The Commander Series Forum

Bit of an odd question this, but I thought it was worth mining the accumulated experience here

Several of my favourite Humbrol tins are getting on for 20 years old, and although the paint is still useable the tins are getting a bit battered. Also I was less careful back in the day, so there is a lot of crusty dried paint on several lids that threatens the seal.

I could probably clean them up but it is tricky to stop the old dried paint around the rim from falling in and contaminating the remainder. I have been looking for replacement containers, but no luck since they need to be airtight and quite small to avoid a big airspace.

Does anyone have any ideas for replacement containers for 1/2 or 1/3 tins of Humbrol? I live in Canada now so I was hoping to get some empty "Testors" enamel pots but they don't seem to be available. I could buy new ones and discard the contents but that seems a bit wasteful and not very environmentally friendly!

Cheers,

Pete

New paint is probably the answer. Getting dry paints revived never works for me.

Actually, the paint is fine, I can still use it no problem. It's just the containers have a lot of crud on them, sooner ot later the lid will fail to seal and the contents will dry out...

If I can transfer the remaining paint to a new container I can get another 100 or so modern Soviet vehicles in the now-discontinued "French Artillery Green" I started with many moons ago

Pete

Any small pot or jar for food would do. Do you get tiny jars of jam in Canada? Like these:

That's either a small pot or a very big strawberry

Thanks for the tip Pete, I'll take a look in some foodie places. However we are talking about a very small amount of liquid - 14ml tin, used about 1/2 so well under 10ml which is literally not much more than a teaspoon!

Cheers,

Pete

Quick Google search shows that there's a firm called Xtracolor that sell a product called XTIN, which is exactly what you're looking for.

http://www.1001modelkits.com/xtracolor-ena...

I get a craft knife and cut all the crud off. If the lid doesn't fit I bend it to fit/press it down very hard. I would use a hammer perhaps if it was handy. Even new tins seem to have problem of slipping upwards and stubbornly not closing properly. When I've tried transferring paint it has not worked. I have to admit that I would rather buy another tin than have the hassle of doing that!!

Black Hat sell empty pots for their Coat d'arms range

http://www.blackhat.co.uk/online_shop/inde...

Good idea for use of empty pots. Yes using the paints fresh helps to stop the "crudding" of the pots.

Thanks for all the advice, much appreciated.

The "best" solution would be mail order new tins, except for the usual issue when buying a few small items - the shipping basically multiplies the price by x10...! Still, as always Google comes up trumps, should have managed that myself

I'm very impressed that anyone can use up a Humbrol tin in one go!! I've done over 200 6mm soviet vehicles with my ancient tin of "French Artillery Green" and have only used about half of it.

I think I have a decent colour match (from the Testors range that I can get here in Canada) so perhaps it is time to let it go... at least once I've finished the assorted HQ vehicles which will be co-based with some of the MBT's and APC's.

Cheers,

Pete

P.S. Maybe it is also time to consider acrylics... but I have been using Humbrol enamels for so long the smell of the solvent is an important part of the process for me Probably best not to think too hard about what 30+ years of breathing the stuff has done to my brain cells.

I started using acrylic matt varnish (since I get through a lot of it) but it does seem to be quite "bubbly" compared to enamel. Perhaps that is down to my brush technique or something - time to Google a few tutorials?

Cheers,

Pete

I have a strong dislike of the thinners and for over 25 years have painted using the enamel paint straight out of the tin. This would explain the quicker use. Of course a lot of coverage if on 6mm figs! I use metallic pointed implements and not brushes to get fine detailed effects. On 10mm and recent 6mm projects,I tend to use a black matt Vallejo acrylic as an undercoat and brush that on. Mixing acrylic and water gives me bubbles if I'm not careful. Humbrol matt varnish is my preferred option and I avoid the unmixed glossy look. Indeed the acrylics will work as well so go for it if they are more easily available.

Pete...I haven't given up on Humbrols. I still like them.

I have transferred some of my tins to little jars, but they don't seem to last long in them. You probably already store your tins upside down, that is how I get more life out of mine. I do agree with edenviews...I tend to just buy more humbrol, although I can extend some paints with thinner.

Tins that wont seal properly anymore due to dry paint "crusted" around the rim can be resurrected by carefully crushing them closed in a vice. The next time they're opened the old crust just falls off.