Tamiya - First the primers... NOW THE BLACKS!!!

[Drake69]

For those that know, Tamiya primers were removed from the market in January this year (some say earlier...) supposedly over warning labels not consistant with California State laws. Now, the black paints are getting WAY scarce, starting with the Semi-Gloss Black.

Just an FYI. Expect other commonly used colors to follow suit in the near future.

[SuperStockAndy]

For the love of-

You're kidding me right???????

They're really the ONLY ones that have semi-gloss black!!!!!!!

And I can't afford an airbrush to mix my own! ¬_¬

[MikeMc]

For those that know, Tamiya primers were removed from the market in January this year (some say earlier...) supposedly over warning labels not consistant with California State laws. Now, the black paints are getting WAY scarce, starting with the Semi-Gloss Black.

Just an FYI. Expect other commonly used colors to follow suit in the near future.

PANIC SETS IN>>>WRONG FACTS

http://www.towerhobbies.com/plastic/listings/acrylic_paint.html

The facts are that Tamiya has stopped importing many products thanks to CA and the laws, All primers, Thinners (lacquer and acryl) are all being relabeled and will start coming back soon. I have yet to see any official announcements from Tamiya, just hearsay thru dealers. If you follow the tower link, you will see many colors out of stock...NOW

...please stop rumors from spreading

[Guest Markus355]

krylon makes an excellent semi gloss black, for about half the money as tamiya for twice as much paint.

Jus' sayin.

[Lownslow]

stupid california i wish it would sink already

[Ryan S.]

stupid california i wish it would sink already

I don't think I could handle the sinking, seeing how I live here...but floating out to join Hawaii...I could be okay with that.

[Drake69]

PANIC SETS IN>>>WRONG FACTS

http://www.towerhobbies.com/plastic/listings/acrylic_paint.html

The facts are that Tamiya has stopped importing many products thanks to CA and the laws, All primers, Thinners (lacquer and acryl) are all being relabeled and will start coming back soon. I have yet to see any official announcements from Tamiya, just hearsay thru dealers. If you follow the tower link, you will see many colors out of stock...NOW

...please stop rumors from spreading

I should have corrected myself. Yes, they ARE BEING RELABELED and WILL BE RE-RELEASED, but they are definitely not following any particular timetable, and this comes from Tamiya America. DIRECTLY. They were to have the primers back into the market by mid-May, but the last email I received from them has no listing of a date.

Dear Tamiya Customer,

The targeted re-released date was May of 2011, but that date has been pushed

back and unfortunately we have no confirmed date at this time.

Thank you,

Tamiya America

Customer Service

When I went to my local hobby shop for Semi-Gloss Black (figures...), I was told that there was no more black product until they get relabeled, and other colors to follow based on popularity (like whites, metals, chromatics, etc...).

[charlie8575]

stupid california i wish it would sink already

Just as long as only the "sky is falling crowd" are the only ones that we lose.......

California is, in this instance, I believe being rouge. They are flying in the face of all applicable federal regulations, which have been met. This isn't even nullification, but rather a lot of whining and foolishness by a group of people who have nothing better to do.

Charlie Larkin

[jbwelda]

>stupid california i wish it would sink already

its called "welcome to california".

and i live out in the sacramento river delta and it IS sinking!

the thing i cannot figure is that if it were just california that was the problem, wouldnt they be selling the product in other nearby states? not to mention over the internet but maybe not to cali addresses? and i take it its not even available in japan?

if they really are just relabeling it, its hard to believe there is no product on the shelf just because they arent labelled properly. you would think there would be relabeled stock in stores and the general supply chain the very next week (earthquakes and tsunamis excepted of course, and maybe that was part of the problem).

personally i think they are reformulating their paint and it might not be the same again. or i guess it could end up better somehow.

then the question comes up...would the reformulation be for the entire world, or would they have to produce two products, one for the world and one for the USA? seems like a lot of trouble just for the USA or maybe just the california market.

[Drake69]

From another website, a written mail from Tamiya America...

From Tamiya:

"In an effort to maintain the high standards so many of our customers have become accustom to, and rely on, Tamiya America, Inc is working diligently to update certain chemical products. A major part of these updates include new or revised labeling to ensure Tamiya America, Inc. is complying with the highest consumer safety standards set by the U.S. government in conjunction with the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

We are aware the majority of you are experiencing some difficulties during this period. Please keep in mind we are working as quickly as possible to get the affected products back into your hands and the hands of the consumers.

Below is brief update on a few of the key items:

Tamiya Acrylic Paint (813XX, 817XX, 815XX & 810XX), Tamiya Putty (87053 & 87095), Tamiya Cements (87012 & 87038), Tamiya Thinners (81520, 81020, 81030, 81040, & 87077), Tamiya Primers (87026, 87042, 87044, 87061, 87064, 87075, & 87096)

All items listed above are currently in the process of relabeling. The next phase in our process is ordering for distribution, anticipated re-release date May/June 2011 or sooner.

We will continue to work as quickly as possible with all parties involved to complete the process and provide your customers with products of the highest quality and standards. We apologize for this inconvenience and appreciate your continued support."

Tamiya America

[LAone]

i heard they were only relabeling them. but there was no set date of when they would be back on shelfs. i was told mid may, by a LHS but they have yet to see them. ehh, time for patience to kick in.

