|
|
Post by Joel_W on Aug 6, 2023 9:19:29 GMT -8
As most of you know I'm not exactly a newbie when it comes to car plastic modeling. My go to paints currently are Gravity Lacquer for specific colors, Mr. Color lacquers, Tamiya LP lacquers, Tamiya Acrylic lacquers, and Alcad2 for Metallic finishes for general colors. Primers are either Tamiya or Mr. Color thinned 1:1 or 2:3, and my thinner of choice is Mr. Leveler #400, and that's all I used for years and years.
Gravity has and is my 1st choice, but with international shipping reaching new heights in pricing, you really need to order several bottles in order to some what make the shipping make sense. So I started to look into MCW and ScaleFinishes paints which are both USA based companies, and both are excellent from every post I've read. I've settled on MCW lacquers which are supposed to be Gloss even if they're not listed as gloss, which is what I prefer these days.
A test build that I'm planning is the Salvino Jr is the Joey Lagano team Penske 2023 Penzoil Ford Mustang. MCW lists the correct color as #2023 Pearl Yellow, and Gravity lists it as a two paint set: GV-223 Penzoil Pearl Yellow Undercoat/Basecoat. Naturally, I prefer to use the MCW paint as the shipping is way less, and it's only one bottle of paint not two. What I can't find in any Google search is there a undercoat that is needed for the MCW paint since it's Pearl, and is it a Gloss finish.
joel
|
|
|
|
Post by kyledehart5 on Aug 6, 2023 12:43:56 GMT -8
I’ve heard that the gentleman from MCW is usually pretty helpful. I would probably give him a call.
While I’ve never used that color, I have ordered (and used) both the lacquers and enamels. Ordered directly off their site and they shipped extremely quickly. Sprayed nicely too. I will undoubtedly order more.
|
|
|
|
Post by Joel_W on Aug 7, 2023 9:02:59 GMT -8
Lyle,
I totally forgot about just calling Mike and asking him my questions. I actually did use MCW paints once way back when Mike 1st bought it. I just don't remember is the lacquers by default are gloss. As for the Pearl Yellow, I'm totally confused why Gravity needs tow different paints while MCW only uses one.
joel
|
|
|
|
Post by tatocorvette on Aug 9, 2023 8:38:38 GMT -8
Jameston from Scalefinishes is a hardcore modeler first, then a paint seller. Also a great guy. He can help sort it out.
|
|
|
|
Post by Joel_W on Aug 9, 2023 9:15:01 GMT -8
Ismael,
I've spoken to Jameston once before, used his paints, primers, and I still have his super clear gloss as I bought several bottles before I discovered that his 500 Gloss is the shinier of the two. The only reason I haven't thought about ordering paints as I need them from him too is that he's way behind in orders as his wife is very ill, and he really doesn't need any more pressure to keep up with his orders right now.
joel
|
|
|
|
Post by tatocorvette on Aug 9, 2023 10:04:50 GMT -8
He is caught up already. I received an order last week that was placed only the week prior. Just placed another one today.
|
|
|
|
Post by tatocorvette on Aug 9, 2023 17:44:36 GMT -8
Update: I placed the Scalefinishes order very early this morning (about 6AM) and I just received the shipping tracking number at 9:30PM.
Thanks,
Ismael
|
|
|
|
Post by kyledehart5 on Aug 10, 2023 0:45:03 GMT -8
I'm going to give that guy some business soon. Just finding out about it, and it looks like he has some fantastic colors too.
|
|
|
|
Post by Joel_W on Aug 10, 2023 4:35:34 GMT -8
Ismael,
Thanks for that info. So now I can order from both as I'm trying to order from USA companies for just about everything I can to avoid the horrendous shipping charges, and makes ordering just a few needed items just not worth it.
joel
|
|
|
|
Post by arcticwolf on Aug 10, 2023 19:02:19 GMT -8
Ismael, Thanks for that info. So now I can order from both as I'm trying to order from USA companies for just about everything I can to avoid the horrendous shipping charges, and makes ordering just a few needed items just not worth it. joel Joel, somebody's playing games with this shipping bit. I won't buy from Spotmodel, they've gone crazy. They wanted $25.00 to ship me a sheet of photo-etch. A guy in Austria shipped me a similar sized sheet for $5.00. If I buy from Japan it's about the same, or free. As to US suppliers, for me, quite a few are gouging "international" customers. $15.00 to ship a sheet of decals. Michael charges me $2.00. You can guess who I deal with.
Totally aside, I've been trying to buy Tamiya Black Gloss and Black Semi-Gloss spray cans. Nobody up here has any. None. Something going on, they all say it's on back order?
|
|
|
|
Post by Joel_W on Aug 11, 2023 4:36:34 GMT -8
Paul,
Like you I've stopped buying anything from Spot Models because of their totally insane overseas shipping prices. No longer could I buy 1 model and or some supplies and get it shipped at a fair price. Hense my banning them from my favored vendors. On the other hand I've always bought my paints from Gravity and their over seas shipping isn't as bad as Spots, but still makes buying a few bottles cost prohibitive. Why would the shipping which was/is DHL, Fed Ex, or UPS be so different for either of them, yet both are located in Spain and shipping to New York, USA. Makes no sense. BTW, I had some issues with Spot not accepting PayPal, which I guess I was one of the pains in the Ass that caused them to rethink that policy, so they now accept PP, but the buyer has to pay their charge for that service. What can be shipped national PO to another countries PO service is some what a longer proposition, but a lot cheaper such as decals and PE.
As for your issue with Tamiya Gloss Black and Semi-Gloss Black Rattle cans, ScaleHobbyist.com has them in stock if TS-14 is indeed Gloss as it's just listed as Black. Sprue Brothers has them in stock as well, and no gloss listed other then that TS-14. A few colors are out of stock, but they must buy in bulk so out of stocks are the result.
These two companies get 90% of my model business. Indy Cals gets the vast majority of my decal purchases unless it for a model type that Michael doesn't make decals for. Then I go to the Asian continent, shipping is cheaper but takes a little longer to get.
joel
|
|
