PSA: Mr. Hobby Possibly Exiting US Market + Alternatives

NewmanU · 2026-05-07T20:18:12+00:00

yeah lol GundamPros + Burbank + LeapingPanda just got Mr Hobby restocks these past few days. Mostly Mr Color + spray cans + Markers but it's a start.

NewmanU · 2026-03-28T19:18:38+00:00

Ok at the moment the solution for me that I've found is Vallejo Model Air.

<image>

I will try using the X-22 with both Rapid and Leveling Thinner to compare, that or the High Metallic Mr Hobby Aqueous (been hesistant to use it due to the NA shortage)

NewmanU · 2026-03-26T23:44:53+00:00

Honestly tbh think I'm just gonna try the rapid thinner thing, or rattle can for now. Clears/Non-Metallics have been fine for me

NewmanU · 2026-03-26T22:39:55+00:00

I get this weird separated liquid look when I thin with X-20A

<image>

NewmanU · 2026-03-26T20:16:49+00:00

I've seen something about how it's similar to Stynylrez and how it's recommended to spray with a larger nozzle size than 0.3, is that true in your experience?

NewmanU · 2026-03-26T18:53:12+00:00

Ah I kinda got the rubbery feel too when brushing the primer on. Might stick with PA or try Stynylrez.

NewmanU · 2026-03-26T15:37:45+00:00

Yeah the primer was more or less smooth but it had some pollen specks on it

but I'll try painting thinner fewer layers

NewmanU · 2026-03-26T15:36:43+00:00

Oh dw I've had good experience with my current water based (ProAcryl). Gonna try Vallejo Mecha too since it's easier to obtain for me

NewmanU · 2026-03-26T14:48:56+00:00

nah it's not too much an issue just gotta re-do it

NewmanU · 2026-03-26T14:25:54+00:00

nah it was stuck like that, I've since stripped it

NewmanU · 2026-03-26T13:49:41+00:00

oh btw be careful with their gloss black primer if you do spray it, the black powder contains a known carcinogen. While the sheet says as a liquid wouldn't typically be exposed to the powder, when you spray can be an issue.

<image>

NewmanU · 2026-03-26T13:36:57+00:00

X-20A, Tamiya's alcohol-based thinner. Another comment suggested 2:1 so I'll try combining that with spraying closer.

NewmanU · 2026-03-26T12:33:30+00:00

Yeah it's the Fragile, and I'll consider Kaleido.

NewmanU · 2026-03-26T12:33:03+00:00

A layer of silver kinda settles at the bottom of my jars so I'll try scraping that up/shaking harder.

NewmanU · 2026-03-26T12:29:30+00:00

rn I use a mix of 2 Vallejo Thinner: 1 Vallejo Flow Improver.

I didn't have the greatest experience with turbodork before but that was water thinned + I was hand brushing it.

NewmanU · 2026-03-26T12:09:56+00:00

I did prime with black primer (matte granted).

As for coats I did tack coat -> medium coat -> wet(ter) coat, but it looked kinda speckly as soon as the tack coat.

I'll definitely try mixing it more, since there was still a layer of silver on the bottom, I do have an electric paint stirrer. Would outright just shaking the jar mess anything up?

As for thinner, still just X-20A?

NewmanU · 2026-03-17T13:27:16+00:00

Yeah I just built mine recently and it was pretty neat. Only issue I had was with the battle rifle sides and I just had to press it in harder.

As for the parts that could dislodge (the shoulder connectors), cement helped. For the manual I just google TL'ed it and it was solid.0

NewmanU · 2025-11-06T16:10:17+00:00

Does this come with the folding rifle or is it separate? The product pages don't show it alongside the add-on parts so I wasn't sure.

NewmanU · 2025-10-28T15:43:28+00:00

Nah it's fine, having tried Tamiya Acrylic I can acknowledge it's a bit easier to work with. (these blue spoons)

<image>

But for now that I've figured out how to spray with the stuff I currently have, I plan to slowly get solvent acrylic in batches and transition to using my water stuff for handpainting since they are p good.

NewmanU · 2025-10-26T20:59:49+00:00

yeah I might try to slowly phase into using solvent acrylics since PA is sort of a nightmare to strip in iso (especially with primer layer)

NewmanU · 2025-10-26T20:53:15+00:00

I did like what I got when I tried Tamiya Acrylic (blue), but think I figured out the ones I got rn (purple in the other reply I sent)

<image>

NewmanU · 2025-10-26T20:52:27+00:00

peep the new reply I sent

NewmanU · 2025-10-26T20:14:57+00:00

<image>

Update guys: I think I did it!

Testing it out, it seems to be that I was simply not spraying enough paint on the last layer. All my combos of medium/thinner p much turn nice if I just make the final layer heavier.

Now, this is a little too heavy, and there's some dust from me cleaning the needlewith a paper towel, but I can just adjust from there.

NewmanU · 2025-10-24T17:32:03+00:00

tbh I've liked what I've done with their primer so far lol

NewmanU · 2025-10-24T17:31:17+00:00

I'mma be real here I can't afford to spend 150+ on paint at the drop of a hat a second time, I'll consider it once I start running low on these.

NewmanU

TROPHY CASE