Anyone Else See This? Testors Shutting Down Pactra, Floquil

[Ace-Garageguy]

I did some research and it's not hard to find references to the "decline of model railroading", and model trains probably have even less relevance to most younger people than model cars. Trains have become homogenized industrial appliances and no longer inspire the romance that some of us old farts still associate with steam locomotives and rail travel. There are probably no video-game tie-ins (no GTT...Grand Theft Train), and it makes as much sense to a bunch of shiny-new-MBA bean counters to support a hobby that's obviously past-it with a line of historically important paint colors as it would to support "refrigerator modeling" with accurate colors for vintage Kelvinators, Fridgidires and Kenmores.

We have to remember that in today's business environment, making product, like paint, is secondary. Making MONEY is the absolute primary god and goal of any serious business enterprise. Believe that as you watch America's manufacturing base continue to erode, and the bedrock of the economy be systematically exported to China, or anywhere things are still MADE.

As far as the "customer intimacy" BS goes (if it means name-recognition and loyalty from a customer base built up for half a century), this quote from Testors own site seems to indicate it already existed:

"For over 50 years, Floquil classic railroad paints have been the model railroader’s enduring favorite. An iconic brand in the hobby category, Floquil offers an unmatched selection of general railroad colors, essential primers, weathering colors and custom colors matched to the classic railroads of yesterday and today.

• World's largest range of authentically matched U.S. and Canadian railroad colors.
• Superb color fidelity.
• Dries to a hard permanent finish on plastic resin, vinyl, wood and metal.
• Selection of Floquil enamels and Pollyscale acrylic paints and paint brushes.
• Choice of brushable or airbrushable bottle paints and 3 oz. spray paints.
• Unmatched availability and shelf-life."

Yeah, who in their right mind would want to keep THAT brand ?? Just another sign of a changing world, where change isn't always for the better, or even reasonably intelligent.

Edited May 24, 2013 by Ace-Garageguy

[Gramps2u]

The Only floquil color's I use any more since selling off my Narrow gauge layout & collection is Engine Black, Grimy black & grey primer. Like everything else stock up now & as the supply dwindles try to find an alternate product that works. Thanks to the RTR hobby business & the cost of such equipment the MRR hobby is dying a slow painful death. More hobbyists with the immediate satisfaction skills rather then the true Craftsman are left. Coming from an old Narrow gauge modeler whom used to scratch every thing possible, Floquil's demise disgusts me but then again we heard scuttle butt back in the 90's this was going to happen due to Hazmat issues... No surprise here.

Whats next we use Prang water colors from the school supply section?

Edited May 24, 2013 by Gramps2u

[kalbert]

The Only floquil color's I use any more since selling off my Narrow gauge layout & collection is Engine Black, Grimy black & grey primer. Like everything else stock up now & as the supply dwindles try to find an alternate product that works. Thanks to the RTR hobby business & the cost of such equipment the MRR hobby is dying a slow painful death. More hobbyists with the immediate satisfaction skills rather then the true Craftsman are left. Coming from an old Narrow gauge modeler whom used to scratch every thing possible, Floquil's demise disgusts me but then again we heard scuttle butt back in the 90's this was going to happen due to Hazmat issues... No surprise here.

Whats next we use Prang water colors from the school supply section?

Sorry... I have to disagree. There are more, better model railroad products available now than ever, both RTR and kits. The RTR surge has brought many more people to the hobby and as a result more revenue to model makers. Not everyone has time to be a "true craftsman" and RTR is the answer to that. RTR does not prevent "true craftsman" from continuing to scratch build, kit bash, etc. It is those "immediate satisfaction" modelers who are buying RTR rather than building that are keeping the manufacturers and suppliers going. It is also those "immediate satisfaction" modelers who's interests change and develop and go on to become the "true craftsman" that you speak of.

Loosing Floquil has nothing to do with EPA regulations or hazardous materials used in manufacture, if that were true the ModelMaster and Testors solvent paints would be getting dumped too, but they're not. This is purely a business decision, based on business numbers, to drop brands that are not generating revenue and profit on the level that is expected, are perceived to be taking away sales from the flagship brands (Think Ford Ranger vs F150, Oldsmobile vs Buick, Mercury vs Ford, Plymouth vs Dodge.), the resulting savings from smaller facilities and overhead costs, and the realignment of brands to enter the arts and crafts market. Testors (or RPM) has decided they can generate more profit by focusing on one or two brands in one or two facilities and one or two markets than by maintaining several brands in several facilities in several markets. Total revenue will surely be less, but the portion that becomes profit must be significantly more or they wouldn't be making these changes.

Aside from the road name specific colors of Floquil and Pollyscale, there is overlap in the remainder of the colors both within the Testors house. There are also lots of paint options outside of Testors, solvent and acrylic, model railroad specific colors, lexan paints for R/C, etc. Yes loosing iconic brands like Pollyscale, Floquil, and Pactra are a bump in the road, and it is frustrating to loose a favorite product, but there are others out there and hobbies will go on with or without the lost Testors brands.