FAQs

Our FAQ's cover a range of historical information that we have kept for future reference. We no longer produce Colourcoats paint.

Paint FAQs

How do I use Colourcoats?

Full application guidelines can be found here.

How much do I need for my model?

We have written an indepth guide to estimating the paint you may require for your model, you can find this here.

What primer should I use?

Colourcoats paint does not require any primer or undercoat for adhesion purposes however it is good practice to spray a single colour (grey, black or white matt paint) to ensure that your surface preparation is uniform.

What finish are Colourcoats?

Colourcoats are either a matt or satin finish. The naval and armour ranges are matt and the aircraft range is satin to allow easier application of decals. Each listing will detail what finish that colour comes in.


How do I thin Colourcoats?

The recommended means to thin is Colourcoats Thinners. Designed and formulated specifically for use with Colourcoats, Colourcoats thinners offers a number of key benefits - significantly reduced odours during use compared to white spirits or cellulose thinners, significantly reduced drying times compared to white spirits and far less aggressive towards styrene plastics than cellulose thinners. Unused paint thinned with Colourcoats Thinners can be safely returned to the tin for long term storage.

Should I stir my paint before use?

YES! Solid pigments will tend to separate from the carrier solvent if sat still for long periods of time, so we strongly recommend thorough mixing before use. It is in the nature of enamel paint for separation to occur and we do not class this as a fault. Sealed tins that are many years old are still perform perfectly after some thorough mixing.

My paint isn't drying properly/going on patchy/etc - what should I do?

If you have any issues with Colourcoats paint please email us with details and we will do what we can to assist you to create a smooth and even finish. 99% of the time we have found that the paint just required a bit more mixing due to the pigment settling in the tin. If any "blob" comes up with your stirring stick from the bottom, the paint needs to be mixed for longer. Pigments and pigment extenders are suspended, not dissolved, and will sink to the bottom over time.

 Can I order larger size cans/custom paint order?

We are happy to supply any of our colours in larger sizes for personal or commercial use. We can supply in tins from 125 ml up to 5 litres. Please contact us for more information.

 

General FAQs

 

Do I need to sign up to an account to checkout?

We give our customers the options of accounts to help track prior orders and make wishlists. There is no requirement to sign up to an account however in order to place an order.

Do you take Mastercard/ Visa/ etc?

We accept all Visa, Mastercard and & Amex credit and debit card payments through our store. We also have the option of Paypal payments & Amazon payments. To use Paypal/Amazon payments please log in to your Paypal/Amazon account when prompted in order to process payment through those payment gateways. We do not have access to your log in details for these accounts.

Do you take payments over the phone/cheque/cash?

We operate as a web store only and do not take cards payment over the phone nor cheques or cash in the post. This is to ensure all your details are kept secure. Our web store is PCI compliant and fulfils all 6 categories of PCI standards to ensure your details are kept safe. For more information on this click here

When travelling at trade shows we can take card payment via Paypal here or by direct input to our web store and cash only. We do not accept cheques.

How does Paypal payments work?

Paypal payments will direct you away from our site to Paypals site to log in. Postage costs are not added at this point.  Once you have logged in on the paypal site and click "pay now" you will be redirected to our site to chose postage method before finalising payment. No payment will be taken until you return to our site to continue the checkout process. 

 

Postage and Packaging FAQs

 

Can you post to me?

Colourcoats Paint/thinners - We are able to post to mainland Great Britain (no islands or Northern Ireland) only at present. Due to enamel paints/thinners being classed as dangerous goods, posting requires us to adhere to certain regulations.  We also offer free postage for paint orders over £100.

We aim to post all orders within 3 working days and only post twice a week. Please advise if you wish this to be sent same day and we will do all we can to help.  Parcelforce items are sent under their express48 service. However please allow up to 4 working days for your item to arrive before contacting us. We have found that their express48 service can take an extra day or two. UPS delivery times are usually within 2-3 days of dispatch. Please see our postage page for up to date information. 

International Orders

Colourcoats Paint - We are unable to send paint directly to retail customers outside of mainland Great Britain. Please contact your nearest stockists as they may be able to help you. Follow this link for stockists.


How long will it be until I receive my order?

We aim to ship all orders within 3 working days. All paint orders are shipped under Parcelforce48 stipulates that this 48 hours is from the time the parcel is dispatched until the end of business in 48 hours. For example this means parcels sent on a Thursday have until the end of Monday to arrive. However please allow up to 4 working days for your item to arrive before contacting us. We have found that their express48 service can often take an extra day or two. UPS standard typically arrive within 2 days of dispatch.

You will receive an automated email with tracking details for these services. Please contact us if you have any queries. Please note that any parcels not delivered on the first attempt are usually taken to your nearest sorting office for collection. Any parcels not collected are returned to us at our cost. If you missed your parcel/did not collect it and want it sent out again, then you are liable for the additional postage cost..

 


How will my order arrive?

All paints are shipped in gripseal bags, surrounded by vermiculite (non-flammable absorbent cushioning) in a double walled postal box, taped securely to prevent spillages or leakages. Our packaging will ensure your paint arrives safely and undamaged. Should your order not arrive in good condition please contact us at orders@sovereignhobbies.co.uk.


Returns & Refunds FAQs

Can I return my order for a refund?

Paint/thinners returns are extremely costly and difficult due to the nature of posting dangerous goods so we will do everything in our power to ensure that you are happy with your order. 

Under EU law a consumer is entitled to cancel a distance sales contract without notice up to 14 days after delivery. We as Sovereign Hobbies Ltd are obligated to refund the full value of the goods paid by you, plus the basic rate of postage available to you for that product to your address at the time of order. Customers cancelling however are obligated to return the goods to us in as-new condition at your expense. With specific reference to paint order cancellations, this means you are required to return flammable liquids to us via the post, which may be greatly simplified by asking us to arrange collection for you under our dangerous goods handling contract. You are entitled to use any carrier you wish, but point out that it is illegal to fail to disclose the nature of the contents of the return package in order to have the package accepted by a courier under their normal service.

Our policy lasts 30 days. If 30 days have gone by since your purchase was delivered, we unfortunately cannot offer you a refund or exchange.

If you are returning an applicable item (not paint/thinners) - once your return is received and inspected, we will send you an email to notify you that we have received your returned item. We will also notify you of the approval or rejection of your refund.

If you are approved, then your refund will be processed, and a credit will automatically be applied to the original method of payment, typically within 14 days.


My refund hasn't arrive yet - what should I do?

If you haven’t received a refund yet, first check your bank account or contact your credit card company, it may take some time before your refund is officially posted on your statement. There is often some processing time before a refund is posted.
If you’ve done all of this and you still have not received your refund yet, please contact us at orders@sovereignhobbies.co.uk


Can I exchange my item I ordered?

We do not accept exchanges on paint/thinners due to the nature of shipping flammable liquids and the very high cost involved in returning items and re-sending replacements.

 

International Customers

 

I'm not in the UK -  Where can I buy Colourcoats?

We sell Colourcoats paint direct to Mainland Great Britain customers from our web store. We can send to certain European destinations. Please click here for more details. If you are overseas and looking for our high quality Colourcoats range from dealers please check out below for your nearest stockist.