Any USA LAFers willing to help me with a paint quest???

[Captain Blood]

As per the title, I'm seeking a little help from a LAF friend in the USA... Possibly someone in the vicinity of Troy, Michigan 

Here's the story...

Many years ago, there was a widely available 'craft acrylic' paint brand here in the UK, called 'Inscribe'. It was part of the Daler-Rowney art materials portfolio, and the 59ml / 2 Fl.oz. bottles were available dirt cheap in almost every art and craft shop in the UK.

The amazing thing though, is that it's incredibly good paint. High opacity, lovely silky texture, deep pigmentation, dead flat matt, and so on. Way better than most of the specialist hobby paints for wargamers and modellers - and at a fraction of the price. In short, my favourite paint. The best paint.

Unfortunately, for some reason, the range started to disappear from art shops several years ago - only to make a short-lived reappearance under the brand name 'Palmer Prism'.

As you can see from the picture, the product is exactly the same. It's just that the label has changed slightly.



Roll on a couple more years, and the Palmer Prism version of this product has now disappeared entirely - no remaining stocks anywhere in the UK that I can find (apart from a few odd / undesirable colours via eBay).

I am now down to the last scrapings of several colours I use all the time, and I've been unable to find good substitutes - because most craft acrylics (Anita's, DecoArt etc) are too glutinous and thinly pigmented to be any use for miniatures.

However,  I have now noticed that the Palmer Paint Company of Troy, Michigan, appear to have recently relaunched what looks like exactly the same range of acrylics again. As seen on their website:



Unfortunately (again!) Palmer don't seem to sell directly to the public - only wholesale to retail stores.

I've emailed Palmer, filled in their website enquiry form, and left answerphone messages - with absolutely no response... 
And Google doesn't seem to throw up any store outlets even in the USA that actually stocks this product.
So it's all a bit of a mystery...

Hence my request: Is any kind soul in the USA willing to try to contact Palmer Paint Co. and establish:

1. Do they have (or have any plans to appoint) a UK/Europe importer / distributor?
2. Can they advise of a US retailer carrying this product who would be willing to ship a (small) order of 2 oz. bottles to the UK?

3. If all else fails, is there a LAFer in the USA willing to track down a US store outlet stocking this product, buy what I need, and ship it to me in the UK? 

Anyone interested / able / willing to help, please do let me know.

Thanks

Richard

[Too Bo Coo]

Hey Richard,

I bought some on your recommendation.  I agree, wonderful paints.  I got it from an online vendor. Let me track down the name and get back to you.

Cheers!

[Too Bo Coo]

Found it, Dick Blick.

http://www.dickblick.com/products/palmer-prism-acrylics/

[Captain Blood]

Thanks TBC.

What was the shipping cost like?

Problem is, this vendor too, only seems to have remaindered stock from the first incarnation of Palmer Prism.

But now, by the look of the Palmer Paint Co. website, the full range is back in production... But unfortunately, no clue as to where you can buy it from in its new packaging... 

[Svennn]

My last lot came from Fred Aldous but I think they were clearing the original Inscribe at the time and it was a while ago.

I have a few unopened spares if you let me know particular colours I will check.

[Too Bo Coo]

Overseas shipping I'm not sure, I picked up my parcel on my last trip to see my parents in the states. I'll keep looking myself in any event as I really like that plum/purple you often use. Sorry it wasn't more help....but I'll let you know whatever I find out myself.

Thanks TBC.

What was the shipping cost like?

Problem is, this vendor too, only seems to have remaindered stock from the first incarnation of Palmer Prism.

But now, by the look of the Palmer Paint Co. website, the full range is back in production... But unfortunately, no clue as to where you can buy it from in its new packaging... 

[grant]

Thanks TBC.

What was the shipping cost like?

Problem is, this vendor too, only seems to have remaindered stock from the first incarnation of Palmer Prism.

But now, by the look of the Palmer Paint Co. website, the full range is back in production... But unfortunately, no clue as to where you can buy it from in its new packaging... 

You should get in touch with Dick Blick, they are a very large store (well, for an art store) and have a very good reputation - perhaps they could bring in the new version for you...

[Orctrader]

Interesting.  On amazon (UK) they have the jars "currently unavailable" but Amazon (US) they are back in stock.

LINK

So you could try, in addition to Dick Blick "Art Infinity" via Amazon (US)

[Sterling Moose]

Richard if you track down a store let me know your wish list and I'll pick some up for you when I'm next down South and deliver them to you at Salute.  Equally if you find an online vender give me a shout and I'll give you a US address to ship to and I'll pick them up when I go over the border.

[Captain Blood]

Thanks Pete. That's kind of you.

The central mystery remains however - the paint company appears to be making this range of paints again and wholesaling them in the USA.

And yet I can't find anyone selling it retail via an online search. And I don't get any response to enquiries to the company...

I was just hoping someone in the same time zone might be willing to ring them up and ask who sells their product!

It's like a bloody mystery from the X Files!