TESTORS MODEL MASTERS – CAF:101 PRODUCT REVIEWS

CUSTOM ACTION FIGURES: 101 – Customizer Product Reviews – “Testors Model Masters”
By Rob Panick

This week on Custom Action Figures: 101’s Customizing Product Reviews, we have a review of one of the best known brands in hobby paint, Testors. Testors has been around since 1929, so they are one of the longest selling hobby paint brands in America. I will be reviewing their Model Masters line of acrylic and enamel paints, as well as their model Masters Acryl clear top coats, and also their Dullcote Lacquer sealer.

MODEL MASTERS

-ACRYL-
The Model Masters Acryl line of paints are an ideal choice for action figure customizers. With close to 200 colors available in ½ oz pots, they have pretty much any color you could need for your project. One of the key features of Model Masters is their durability. Many customizers use Model Masters paints without using any type of top coat or sealer. They have great pigmentation for bold, vibrant colors. Model Masters Acryl paints can also be thinned for use by the airbrush painter.

-ENAMEL-
The Model Masters Enamel line features 73 different colors in their ½ oz pots. These paints are a great choice for painting hard plastics such as action figure vehicles and playsets, as well as certain hard plastic action figures like Transformers. I do need to caution you about enamel paints. I would advise to NEVER use enamel paints on soft action figure parts. The vinyl used to make soft parts like arms, hands, lower legs and feet on GI Joe figures and pretty much all of the parts on Star Wars and Marvel figures will have a bad reaction to enamel paints and they will not cure properly. You will wind up with a sticky mess if you try to use them, so I would advise that you only use enamels on hard plastics, and even then you should do a small “test spot” on a hidden area to make sure that they don’t react with the plastic.

-ACRYL TOP COATS-
Testors offers some great acrylic top coats under their Model Masters Acryl brand. These are available in 1 oz jars in either gloss, semi-gloss, or flat clear finishes. Theys top coats can add an extra layer of durability to your paint job, as well as either adding gloss or flattening out the finish of your paint job. They go on a sort of “milky” white, but dry to completely clear.

-DULLCOTE & GLOSSCOTE LACQUER-
Testors Dullcote & Glosscote lacquer spray cans are now sold under their CreateFX live. CreateFX is a new product line that creates detail while educating, inspiring and driving innovation into schools, clubs, craft and hobby projects! CreateFX Lacquer Top Coats are used to seal and protect painted surfaces. It is used for altering glossy surfaces to give them a flat look, and to protect decals or stickers. It can be used over enamels and acrylics, when the latter have dried for at least 24 hours. Apply in mist applications until desired effect is achieved. Full cure takes 48 hours.

Their liquid Dullcote & Glosscote lacquers are also available under the Testors brand. The liquid Dullcote is my personal favorite, and I use it on pretty much every custom I make.

Testors has many other products available, such as modeling tools, adhesives, abrasive products and more. Be sure to check out their website at http://www.testors.com/ for their complete line of products. One of the best things about Testors products is that they are sold at a broad range of stores. Hobby Lobby, Michael’s, Wal Mart, K-Mart… the list goes on. Chances are that if you can’t find any other paints at a local store, you can pretty much be able to find Testors. Co check them out today!
Click over to check out our video review!

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