Large Scale Central

Floquil Paint Farewell?

General Discussion
#1

While I haven’t seen a formal announcement, there’s a lot of buzz on the Internet about Testor’s doing away with the Floquil Brand.

Net of it is:

They are dropping these brands entirely:

Pactra: all items under this brand, including R/C paints, trim tapes, etc
Floquil: all items under this brand
Pollyscale: All items under this brand

References:

http://kitforums.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=8305&start=0

http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?3,3079078

http://www.modelrailroadforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=31698

I was a huge fan of Floquil when I was doing HO in the 70s and 80s, but now that I’m modeling outside, I am not so keen on them. The paint is just not as good as I remember, plus it doesn’t do well outside at all.

For my buildings, I use exterior grade paint custom mixed at Home Depot; it’s a lot cheaper per ounce then Floquil ever was and holds up well outside.

I’ve also started using Badger Modelflex paints for my rolling stock; it’s a bit harder to come by, but maybe more places will stock it since there won’t be any more Floquil.

For those of you that swear by Floquil, now’s the time to stock up.

#2

Bruce-

Any further information as to rationale for discontinuing Pactra, Pollyscale, and Floquil – considering these are THE paints used in the model RR hobby? However, while doubtful, ending a brand name may mean replacing it with another product name. My guess is Testors will not offer a paint replacement. My second guess is ready-to-run products don’t require “bashing” or repair painting and RTR defines today’s hobby industry whether it be planes, trains, or boats. Therefore, paint sales don’t warrant suppliers.

Any data contrary to this possible manufacturer’s perception of the model RR industry?

Thanks for the notice. I use Floquil as a base coat and then spray with Testor’s clear (in the can).

Wendell

#3

Wendell, just lots of speculation…

They are getting a few dissenters on their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Testors/186766180261?fref=ts&filter=2

And some more discussions:

http://www.nscale.net/forums/showthread.php?30392-Testors-to-discontinue-Floquil-Polyscale-and-Pactra-lines

http://www.nscale.net/forums/showthread.php?30390-Bye-Bye-Floquil-Pollyscale-amp-Pactra&s=a578c2c37b06aaeb7955977ce123458c

http://www.rctech.net/forum/painting-designs-graphics-photography/731568-pactra-paint-being-discontinued.html

http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/node/13972

Interesting that they have only announced this to distributors…

#4

And a corporate reply (from Facebook)

Testors Many of you have expressed disappointment regarding our decision to exit Floquil and Polyscale. Decisions such as these are never easy. Trends in model railroading have changed over time. Creating product for weathering and scenery has been more of the focus as train cars have moved to pre-decorated. The good news is that the same great products for weathering and scenery can be found in Testor’s CreateFX line that is available now. Please check your local hobby shop or www.testors.com for information regarding this product line.

We appreciate your passion for our business. We look forward to introducing you to this exciting new product line that is great for today’s modeler as well as future generations.

#5

So to me that response sounds like they are just consolidation lines. Probably because they mostly compete with themselves. Not uncommon. GM is a huge sales volume example.

#6

Jon Radder said:

So to me that response sounds like they are just consolidation lines. Probably because they mostly compete with themselves. Not uncommon. GM is a huge sales volume example.

Jon, I believe you are correct. One of the posts in one of the discussions said:

They are closing a 115,000 sq ft. production facility and “merging” it with an existing 27,000 sq ft. facility. Do the math. The 170 current employees are not all going to fit under that new roof. There are many in the Model Railroad side of things that are very upset. The Testors facebook page has blown up with close to 100 negative comments since about 6pm last night.

I don’t think it’s panic time, but then I’ve been using less and less of their paints over the years.

For figures, I have found the Vallejo brand to be much better than Floquil.

I really like the ModelFlex line for painting my rolling stock.

I used to like Krylon rattle cans, but they changed their formula to make it much easier for me to craze the finish. :frowning:

#7

I too used Floquil quite a bit, when I was modeling N-scale…

People get mad, cause they mostly care about themselves… The company could keep making all the paint varieties and go bankrupt, that would sure help a lot of modelers… Or, they can do what they are doing now, consolidating and trying to stay in business…

Noone wants to see the Big picture nor the future…

Mostly now, with G-scale, I use rattle cans from Home depot or Lowes, but that mixture is changing too, and what worked before doesn’t work now…

#8

I am not the biggest fan of Testors ModelMaster line, they were good once upon a time, today, not so much. I have said my rant on the MLS and MR page, that being said I have had good luck of late using Tamiya water based colors, the selection is more limited but for brushing on they have been very good quality for my indoor stuff. I hear they are also excellent for airbrushing once thinned down a tad. But I may have to stock up on Floquil Engine Black and Grimy Black.

