I think you might be getting on first name terms with the guy at your local auto parts shop 😁

Can't really help much, I use Humbrol acrylic cans every now and then, not the biggest colour range, I find them Ok but not my first choice. Haven't tried the Revell cans as my local hobby shop doesn't stock them.

For primers and clearcoat I've been using a mix of Hycoat auto paints and AK Interactive I do like the AK primers and clearcoat, which is all the do not clolours. The AK clearcoat has become my can of choice at the moment. They also supply a fine nozzle as well as the standard.

For colours it mostly been Tamiya and the Hycoat auto paints.

My usage is quite limited as I've only recently switch back to rattle cans from my airbrush. I still prefer the airbrush and great range of colours from Zero paints but I have to use it in my shed and it to hot in the summer and to cold in the winter and in spring and autumn when it's ok it's quite often to wet. One reason why I have a lot of stalled and unstarted projects. For that reason I've gone back to rattle cans for now.

I will be following this with interest to see what else is recommended.

 

Hello Pete,.....before looking for alternatives, try the Mini-Car Club of Canada for Tamiya TS sprays (in Toronto),....I have very recently purchased several colours, and, they do have a very good (although not complete) range left.

I am sure that you know that Tamiya has re formulated their TS line, but, apparently will not be shipping until late 2025.

Amazing RC (also in Toronto) has several colours of TS left, (not as many as the Mini-Car Club) and, I did buy some from them last week.

As far as alternative, Mr Hobby,Vallego, and, Zero are all excellent, but really need to be applied via an airbrush.

Cheers
Chris Walker

 

Chris,
I did not know that Tamiya had reformulated - that is great news! A fellow slotter has found Tamiya TS paints available at a shop in Hamilton. I will take a road trip this Friday to check out this store.

Peter

 

From what I've been reading, the issue is specifically the dimethyl ether content in the propellant exceeding canadian VOC limits that have been in place since 2010 but only recently enforced.

for those looking at dupli-color as mentioned, I've had decent success with their perfect match line on slot bodies. the paint is acrylic lacquer so it dries harder than typical hobby acrylics, which is actually good for handling durability on slot cars. one thing to watch though is the solvents are more aggressive than tamiya so test on your primer first. their spray pattern isn't as fine as tamiya TS but if you warm the can in hot water first and keep your distance around 10 inches you can get pretty smooth results.

Another option nobody's mentioned yet is the krylon fusion line that's specifically made for plastics. in the netherlands easy to come by through online shops but im sure something like home depot canada carries the full range. the adhesion is excellent on lexan bodies without primer but the color selection is limited

 

Interesting although I have never met a modeler that got sick from the vapors of the Tamiya paint 🤔

 

You won't see someone sick. You'll meet someone with inexplainable cancer. Is the paint the cause? Good luck trying to make it stick in court.

 

Hello, Peter! An alternative to rattle cans that I like to use are the small bottles of acrylic craft paint. I use it in a cheapo automotive trim spray gun with an air compressor, of course, on about 15-20 psi. It gets thinned down to a thickness like, well, blood.

The color palette is almost endless, and they are cheap enough that you can buy several base colors and mix your own custom colors. Plus they offer easy cleanup, no stinking up the house and you can paint all year!

It takes longer using this method, averaging 5 or 6 light coats, but you will end up with a nice color coat to finish off with your clear layer. I use an acrylic clear or floor finish for that.

I'll post some pics later of some cars as I'm not at home. My laptop crashed and I don't have any on my phone. 🙄

 

I eventually got mad, and had a friend in the USA order a dozen cans direct from Tamiya USA. Then another friend drove them over the border for me. It was no trouble at all really (it sure was!).

Now I owe an arm and a leg to some friends. Such is life.

 

I am very happy with the results from DupliColor paints and especially their 1k and 2k clear coats. I like to base coat with their metallic silver and apply light color coats. (see labeling) I am continuing to expend my palette of colors.
There are a few Tamiya colors on the right.

 

I have found a local hobby shop that has not returned their stock and has the largest selection I have ever seen. I loaded up on some colours that I was needing and will wait for Tamiya to start reselling the reformulated paints later this year. I have more than enough projects to keep me busy until then.

 

When the reformulated Tamiya paint becomes available be sure to do some test shots before you use it on a car. I have found that paint makers will reformulate their products for a number of reasons. An ingredient may be banned or become too expensive. If you get a new can of something that you have used in the past with good results you might be in for an unhappy surprise.