With Testors/Model Master paints at about $5 for a 3 oz can, my son and I have been on a quest to find a worthy substitute. It's been almost impossible to find something as good. The Italian Red is bright, but not washed out....a very rich color. On top of that, it's lacquer, the one paint type that we can't screw up with. It dries super fast, handles higher humidity, and finishes up nice, glossy, and slick. It's definitely the one to beat, IMHO.

I picked up some Rustoleum Lacquer in Chinese Red, and some Valspar Enamel in Cherry yesterday. These color titles have been used by other companies in the past, and all of them were darker and less inviting. Not this time. Both of these reds are nice and bright and very similar to each other once applied over a white base. They cover opaquely with only two or three coats and look great. When viewing the test strip indoors, they both look a little brighter (better?) than the Italian Red, but the real test will be out in the sunlight with a decent size model instead of the little scrawny test strips I painted. If they can hang with the Italian Red outside, they will be unbeatable.

You can't go wrong with either of these if you like a bright, yet rich red color. I'm partial to lacquer, so I'll be buying more of it, but I won't hesitate to grab the Valspar if the Rustoleum happens to be sold out all around. Both are 11 oz. cans and were considerably cheaper than the little Testors cans.

__________________
I love sanding.

I'm liking the Tamiya "Bright Red" right now...

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Thanks for the tip. I'll look for the Rustoleum Lacquer in Chinese Red. I don't think I've ever seen Valspar in any of the stores around here.

I never did like the Krylon red (Cherry red?) and gave up on it long ago. I have some fins already primed with white Dupli-Color and I've been considering trying to find some brand of red lacquer to finish that project.

.

__________________
Steve Naquin
TRA# 677 L2
NAR# 85518 L2
SAM# 0052

🚀 In Construction: Der Blue Maxx/Minie-Magg 5.5” & Vander-Burn MDRM Clone w/Stickershock23 Custom Decals
🚀 In Paint & Detail: USR Banshee
🚀 In Build Queue: Estes Doorknob w/Vander-Burn Rocketry Upgrade Kit [Sport Decor], Semroc Centurion-F, Semroc Egg Crate
🚀 In Repair: SLS Lil’ Hustler, SLS Aero-Dart 1969 Trim
🚀 Stay Tuned For Fall 2021 Launch Dates

It looks really good on those fins. Nice slick finish.

However, Tamiya loves to sell a little paint for a lot too.

__________________
I love sanding.

Hmmm. Seems to me that someone else has been talking up Valspar for quite some time now......Can't put a finger on a fin, but the name will come to me.....
Okay, so I use them because there's a Lowe's five minutes from my house. Still good stuff.

__________________
Bill Eichelberger
NAR 79563

http://wallyum.blogspot.com/

I miss being SAM 0058

Build floor: Estes - Low Boom SST Semroc - Marauder, Shrike, SST Shuttle

In paint: Canaroc - Starfighter Scorpion Centuri - Mini Dactyl Estes - F-22 Air Superiority Fighter, Multi-Roc, Solar Sailer II, Xarconian Cruiser Semroc - Cyber III

Ready to fly: Estes - Solar Sailer II Semroc - Earmark

Lowes has taken up with Valspar. I can't remember what it replaces, but it looks like it's their "house" brand right now. I'm pretty sure Tractor Supply is a Valspar dealer too.

Ahhhh, so Lowe's is the place. I only had a Home Depot before I moved and they carried mostly Rustoleum but now I have a Lowe's just across town. I've never browsed the paint department at Lowe's so I'll check them out soon too.

.

__________________
Steve Naquin
TRA# 677 L2
NAR# 85518 L2
SAM# 0052

🚀 In Construction: Der Blue Maxx/Minie-Magg 5.5” & Vander-Burn MDRM Clone w/Stickershock23 Custom Decals
🚀 In Paint & Detail: USR Banshee
🚀 In Build Queue: Estes Doorknob w/Vander-Burn Rocketry Upgrade Kit [Sport Decor], Semroc Centurion-F, Semroc Egg Crate
🚀 In Repair: SLS Lil’ Hustler, SLS Aero-Dart 1969 Trim
🚀 Stay Tuned For Fall 2021 Launch Dates

FYI ... my local Hobby Lobby stores sell the Rustoleum Lacquer paints. I've used the 40% off coupons to buy them several times. Makes the $4.99 list $3 with discount - -darned good for a large spray can.

__________________
Lee Reep
NAR 55948

Projects: Semroc Saturn 1B, Ken Foss Designs Mini Satellite Interceptor
In the Paint Shop: Nothing! Too cold!
Launch-Ready: Farside-X, Maxi Honest John, Super Scamp

If they'd only do lacquer instead of enamel, I'd be hooked. Well, that and if I had a Lowe's five minutes from my house. Kody and I made a 45 minute drive to get to Lowe's for that can of paint, but Wally World is within a ballistic shot of a modest sized G40 powered rocket from me. Not that I'd ever try to prove it.

I also have had more trouble with enamels bleeding under tape than with lacquer, not to mention, I'm with GH on the great smell of highly volatile organics....but I just can't get into fruity enamels.

__________________
I love sanding.

rokitflite -- what base white did you use? I assume you are using something other than Tamiya, due to cost? I'd probably use Rustoleum Lacquer in white, but it would be good to know what other paints might be compatible with the Tamiya. I've wanted to try them for quite some time, based on the great colors they offer.

__________________
Lee Reep
NAR 55948

Projects: Semroc Saturn 1B, Ken Foss Designs Mini Satellite Interceptor
In the Paint Shop: Nothing! Too cold!
Launch-Ready: Farside-X, Maxi Honest John, Super Scamp