My father recently started a model with my nephew and I noticed he had purchased a set of Testors paints. I'm not surprised - that's what we used years ago and it's readily available at the local craft store - but I shared my impression that more modelers use Tamiya or Vallejo or Life Color. So how are the Testors paints (both the classic line in the little square jars and the Model Master series)? Can they be airbrushed? Do they brush paint well? What do you thin them with? My father piqued my interest and I'd like to answer his questions accurately.

I have never had a problem with Testors/MM paints. They brush well and provide a smooth finish when run through an ab. I use the cheapest paint thinner I can find. If you really want to superclean your ab afterwards, you can run some MEK through it. I will caution you, MEK is some nasty stuff. Make sure you wear a mask and spray in a well ventilated area. It will also disolve some plastics. I would recomend the enamels over the acryls. If you do go with acryls, thin with distilled water and a couple of drops of Windex.

Thanks, Matt. My father bought this basic enamel set:

http://www.testors.com/product/136644/9131X/_/Military_Flat_Enamel_8_Color_Paint_Set

I see Testors sells enamel thinner too. Is there anything cheaper that Home Depot might carry? Ten bucks for eight ounces won't break my father financially, but he might have something suitable lying around his workshop.

Bill,

I haven't bought Testors enamels in over 30 years, but the old ones thinned well with mineral spirits. Surprisingly, the small number that I have on hand (from way back when) still seem ok.

If in doubt, try a couple of drops in a bottle cap with a couple of drops of mineral spirits - no great loss if it doesn't work.

Bill;

Hi!

The old Testor's enamels in the small, square bottles thin well with all sorts of basic enamel thinners and white spirits. I still have one of those Testor's sets I got back in 1971. They came out of the garage boxes recently and, aside from needing a huge amount of mixing, have worked out well for hand brushing.

I used them well-thinned in my old Paasche AB back in the early 70's - they did OK. I have recently tried tat old set out in my current Iwata and Badger AB and they worked there, too. Nowhere's as good IMO as the Testor's MM enamels nor any of the current acrylics, for air-brushing, but they can be used. As always, thinner works better in the AB.

Cheers!

Bob

I had that same paint set when I began modelling. Unfortunately, my house burned down and I lost all my kits and supplies. Although, it made for some great knocked out vehicles.

I do use the little original bottles of Testors Model paints, which are enamel based for hand painting. They actually make some neat colors like Rubber, and Rust that look quite realistic. Plain old, cheap, run of the mill Odorless Mineral Spirits is what I use to clean my brushes.

As for Model Master paints, they come in two different lines: Enamels and Acrylics. Both come in a full line of Military and general colors. Both have fine pigment qualities, and spray great through an air brush. I thin the enamels with Odorless Mineral Spirits, and the acrylics with either distilled water or Tamiya's X20-A.

The MM Acrylics aren't the best choice if you will be doing any masking, as they tend to pull up even with the use of Tamiya Tape.

The advantage to the Testors and Model Master lines for me is that the LHS carry them, while one carries Tamiya paints, but the rack is nearly always half empty.