Firstly, I accept that I am behind the times still persevering with Humbrol enamels. I know all the arguments against them and that modern water based paints are better etc. However, they are what I’ve always used and I think I still get reasonable results with them. They are much better for painting figures than acrylics and I use the media to get the effects I want. But I’m beginning to feel backed into a corner. Why? Well Humbrol appear to be deleting the colours I need from their range. First to go was Matt 115, which is a perfect match for the grey/green colour for German gearboxes and lower half of the interior of WW2 German vehicles, pre-1942. Next to go was Matt 74 - Linen; mixed 4:1 with 41 Ivory Gloss, a perfect Elfenbein. Also unobtainable is Matt 75 - Bronze green for post war British vehicles. Now I can’t find 117, US Light Green, which is the correct colour green for German three colour camouflage. See what I mean? These colours are still obtainable in acrylic, but that doesn’t help me much as of course they won’t mix with enamels. If anyone out there has changed media and has these colours of unopened tins, I will buy them (UK only).
I sincerely hope not.
That would be a disaster.
Apparently this has been going on for some time (since 2022):
I am also a long time enamels user. Tried acrylics but did not like them. I have been noticing also that many colours in the Humbrol range are disappearing. I have a good stash of Humbrols but am now also using Revell Enamels. They have a great range and include a perfect Field Grey, since Humbrol discontinued 111. Recommend you try them.
Thanks. I have got some Revell colours, e.g. their Matt 65 is a good swop for Humbrol’s 75, the bronze green. However there is no corresponding direct swap for 117. I notice they do a set of six military vehicle colours, including a desert sand, but I’m not sure if they are German colours. There is another one with six RAL colours but they look like they are for aircraft (different colours).
RAL colors are for vehicles. RLM colors are for aircraft.
As a Polish patriot I recommend you try Hataka Orange for airbrushing - they have some nice colour matches and they dry a lot better than Humbrols.
Ah, I wasn’t aware of that. Useful to know. Thanks.
I like them too but they are hard to find, especially individual bottles. Sprue brothers used to carry the whole line of individual bottles. I have not been able to find another site that does.
Joe
You might try to order them directly from the manufacturer:
https://www.hataka-hobby.com/en_US
They write if th package is under 0,5kg (a little over 1 lbs.) the shipping is 6 EUR - could be worse, eh?
Hope it helps, have a nice day
Paweł
The Hataka Orange Line are lacquers. They are spectacular paints. I buy as much of them as I can get. They brush paint beautifully and are pigment rich. They also airbrush perfectly mixed 50\50 with Mr. Color Levelling Thinner and shot at 15 PSI. They dry quickly and are as hard as nails. I can’t recommend them highly enough.
Sometimes still use a few. Depends on what I need. I like the toughness of the paint despite the mixing, longer drying times and smell of thinner. Have a box filled full going back to the 90’s. They definitely have changed the ingredients because newer tins I’ve bought behave differently, are sometimes translucent and some colours have completely changed. For example 60 red now has a very noticeable brown look to it. I’m not sure I buy one of the excuses given (I really don’t want this to get political) because Revell haven’t changed theirs!
Almost completely using Vallejo these days. Sometimes, Revell Aqua, AK waterbased, Games Workshop and I am slowly building up a collection of Humbrol’s new acrylic which is quite good. Can’t say I’ve ever gotten on with Tamiya and Gunze. Not good for brush painting and airbrushing can be hit and miss for me. Have to admit that I do love Tamiya’s clear colours. The red and green are great for painting nav lights!
Matt where do you get the hataka orange? And can you get individual bottles? I don’t like buying a whole set for one or two colors.
Joe
Hi Joe,
I get them from Sprue Brothers, eBay, or straight from Hataka. Individual bottles are for sale.
That’s where I got them before
JoeUnfortunately spruce brothers do not have the single bottles anymore.
Do Revell not do the bronze green ? I’m also behind the times, I bought a good supply of enamel paints 15 years ago when I had money to spend.
I’ve got airbrushes , compressors etc but don’t enjoy the mixing and cleaning, it’s not why I build AFV’s - to end up doing something I don’t enjoy ( see also etch brass and ridiculously fiddly track links)
The way enamel paint can be weathered and worked whilst wet beats acrylics imho.
Yes, they do it’s Revell 65. I’ve got some.