Excellent and very timely.

Excellent and very timely. With the reduced production of model railroad paint it is nice to see someone step into the void. I have presently two cabooses that I am getting ready to turn into Virginian models and have tried to get something close to caboose red with model masters paint in a spray can.

It would also be nice if the paint could be purchased in spray cans as well, for those of us that do not have air brushes. I have been planning on buying one for some time but have continually put it off as models that I needed were showing up and my funds were spent on them.

The only thing that could have been more helpful in the article would have been a chart that shows the railroad specific colors and their corresponding colors by manufacturer name. I say this not in jest as I am a bit color blind and I am sure their are others as well so matching a color to a railroads color is very difficult for me. For example what colors would be used to make Southern Pacific's black widow scheme. In my case engine black, refer yellow, caboose red and grimy black and aged concrete would meet most of my needs as my roads schemes are very simple. Another example that comes to mind is the B&O blue / gray/ gold scheme and what colors would be used to match them.

Even with the caveats mentioned I still give this a five star article. If the manufacturer wants to truly take over the railroad color line a mixing guide to railroad specific colors would just about guarantee it. For many years the standard seemed to be floquil and many articles discussed mixing specific colors based on their paint.

Rob in Texas

color chart

I have copied the color chart and will post it below for every ones convenience.

Excellent article

I wish there was a higher rating available as this is a really great article and very useful. It is keeping with the standard of high quality that MRH has upheld. In one of our recent club meetings some of the newer members were discussing which magazine to subscribe to and MRH had been recommended above both other print magazines based on quality of the publication not to mention price, which was added as an after thought.

Joe you are doing a great job.

Rob in Texas

First Look Micro-Mark MicroLux Paint

OUTSTANDING!

Thanks to Pete and MRH for putting this information out.  Pete's review indicates that this paint is better and perhaps easier to use than Polly-S.

MRH, keep up the good work!  I'm going to try it.

Chuck

Well Done

Thanks for the well organized and informative article.  Helps shed light on these new paints as well as introducing some older options in the Vallejo paints.  Also, very nice weathering.  Well Done, Pete.

Rudy

Good Info

Pete,

Thanks fora  job well done. This information comes at a time when it is much needed by tthe Model RR community.

Jim Noel

Better than MR's take on paint

The reason this article was good was because there was a void in the model railroad paint availability.  These paints should close at least some of the void and publishing this review made for a very topical article.

This was much better than MR's editorial about the demise of PollyScale and Floquil in that they basically said oh well maybe it was for the best.   

Last month MR ran a basically useless article on what paints are available to for modelrailroad use.  Somehow they forgot about ModelFlex paint which is only paint company out there that still has a wide assorment of railroad specific colors in a water base formula.

Good to see reviews of products that I can actually use.

ModelFlex in MR

That's because they don't advertise in MR anymore.    If you do not advertise in MR...you don't exist
(unlike MRH).

Doesnt stop us

Micro-Mark hasn't advertised in MRH since last May and so their sponsor logo has been removed.

Didn't stop us from running the MicroLux review, however. My feeling as publisher is hang the advertiser or no advertiser thinking - if its a product modelers need to know about, we will publish a First Look on it.

It would be really easy to get into the "if they don't advertise with us" mindset given that we are TOTALLY advertising supported. The other magazines have no excuse because they are both reader *and* advertiser supported.

As MRH's publisher, sometimes we just need to do what's right for the good of the hobby and not let the accountants set editorial policy. My feeling is that if you always make giving an excellent value top priority, you will be rewarded in the long run and even the accountants will be happy.

Vallejo and Testors

If memory serves, Vallejo markets paint for air brushing and brushing.  I've used their squeeze bottle colors for painting 1/35 figures with a brush and can say it goes on very easily, levels beautifully and lasts in the bottle for a long time, let's call that years.

It doesn't get mentioned often, but Testor's line of Model Masters flat enamels can easily serve most model railroader's needs. Someone was nice enough to post color correlations [Testors to Floquil] on the web somewhere, Google to find it.

Lastly, it almost never gets noted, but a bigger nozzle makes for better acrylic air brushing.  I have a Badger with a big hole for acrylics and my ancient Paache H-3 or 3-in-1 with a #1 nozzle for enamels. I still prefer enamels. 

All the same sir, given how little model railroaders hang-out with military modelers, you did a bully-good deed.

Bernie Halloran

I do not think so...

That was a rather simplestic reply since I do not think the other paint companies listed in that article were MR advertisers either,

I just think it was a poorly written article.

floquil equivalent chart

This might be the conversion chart found at Microscale:

http://www.microscale.com/Floquil%20Color%20Chart.pdf

Bob Bochenek

Needs updating for MicroLux

Highly detailed chart, hopefully someone will take up MicroScales' request for updating contributions.

Microscale Chart

Micro-Lux paint

Very helpful evaluation.

Thank you, Joe

If you do the right thing for those you serve, they will do the right thing by you, whether you call it the Golden Rule or the Law of Karma.

I do not bash any of the model railroad magazines.  I would subscribe to them all if I could.  But I find that I think first of your advertisers when it comes time to look for answers to a hobby need, and you are welcome to tell them so!

Thanks for the info. Knowing

micro mark microlux paint

I realize this is a late comment, but I would  warn anyone thinking about buying the MM aged concrete. It has way, way too much green in it and is a very poor match to any aged concrete I have ever seen. I wouldn't even know  how to mix it - meaning with what to get a good age concrete representation. 

Tom in Auburn

MicroLux Flat

I've been doing some tests with flat finishes and found the MicroLux Flat is every bit as flat as good old Testor's Dullcote.  MicroLux actually has a smoother finish and dries faster.  

The MicroLux needs thinning to go through my Iwata 3.5 mm needle.  Distilled water will work, but I would recommend Vallejo thinner.  It has some flow aid and retarder which makes it that much easier to use and apply.

Cheers!  

Mitch