The Little World

In scale modelling an empty bottle that once held paint can be many things; a halt to the project, a nuisance, an additional expense…or a trophy of great significance.

It indicates that you used the contents and were able to get full value. If it was half-full of sludge or dried pigment it would be a sign that you were careless or wasteful. If it was full, but impossible to open, you would have ongoing frustration.

Do not throw it away too soon. Most empty bottles can be rinsed out with a suitable solvent and stored with their cap. A day will come when you need a shade of paint that can only be a custom mix, and you’ll need a bottle for it. Or you will be making Sprue Goo of a different viscosity and need to store it.

Even small parts and nuts and bolts are better off in a sealed jar – provided you do not lose it in a secret safe hiding space.

When you go to replace the paint, consider whether you used it in a reasonable time, or whether it was a decade on your workshop shelf. Okay, you did use it, but do you need another decade’s worth?