million or so from rich parents to live off whilst building up to a size where margins x volume could sustain the household - I've always had to work a "real" job to pay the bills. My wife had some capacity back when we started, but has been in full time academia for the last 4 years and will be for the next 4 years, so there's nobody around to do the volume part. It's also not sensible for me to retain all the risk and responsibility for no benefit just to pay someone else to do all the work so the only sensible thing to do is to pull the plug on it. We've always been able to sell more than we could make. We've never sought out dealers. We paid for a couple of ads then decided that was a waste of our money.

 

There's no hidden reason behind all this - I've tried to be completely transparent. I want to enjoy my life which is half gone already. My house is falling to bits, I've got old cars that need TLC. I've got a sailing boat I'm nearly finished building and want to be able to enjoy sailing. I've got a huge stash of models but haven't built one in ages because when you spend all weekend working on paints the last thing you want to do is more work with paints. If I was rich enough to walk away from my day job too I would. I might even prefer to walk away from that and keep making paints - but the day job contributes almost all of the household income.

Come on!

[Stephen Allen]

 It’s been a rare privilege in this hobby to buy products from someone who is not just enthusiastic but is prepared to undertake original research from primary sources.  Jamie’s work and that of his co-researchers has recreated colours from original mixes and materials and in the process overturned all sorts of presumptions and accepted ‘truths’ about camouflage and coatings in the RN before and during WW2. He showed genuine courage when his research led him to effectively dump most of his pre-existing range of RN colours (no doubt twisting a few invested noses in the process) and start again from scratch. Like all real researchers, Jamie also admits uncertainty when it is present, something also quite rare amongst the modelling fraternity
 

In an age of CGI and colourised photographs - lets be blunt, colour fakes - and in the face of a fair few so called ‘experts’ who persisted ( and will no doubt continue to persist) in creating and disseminating perversely invented colours and schemes, Jamie’s work has been a standout. I have often read his considered replies to questions here and elsewhere about camouflage.  I have admired his patience in continuing to share his knowledge in the face of endless requests to match a paint to the nearest FS shade or Tamiya mix, and in the presence of some fairly loud online voices proclaiming that any old colour would do, and anyway, it was all painted using muddy mops and paints never matched standards anyway. With Colourcoats you could start from the basis of what was intended at the time, which is a nice place to begin, however much you might weather, fade or otherwise alter the finished result. We all make compromises and guesses in this hobby, more so as the eras we are interested in recede, but it was nice to have one area where you could start from a well researched base.
 

We are, sadly, losing many of the particulars of understanding the past. This is not helped by the ability of modern technology to aid and abet in fakery, and modern society’s preference for generalities rather than specifics. Colourcoats was a rare exception to this trend, providing a key to unlock a significant aspect of the past.  They will be sorely missed, perhaps more than Jamie realises. It was never just about the paint. I wish Jamie and his family every success for the future, and I do hope we continue to benefit in future from the research side of his interests. 

 

Steve

 

[Corsairfoxfouruncle]

15 hours ago, Jamie @ Sovereign Hobbies said:

The margins were actually alright but I never had a modest loan of a million or so from rich parents to live off whilst building up to a size where margins x volume could sustain the household - I've always had to work a "real" job to pay the bills. My wife had some capacity back when we started, but has been in full time academia for the last 4 years and will be for the next 4 years, so there's nobody around to do the volume part. It's also not sensible for me to retain all the risk and responsibility for no benefit just to pay someone else to do all the work so the only sensible thing to do is to pull the plug on it. We've always been able to sell more than we could make. We've never sought out dealers. We paid for a couple of ads then decided that was a waste of our money.

 

There's no hidden reason behind all this - I've tried to be completely transparent. I want to enjoy my life which is half gone already. My house is falling to bits, I've got old cars that need TLC. I've got a sailing boat I'm nearly finished building and want to be able to enjoy sailing. I've got a huge stash of models but haven't built one in ages because when you spend all weekend working on paints the last thing you want to do is more work with paints. If I was rich enough to walk away from my day job too I would. I might even prefer to walk away from that and keep making paints - but the day job contributes almost all of the household income.

Jamie I support your decision 110% life and family are in the end more important. I just hope if you sell it goes to someone that knows what theyre getting. They would be getting one of the pre-eminent paint companies. Sadly Ive never had the chance to use your paints. Mostly because by the time they would get to this side of the pond. They had all been pretty much sold out. So hopefully someone with the ability to expand manufacturing and sales will take the challenge up. 

[SleeperService]

I'm sad to read this too as I have an allergy to acrylics and really like Sovereign's range. I wish I had the money to buy the business and keep it going but I don't.
Thank You for all you've done and I hope you get a great deal of enjoyment from the time you gain - you've earned it.

[Bedders]

Jamie it's probably fair to say that your research, and commitment to putting it into practice by producing accurate paints has raised the bar for accuracy and understanding of colours across the hobby as a whole. That's a huge achievement so many thanks and all best wishes for your future projects.

 

Justin

[-Ian-]

Very sad to hear this when I first read about it a couple of weeks ago but a completely understandable decision. I've only used Colourcoats on 3 kits but they really were a joy to use, sprayed beautifully and gave an excellent colour match, just wish I'd stocked up on them when I had the opportunity. I also found the various posts you've made in the past about the technical aspects of colour matching and paint production enlightening and interesting, I didn't realise quite how much went into it.

[beefy66]

Very sad news but totally understand that work and life balance has to be achieved for you and the family to enjoy the times you have together.  

 

Stay Safe

beefy

[TonyW]

Don't it always seem to go, you don't know what you've got 'till it's gone.

 

Joni Mitchell must have been a modeller.

 

Best wishes for the future Jamie.

[PatG]

Just gone onto their web site and they say they are no longer in the paint making business and will provide updates in due course.

 

Is anyone aware of this?

 

Pat.

[Properjob56]

Sorry to see the business stop but absolutely understand the reasons why. It will, in my view, be a massive loss to the hobby. I’ve used the paints and have nothing but praise for them and the service from Sovereign Hobbies.

It does seem a shame tho that a successful business withdraws from the market. Here’s a thought. How about selling it, and particularly the formulation, to a mainstream company whose paints do not have such good qualities ( the name Humbrol springs to mind) and maybe stay on with said corporation as a consultant? Surely there’s a deal to be done? Everybody wins. Otherwise how else am I going to get Dutch East Indies colours!🤨

[RidgeRunner]

On 8/15/2024 at 1:24 PM, 85sqn said:

@Jamie @ Sovereign Hobbies I just want to say thank you for the time and effort you have put into your craft over the years and for producing such an excellent product. I've used a lot of your paint products on ships and aircraft and it has been absolutely superb. I will be sorry to see you stop producing those paints which have been my go to for several years. I wish you and your family all the best for the future.

 

Nick

I’ll second that! Good luck, Jamie et al. Martin

[Casey]

We are.

 

I personally think it is a serious loss for all modellers, having a company that cares about color accuracy and proper research in addition to paint quality is something we will miss greatly.

 

And I am saying that after I just tested Revell RAF colors that had really bad color matches even if paint quality was fine...

Edited August 21 by Casey

[Ad-4N]

Glad I got my paints for the HMS Snowberry when I did.