Why you should reseal your paints properly.

[stona]

Whilst rummaging in my loft for the Squadron walkaround of the Bf109E (which I didn't find) I found a box full of old Humbrol paints. I put them in this carrier bag to bring them down the ladder.

I intend to sift through them and see which are any good. Sadly a quick look shows that when I last used these,many years ago,I didn't clean them up properly before sticking the lids on. Most of them will be useless and some are out of production...Doh!

Always wipe the top of your tinlet before putting that lid on! You may regret it 15-20 years later LOL.

Cheers

Steve

[Guest]

I am guilty of the sameish crime Steve, I have an old shoe box full of airfix paints from many moons back, I think it contains the full collection....let me know if your paints are still active, my risk opening a tin....good to know Im not the only stasher of things gone by...lol

[stona]

Some were unopened,until now,and mixed up okay. Some were well sealed and also seem okay,I just hope they dry if I use them. Others don't look too good. A lot of "stuff" has evaporated and in my experience just adding thinners won't make the paint work again. I'm just going to bin these.

The good news is that one of the unopened tins and one of the saveable tins are both Humbrol 175 which I used to use for RLM76. I'm interested to see how that looks against Xtracrylix or WEM paints.

Cheers

Steve

[Guest]

Indeed will be good to know how they compare, quite shocked that most seem ok......well it just goes to show....

[stona]

Indeed will be good to know how they compare, quite shocked that most seem ok......well it just goes to show....

I wouldn't say most,probably about 20% and half of that amount were unopened. All those that I'd just slapped the top on,trapping paint were no good.

Cheers

Steve

[Ian M]

Look on the bright side Steve, A good long bath in some (warm) thinners and you have a life time supply of mix and save tinlets...

I have some rather old Humbrol Authentic colours that still work. Also the odd tin of Airfixes. Some of the gloss ones are fine but take about a fortnight to dry!!!

Ray, if you have a whole collection of viable Airfix paints, you should chuck them on e-bay. Could get an interesting amount.

Talking of cleaning paint pots after use. The squirt bottles of Vallejo are rather fun. If you are really lucky, instead of a few drops in the mixing dish, or in the airbrush, the nozzle is clogged up and it squirts a needle thin line of paint right in your lap!!! Or down the clean white T-shirt you just put on!!!

Ian M

[Guest]

I have no idea how long I have had the paints Ian, I cannot even remember when the last time I built anything Airfix, but Steve's got me thinking, might just open one and see what state there in.But thanks for the info Ian, cant see me ever wanting to use or need them.

[Guest]

I think some of my current paint tins are in this condition!! The trouble is some of the rarer colours don't get used for many years so tend to be worse for wear when I eventually open them. I completely agree with the initial post though, how many of us do wipe the lid properly to ensure agood seal? I know I don't, which is a real pain when I've mixed a special colour and I want to use it over a period of many months or even years.