[ra7c7er]

On the note of the regular line paint starting to get scarce. Tamiya stopped shipping all of their paint a few months back. The reason why we are just now seeing some of the other paint not on the shelves is because the distributors are just now running out of it. The primer went first, then common basic colors (blacks, whites, blues, reds, etc) then the rest of the colors would start to disappear. I wouldn't doubt that in an extended absence from the market the only Tamiya paint we would see on the shelves is pink.

[MikeMc]

On the note of the regular line paint starting to get scarce. Tamiya stopped shipping all of their paint a few months back. The reason why we are just now seeing some of the other paint not on the shelves is because the distributors are just now running out of it. The primer went first, then common basic colors (blacks, whites, blues, reds, etc) then the rest of the colors would start to disappear. I wouldn't doubt that in an extended absence from the market the only Tamiya paint we would see on the shelves is pink.

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXRS06&P=SM

Nope the pink is out of stock.

I did get a letter from someone in the know....the issues are a bit cloudy now..more to come.

[ra7c7er]

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXRS06&P=SM

Nope the pink is out of stock.

I did get a letter from someone in the know....the issues are a bit cloudy now..more to come.

lol, Tower needs to get a hold of several hobby shops and buy some pink paint.

[Len Geisler]

For the love of-

You're kidding me right???????

They're really the ONLY ones that have semi-gloss black!!!!!!!

And I can't afford an airbrush to mix my own! ¬_¬

Andy,

You may want to give Harbor Freight a try, I just picked up one of their air brush kits, on sale for $7.98. It isn't my Aztec by any means, but if ya want to get started with an airbrush @ a really low cost, this is the ticket.

Good Luck

[jbwelda]

dispatch from Rockville Maryland:

Tamiya 87044 Fine Surface Primer L (White) 180ml

It is sealed in plastic wrap.

Local pickup only.

Please email and arrange for the pickup at a local public place.

Cash only.

end dispatch

pickup at a public place, bring cash. pretty sketchy i would say. now we got a black market in primer!

[Pete J.]

Hmmm, Good thing I've got a decent stock pile of Tamiya sprays! (although I am low on the blacks!)Might have something to do with the fact that Tamiya has a place of business in California, that they have to relabel them. Kinda like CA residents have to comply with all CA smog laws which happen to be the strictest on the planet. (Neener neener)

Paul

Hey Paul - I see the 935 in the photo. You ever going to finish that beast??

[LOBBS]

Years ago I made a habit out of picking up a can of clear, black, semi-gloss black and flat black Tamiya every time I went to the hobby shop whether I needed it or not. I'm stocked up until Armageddon if need be.

Edited May 30, 2011 by LOBBS

[Chuck Most]

What's so bad about not being able to buy semi gloss black? Mix gloss and flat 50/50, and boom- instant semigloss. THE SKY IS NOT FALLING!!!!

[CEKPETHO BCE]

Pardon my ignorance, but are we talking about the small jars or sprays? This reminds me to restock tomo on tamiya products

[charlie8575]

then the question comes up...would the reformulation be for the entire world, or would they have to produce two products, one for the world and one for the USA? seems like a lot of trouble just for the USA or maybe just the california market.

Actually, Bill, re-formulating something because of the ridiculous regulations and failure to properly manage torts and bureaucrats in this country isn't unheard of. Neither is some kind of weird re-labeling. I've heard of several products over the years (paints and other stuff) that had to have special blends for the U.S. Fortunately, we're a big enough market so it's worth it. If, however, the modeling hobby shrinks much more, next time some drool-cup activist/bureaucrat/lawyer/troublemaker speaks, we may start losing products, and then we all lose because it won't be an economically-feasible option to make special stuff to suit the needs of some squeaking wheel that probably doesn't even build models.

Humbrol paints, which are the same globally from what I can tell, have special stickers over the painted-on labels to comply with some regulatory drivel.

Whether it's actually reformulating or just some kind of insane labeling exercise, it's creating a major disturbance in the marketplace that would probably be unnecessary with sensible regulation.

Charlie Larkin

[charlie8575]

For the love of-

You're kidding me right???????

They're really the ONLY ones that have semi-gloss black!!!!!!!

And I can't afford an airbrush to mix my own! ¬_¬

Andy, you have several options.

1. Model Master Chrome Black.

2. Model Master S/G black in both Acryl and enamel lines

3. If you like spray paints, VHT makes a really nice semi-gloss black intended for roll cages and race car interiors. You can get it at most auto parts stores for about $6/can. It goes on very easily, you can almost get away without primer. It also dries very quickly.

Charlie Larkin

[niteowl7710]

Since two people have now asked, and have been told to buy airbrushes, but never had their original question answered...

This effects the spray paint, not the little bottles of paint. There's still more than enough X-18 to go around for everyone, or at least there is at my LHS, who just got a re-stock of the the acrylics last week (I know since I bought the last jars of several colors back in April, and he had fresh stock in May.)

Paint is like motor oil, antifreeze, and most other common "chemicals". Along with most food companies too come to think about it. There are only a few companies that actually make it, and then they co-brand it to several specific brands. Figure out who makes Tamiya spray paint, and then buy the cheaper off-brand, but just as good stuff.

[jbwelda]

>There are only a few companies that actually make it, and then they co-brand it to several specific brands. Figure out who makes Tamiya spray paint, and then

>buy the cheaper off-brand, but just as good stuff.

i am with you on this sometimes, but i think in this case, tamiya does actually make its own paint, or at least formulates it themselves. they are a pretty well vertically integrated company. now they might also sell it to other companies, and possibly someone might sell it cheaper that way, but i have never heard of it.