Anyone remember Humbrol Authentic colours?

[geedubelyer]

Humbrol Authentic colour explanation

 

As a kid I used to build a lot of RAF subjects in 1/72nd scale. Hardly surprising given that I could see virtually every type in the inventory flying in to RAF Waddington on any given day.

Vulcans, Victors, Jaguars, Buccaneers, Phantoms, Lightnings, Harriers, Hunters, Canberras etc., you name it, I probably saw it. At the time almost all tactical aircraft carried green/grey over light grey or full wraparound cammo.

This meant stocking up on all of the colours necessary to splash the cammo on my models with a hairy stick.

My local hobby shop carried the Humbrol "Authentic colour" range so I diligently applied the enamel straight to the plastic surface.

 

As it happens, the Hunter that I'm currently building also carries these colours. I seemed to remember seeing some old enamel paint tins buried deep in my supplies so I had a rummage.

Here's what I found. 

 

 

Given that the web page I linked to suggests that these were discontinued in 1989 these pots are at least 36 years old! (Truthfully they're probably even older than that)

 

I opened the first tin with a certain amount of trepidation. 

 

 

Not completely solid  After stirring for a while the colour came back albeit rather gloopy. 

I've experimented and added a splash of white spirits to one of the tins. Hopefully this will thin the paint enough to allow it to be used. 

 

There are quite a few colours in my dated stash so I may have options. 

 

 

If these are suitable I hope they will give me a nice hard base over which I can weather the airframe. I'll try some on a spare fuel tank first though just incase they are beyond help.

 

What are the oldest paints in your collection?

 

Cheers,

 

Guy

[MikeC]

Interesting. 

I switched to Tamiya acrylics in the late 90s, and still have a couple of the larger (23ml?) Pots they were sold in, so just about 28 years +/-.

 

Tried a few other brands, but still use mainly Tamiya X and XF colours.

Edited January 26 by MikeC
Arithmetic!

[Juggernut]

I do remember them and still have about 25-30 tinlets in viable condition.  These were bought in the 1970's so they're pushing 50 years (or more). I also have a bunch of Xtracolor enamels as well. Those aren't as old.

[dennismcc]

Remember them well and somewhere I probably have some lurking around.

 

Cheers

 

Dennis

[geedubelyer]

Thanks for the responses everyone. 

It would appear that there are many of these older paints still kicking around. 

 

I experimented with the dark grey on a fuel tank and it looks too dark for the subject I'm modelling so I bought some Xtracolour enamel in Ocean grey and Medium Sea grey. While I was at it I also got their Dark green and Light sea grey too. It doesn't hurt to have a contingency in place, right?

 

Now this post has been consigned to the depths of the "basement" we may not get any more interest so thank you to those who got in before the move 

[dennismcc]

I stocked up on my paints in 1994 in anticipation of moving overseas, mostly Xtracolor and Humbrol, I still use both and they work fine as do the 1980's Humbrol that I have.

I also have the original White Ensign paints which I use alongside my more modern Sovereign Colourcoats. 

 

Cheers

 

Dennis

[blackbetty]

still have about 50 Humbriol tins, the youngest from the early eighties. most are still usable. but if they produce lumps i havent had any sucsess getting them usable again.... 

[Palm-tree]

Yes got quite a few of these tins from the early 1980's, although haven't opened them in a couple of decades.

Also had lots of Airfix colours- used to remember the whole range of numbers by heart I was using them so frequently.

[geedubelyer]

I still have a few of those tins too. 

Not sure whether any are still liquid though. 

 

I moved away from enamels because of the smell but recently treated myself to a trio of Xtracolours for my current Hunter build.

I'm hoping for a glossy, tough surface on which to add layers of weathering. 

[Shoggz]

I’ve got some Humbrol enamels from the early 90s..

 

Got fed up with having to keep white spirit to clean my brushes!

[LSP_Mike]

Is anyone seeking Humbrol?

[Chippyminton]

The subject of this topic was ground-breaking for its time. It sounds weird (and probably delusional since I'm a child of the 60's) these days with the benefit of subsequent decades of research - but back then, seemingly accurate representations of WW2 Luftwaffe colours were unheard of. It sounds weird, but the original Humbrol 'Hellblau', 'Dunkelgrun' and 'Schwarzgrun' (RLM 65/71/70) still exist in my brain as the reference shades by which all others are judged. Back then - RLM 04, 74, 75, 76, 79, 80, 78, 81, 82 and 83 just hadn't been discovered. 

[James Rademaker]

I just purchase some Humbrol enamels. I’m going to paint a 1/32 Hasegawa FW190D-9. I used to use the Tamiya rattle cans but since we moved I don’t have the area to spray. It’s been a long time since I painted an entire model by brush. I hope the finished product looks OK. Any suggestions on the right paint to Humbrol thinner? 
 

Jim

[Polecadt]

Indeed, pure seventies nostalgia...  converting pocket-money into Matchbox 1/72 kits and Humbrol enamels...👍

[geedubelyer]

57 minutes ago, James Rademaker said:

Any suggestions on the right paint to Humbrol thinner? 

 

Hi Jim. I believe Humbrol do their own thinners but I think the bottles are quite small. 

As far as I can tell simple White Spirits (mineral spirits?) is suitable for thinning enamel paints. 

 

HTH 

Guy

Edited January 25 by geedubelyer