Humbrol Matt enamels, matt or ?

[akaryu]

Hello Planeteers

After using Humbrol Matt enamels for undercoating for over forty years, I wonder why lately the drying aspect has become something haphazardly? Sometimes spot-on matt, sometimes not drying at all well or forming a gooey coat which has to be taken off.

Has the production or composition of the enamels changed? From my side, there is no change of external factors, which might explain the hit-or-miss results experienced lately.

Any light welcome,

Pierre

 

[Ian Pen]

Hi Pierre, I think this is true of many paints, colours, batches seem to be the issue. If I am honest, I think Humbrol Matt paints seem more satin these days. I have thrown five or six paints as you describe, enamel and acrylic away recently.

The other issue I've been having with Humbrol enamel is it doesn't always have the durability it seemed to have and rubs off. Some colours always did this, now it seems most do. Ian

 

[valiant]

Its for these reasons I binned all my enamels some years ago and moved to acrylics. Ive not really regretted it, although it took a while to get to grips with using new techniques!

 

[David Spencer]

I use Humbrol enamels almost exclusively.
I haven't had the problems you describe, but try very hard to nurture them so they last as long as possible, and are consistent in their finish.
(That's not to imply that you aren't careful too, of course)
They're fragile in the tin, always dry up before they've been used up, and take hours to dry. But: the slow drying can be used as an asset for blending, and I'm too damned far down this line to switch and learn a new technique.
So, without wanting to patronise you at all - and please forgive me if this is stating the obvious - mix well every time you use them, keep them wet with regular doses of white spirit, make sure the lids are held shut cos the buggers sometimes pop loose (bicycle wheel nuts fit inside the lid-tops, and can be held in place with a tight elastic band) and I hope you solve the problem.
Best of luck.

 

[David Spencer]

To illustrate the description above

 

[DeanM]

Hello Pierre

Humbrol enamels have been reformulated in mid 2022 due to one of its constituent chemicals being banned for being environmentally hazardous.

While I have personally not seen much mention of this change in figure forums, there has been comment on various model railway sites about the reformulation of the paint and changes to the characteristics and handling. Largely negative unfortunately.

Hope this is helpful.
Regards Dean

 

[arj]

The original Humbrol paints, that seemed to last almost for ever in well sealed tins, contained an anti skinning agent known as MEKO (Methylethyl ketone oxime).

Unfortunately for us, this chemical was classified as a carcinogen in 2022, and was banned. See the HSA announcement:- https://www.hsa.ie/eng/your_industry/chemicals/most_read/paint_containing_meko/

This resulted in Humbrol having to redesign their mix, which has given us what we experince now. i.e. a paint of somewhat inconsistent quality (unlike Revell who seem to have overcome this problem with their remix).

Cheers,
Andrew

 

[akaryu]

Thank you all for the clarifying information guys!

Might consider my base coating ways.

And how very thoughtful of the HSA, though I never drink my paint, I only splash it on my figures!

Cheers,

Pierre

 

[David Spencer]

Thank you all for the clarifying information guys!

Might consider my base coating ways.

And how very thoughtful of the HSA, though I never drink my paint, I only splash it on my figures!

Cheers,

Pierre

I've had a few dreams where I drank the thinners.
Always woke up thirsty.
But never fancied any white spirit.

 

[gazer]

Pierre, if I may rely on a higher "authority", I can tell you that I heard Bill Horan, famous for using Humbrol enamels, mentioning the inconsistencies of the newly formulated enamels in a January 2022 episode of the "Small Subjects" podcast.

I don't know if it helps, but at least it indicates that the problem does not lie with you.

Best,

Benny

 

[Ned Ricks]

Gents -
How many decades ago (?) I settled on using Humbrol when Military Modeling articles would demo their use and suggest mixes of the numbered colors.

In the years since, I have also accumulated Model Master and Testors enamels. For all of the above, I periodically have to add a squirt of thinner (usually Humbrol from the bottle.) The tins, I agree sometimes let go and ruin the contents. For that reason, I give the lids a sealing tap with a small mallet.

As for the coverage, drying results, etc, I have noticed the lack of adhesion,especially directly on to the resin. Primer helps, although I sometimes get lazy and skip that step.

Nonetheless, whenever I can, I use Humbrol, still.
Enjoy!