Hitchcocks Forum

Dodgy paint colour control


Tornado's tank, toolboxes, air filter box and mudguards are one colour, the engine and frame another shade, but I can use the same paint for both!



How? Well, because Humbrol's colour consistency is crap!





Three tins, all 116 matt, properly mixed.





I try them on Tornado for the best match


The left colour is good for the tank, etc. The right for the frame!




I needed to match the darkest one, and had opened five tins before finding a good match!


I did not mix the paints with anything else, this is what they came like!

Humbrol used to be made in Hull. I believe it is now made in a certain far Eastern country beginning with C. I rest my case. I would tell them how disappointed you are, some companies are bringing manufacturing back here because of the unreliability of overseas production. REgards, Mark

Hornby returns Humbrol manufacturing to the UK


Date28/11/2012Hornby returns Humbrol manufacturing to the UK

Humbrol, the U.K.’s No.1 modelling brand has moved over 60% of its model and craft manufacturing back to the UK from China.

Humbrol’s manufacturing has been moved back to the UK from China to improve supply, and ensure high quality standards continue to be met, but from an easier location nearer to the Margate Head Office. Humbrol Ltd. originally moved manufacturing from Hull to China in the early 2000’s.








So I guess I will have to sniff the tins to see which smell of chop suey and which ones dont!

Scaly, Humbrol group includes Hornby, Airfix and Scalextric, I know they have moved some plastic component manufacturing back to the UK but maybe not the paint?!! REgards, Mark

At the risk of sounding critical, why the hell are using crappy toy tank paint for your motorcycle. Get a proper paint which is firstly designed for the use you intend, and from a manufacturer who will give a consistent colour. Toy plane and tank builders probably do not know one shade of khaki from your common or garden drab olive. I have never understood why people put a lot of effort and money into their bikes and then peee about with toy paint etc. Sorry to sound miserable but I damaged my knee whilst whae watching last week and as a result I can't ride for at least another week or so.

Humbrol used to be good enamel and I always kept a few small tins around for little jobs.
As Scaly has found it's now pretty crap. I suspect the H&S Mafia has been at them to remove "dangerous" chemicals as they have with so many paint products. I also noticed, last time I bought a tin, that the colour on the lid bore little resemblance to the contents (apart from being red)

I have to be honest here... I'm inclined to agree with Madmike.. who might no be so bloody mad at the end of the day..!! Tornado deserves better.

Only paint I found that matches!


Even emailed RE asking them, but never got a reply.



Proper enamel paint is very good stuff, drys well and is hard wearing. Bastard stuff won't come off, I just paint more over it when necessary!

Scaly, any good vehicle paint supplier will mix paint to a sample.

Unless they have the same batch number, no paint from any manufacturer will be of a consistant colour. I agree with the others, toy plane paint isn't a good choice, will you be using crayons to do the pinstriping.