Friday, January 28, 2022

How old is this paint?

I was given some paint when I visted Footplate a few weeks ago. It's unopened - New Old Stock. 

Question: How old are these pots? Best guess from a contact at Hornby is something like 50 years. Can anyone confirm or deny this? 

At some point, I want to open some of these for a video, but knowing the age would make this much more interesting.

 

6 comments:

  1. Grahame Every10:22 AM

    Hi Phil, Yes, around 50 years is about right. I would have been in my mid-20s then, and I certainly recall a rack of Airfix paint tinlets alongside the ubiquitous Humbrol rack in the model shops, and even in places like larger WH Smith on occasion. At this distance I can't remember clearly the reason(s), but Airfix were considered inferior to Humbrol. However, when a particular shade was needed, I bought what was in front of me, not stressing too much over the brand. Or were Airfix cheaper, maybe? Humbrol were about the 50p a tinlet if memory serves. Thanks for the memories, and I still have a couple of Airfix tinlets. At least one has been opened, and is still in usable condition, with judicious addition of thinners and a thorough stir. All the best, Grahame Every

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  2. Intrigued, I spent a couple of hours researching this question. Airfix paint in glass bottles was remembered by people in early to mid 1960s. An advert for a house clearance of unused Airfix tins like yours was dated as early 1970s. My first plastic kit modelling was mid 70's and I remember the Airfix tins. Maybe this helps?

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  3. I still have a few of these in my collection of tinlets. I started painting plastic aircraft kits in late 1970 and used Airfix glass bottles of paint. The tinlets were introduced after this, so some time between 1971 and 1973? I don’t know when they disappeared from the market, but 50 years sounds about right, as I think I was using Humbrol tinlets by 1975. (Airfix paint was 1p cheaper than Humbrol back then as I remember, so I would have used whatever was cheapest if there was a choice!)

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  4. How many models in our teenage years were ruined by the combination of tube cement and enamel paints? TBH I'm quite cross when I look back on that period, I almost think we were set up to fail

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  5. I was buying this paint as a kid in my local newsagency, here in Tasmania in 1974. Wow I feel old! Will be very interesting to see what it is like when you open it. My best guess, is it will be perfectly fine after a good stir of the paint.

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  6. Eric V5:15 AM

    AFAIK Airfix switched from paint in glass bottles to these tins in 1973, the same year that the scroll-type Airfix logo was replaced by the round logo on the tins.
    These tins were sold until 1986 when Humbrol parent Borden took over Airfix and Humbrol replaced the Airfix paint with relabeled Humbrol tins.

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