Humbrol paint

[berr13]

I really like Humbrol paint, but I really, REALLY don't like "tinlets".

There. I feel better.

[bbowser]

I have to agree! I've got a few and the paint is fine, but getting those tins sealed back up or open is a PITA.

[robertw]

I agree with you to some degree but on the positive side, with Humbrol one doesn't have to worry about lids getting glued on because paint filled the gooves in the screw caps. I'm a long time Humbrol user dating back to the primeval days of the hobby and they still have the finest pigments of any enamel paint and flow on smoother then other paints.

[GlueTube]

Agreed 100%. The flow out characteristics when airbrushed are excellent as well, requiring little if any polishing.

Regards

Brian Kroon

[Harry P.]

Like the paint, hate the "tinlets." Unless you keep the seal area scrupulously clean, dried paint will inevitably gunk up the seal and the paint will evaporate, even when "sealed." I've lost several tins of Humbrol that way. Close it, open it up days (or weeks) later, and all that's left is useless thick goop.

I think all hobby paints that come in bottles (not sprays) should be packaged in plastic bottles with plastic caps, like acrylic craft paints are packaged. Enamel won't stick to that plastic, so you'd never have a stuck cap.

[greymack]

Yup I agree with the rest of you guys. There are pro's and con's to all paint containers. But on the other hand the tins do come in handy for mixing paints.I bought a small can opener and I cut

the top of the tin it works great.Try it out guys.

[Mike Kucaba]

You Could always buy some glass bottles and decant the paint into them. A painter's trick also punch small holes in the tinlet where the paint seeps in. The paint will flow back into the tinlet and when you put the cap back on it seals the can and the holes.

[Mark]

I like the paint, and the tinlets. When I get the lid pried off, I'll keep a piece of aluminum foil handy, and wipe as much of the paint from the lid as possible onto it. That then goes back into the tinlet, and gets mixed (I don't usually shake them). The paint left on the inside of the lid then gets wiped off; first with a Q-tip (with the "fuzz" removed) and then a rag. If you clean the lid and the top of the tinlet prior to putting the lid on, there's seldom a problem getting the lid off again.

I still like to paint a lot of parts with a brush. My dad taught me how to apply paint with a brush years ago; he also showed me how to keep the brushes in great shape but, unfortunately, I don't always have the patience to do that so I'm hard on brushes. Humbrol is the best enamel I've tried for brushing; usually it covers with a single coat. I've never had much luck airbrushing it, though. If I try again, I'll probably start with a brand new tinlet, and decant straight to the airbrush bottle. A LHS that opened about two years ago here sells Humbrol; the owner tells me the nearest dealer is over a hundred miles away. I'm glad I can get it again. I just hope they don't have to mess with it to meet some unknown/upcoming regulation...

[charlie8575]

I just hope they don't have to mess with it to meet some unknown/upcoming regulation...

One more reason all regulations should be released for public comment....

But I digress.

I find I like the cans, actually. I find they generally keep the paint better. I remember someone advising putting a small amount of thinner on the paint in the can, and that helps stop the dry-out.

Worst case, as long as what's in there is at least sort of liquid/paste, I've found some paint thinner usually brings it right back after stirring for a minute or two.

I do like Humbrol, too. Some of the best paint I've used period.

Charlie Larkin

[berr13]

Mark: thanks for the idea about the Q-tip--never thought of that. I try to wipe the tinlets and lids with a shop towel as I use them, but I like your idea better. I've also tried pouring the paint from the tin into a glass jar, but that didn't work too well. I don't think I got all the pigment out of the old and into the new jar, and the paint was thin and tended to dry up. You guys have some great ideas--keep 'em coming!

[DrGlueblob]

I like Humbrol, and the tinlets too. I seal them with a little candle wax if I'm not going to be using that color for awhile.

[Brett Barrow]

Do not put enamels into plastic squeeze bottles! I transferred a bunch of Humbrols into Vallejo bottles and they hardened in about a week. Apparently there was a reaction with one of the chemicals in the plastic.

Humbrols are in tinlets because they're lighter and able to be packed more densely than paints in glass bottles, saving money on shipping. Even though Humbrols come all the way from England, they're the cheapest hobby paint by volume in the US.

[jas1957]

Great paint plus I like the tins, I have some more than 20 years old that are still viable.

[checkmate]

I'm a Humbrol fan, it's all our local to shop sells so it's been what I've used my whole modelling life. I have bought and used other brands I've got when out of town but I still favour the Humbrol product.

I paint bodies with Duplicolor spray cans I get at the local car parts shop.

[Mike_G]

[grayghost]

Sounds like i need to give humbrol a try.

I thinned some testors with the Lacquer thinner last year about

this time.When i opened it all of it was like one big rubber ball.

I cleaned the lid and wiped down the bottel.I then screwd the lid on

tight.Did the Lacquer thinner do this?The lid was on tight so

i don't think it was air.

[GlueTube]

Yup. Seen it happen many times...use the Thinner or Turpentine. Better only thin what you are going to use at that time and keep the paint virgin.

Regards

Brian Kroon

[grayghost]

Thanks Brian.

But was it the thinner or was it the air.

As you said i will stick to thinning only what i will be working with.

Edited May 29, 2014 by grayghost

[charlie8575]

Sounds like i need to give humbrol a try.

I thinned some testors with the Lacquer thinner last year about

this time.When i opened it all of it was like one big rubber ball.

I cleaned the lid and wiped down the bottel.I then screwd the lid on

tight.Did the Lacquer thinner do this?The lid was on tight so

i don't think it was air.

I've never seen that happen with any lacquer thinned Testors paints, although I suppose it could be possible.

I would suspect air caused this. I have had that happen.

After putting thinner on the paint to help keep the bottle full, I would suggest storing the bottle upside down, which acts as a very effective air barrier.

Charlie Larkin

[peekay]

Imagine the mess in a hobby shop if Humbrol paint wasn't in those tins....

[charlie8575]

Imagine the mess in a hobby shop if Humbrol paint wasn't in those tins....

Well done, Peter.

Or if the other paints weren't in their respective bottles...

Charlie Larkin