#9

I heard about this on several of the plastic modeling websites. I have not used any Floquil paints on my large scale stuff except grimy black and dust, however I do use it a lot in my dark side hobby of model aircraft. Their paints dry fast and are very durable when used on styrene, their reefer white and reefer yellow will cover better in one coat than any other solvent based paint I have found. Over the years I have tried using various brands of acrylic paints but find that the conversion, at least when it comes to airbrushing requires more of a learning curve than I’m willing to invest in.

Checking around last night on the net I found that Hobbylinc seems to have a good supply and I placed an order for enough of the colors I use the most to last me several years, hopefully by the time I run out I will have found suitable substitutes.

#10

Hmm, the Pactra thing kinda bites. I use their vinyl striping. Guess I’ll be sending Jeff Damherst an order for a sheet of vinyl cut to 1/32" and 1/16" thicknesses in gold, white, and silver.

Haven’t used Floquil or PolyScale in ages upon ages. ModelFlex is my normal “go-to” paint when I need quality. Otherwise, it’s the 99-cent craft paints or Krylon or equivalent.

Later,

K

#11

I use floquil pretty exclusively for my HO stuff and some largescale stuff but the largescale has to be clearcoated with UV paint to keep them from fading out. Their rattle cans though over the past few years have gone to hell. I also use pactra for my RC cars. It’s hard to find floquil in the hobby stores around here as they just haven’t been stocked now I see why.

I understand the economy thing and competing with yourself. The sad part is they are doing away with the good product and keeping the junk. Testors paint is garbage and their model master line is just slightly above garbage. I have bought two jars of the same paint that don’t even match.

Oh well pretty much how it goes. Like with rattle cans anyone remember Ultra Flat Black? perfect for loco boilers. Discontinued. Clear matte? Discontinued. Now clear flat. Grab it while you can… Or you can buy Lowe’s Valspar clear flat. Non UV and it will yellow, yay us!

Terry

#12

We can all complain about how the newer formulas are not as good as the old; and I agree. But it’s not the fault of the manufacturers. There are very tough new laws on VOCs. Paint makers are scrambling to try and develop low VOC products that work as well as the old formulas. So far, it’s not working so good.

Unfortunately we do need protection from ourselves. I lost my sense of smell for over 3 years and then had to re-train my brain when it came back different all due to using a paint product in close quarters without a respirator. And this was a short term (3-4 day) exposure.

#13

I used Floquil extensively for locomotives and rolling stock when I modeled in HO and On3 and Pactra for figures and some structures. Excellent paints for indoors but lacking for outdoors.

I would consider the loss of these brands unfortunate for indoor modelers.

Government bureaucrats are always trying to protect us from something. Back about the 1960-70s there was a big drive to protect glue sniffers from plastic cement. They mandated new plastic cement that indeed was safe. Trouble was it couldn’t be used to hold two pieces of plastic together. I see some similarity to some of the new paint formulas.

#14

All Floquil paint products have been on the banned substance list for many years here in Europe. I used to use them exclusivly back in the 70’s when I was building a lot of white metal 00 scale locomotives for friends.

They have stood up very well, too, as I recall from the last time I saw any of my models.

tac, ig, ken the GFT & The ‘airbrush Boys’

#15

tac Foley said:

All Floquil paint products have been on the banned substance list for many years here in Europe. I used to use them exclusivly back in the 70’s when I was building a lot of white metal 00 scale locomotives for friends.

They have stood up very well, too, as I recall from the last time I saw any of my models.

tac, ig, ken the GFT & The ‘airbrush Boys’

tac I’m still surprised that given all the ridiculous nanny state rules over there that they are still allowing sales of white metal parts and kits.

#16

A couple of reasonable substitutes:

True Color Paint and ScalecoatII Model Paint.

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#17

Looks like MicroMark is stepping into the paint business…

http://www.micromark.com/microlux-paints.html

Not a lot of colors yet, but looks like more to come.

#18

That’s good news. I know we Model Railroaders may be considered a niche market for the big corporations, but I think we still generate a lot business from our hobby. Hopefully Micromark can make a go of this.

#19

I wish them well but being acrylic I won’t consider them until sources of solvent based paint have all disappeared.

#20

I have lately been switching over to Tamiya’s water based acrylics, I have been very satisfied with them. Only complaint is that they dry very fast, sometimes faster than it takes for me to paint the thing making touch-ups a bit tricky if the paint is still tacky. BTW using brush, but Tamiya’s are excellent for airbrush from the model car builder folk.