Hello,I have a question.Please forgive me if I cant explain it just right.When I cut the parts off the chrome sprue,the place where I cut off has sprue still attached to it.So when I cut this off,it leaves an ugly white color.How can I get rid of this?Thank alot.
-Nick
I use Testors chrome silver paint (from the 1/4 oz. bottle) to touch up kit chrome. It works well enough, especially if the damage is in a hidden place. If you want to totally re-paint it, then use Alclad II laquer chrome. It comes in both AB-ready bottles and a 4.5 oz.(?) spray. It simulates chrome wuite nicely, and there are many how-to threads about it here. But, like I said, the chrome form the bottle usually works for me. HTH
You’re lucky if it’s “ugly white”! [;)] Quite often it tends to be black - stands out even more!
Agreed, you can either just do a touch-up if the part looks good enogh. Or if it needs sanding anyways, strip the chrome (amonia-based solvent does wonders…) and repaint the whole thing after tidying it up. Depends on what you want whether you go Alclad or just a “normal” silver paint.
SOME one told me to cut the chrome with a heated xacto blade, it take practice…
if you’re into really makeing show car models there is a compant that will rechrome the part for a fair price, contact http://www.scalemodelindex.com/ you can find them in there somewhere.
Jake
I think Big Jake is thinking of www.chrometechusa.com . I have heard good things about them. One of the ways they offer thier services is that you mount the pieces yourself, then they plate them. This would allow you to choose the attachment point instead of going with the way the kit does it.
GABO72-- That sounds like a good idea, I will have to try that next time I have some chrome in a kit (that may be a while though).
I have a question, i am building an AMT duster71 , the chromed parts seems to be without the normal shine, , seems more like aluminium, or dull shine, but all the parts are the same finish, i decide to put them anyway , instead to paint them with model master silver chrome trim, or to soak them in to future,
i live in central america and can not send them to chromtech, so
if you where me , wath do you do???
GABO72 Try sparying the parts with a clear varnish,Tester’s makes something named “Glosscoat”.Try using a bit of the “tree” the parts are attached to to experament.Redrobin
I have gotten to where I just strip it all and spray them with the different Metalizers. Look alot better than the kit chrome. THey work pretty good touching up small spots with a brush as well.
You can sometimes get away with brushing Alclad II chrome on. Rub down just the offending patch (about 4000grit Micromesh) then apply gloss black but try and blend in the edges. Shake the Alclad and dab it on with a brush. It will settle itself but you want to see the particles dancing on the part as they dry. It sometimes needs two or three applications depending on the size of the patch and a coating of Future will seal it in nicely.
This same method also works nicely for other small parts you want to chrome.
Cheers - Martin
Does anyone know if Alclad uses a different name in the UK? I havnt been able to locate any yet.. I couldnt get any Future either, until I discovered that it was called Klear over here.
You can get Alclad from Grand Prix Models in the UK
http://www.grandprixmodels.co.uk
Martin
All too often, what comes already chromed with a kit looks rather chunky and toylike because of the process used to chrome plastic. I usually strip everything chrome when I get it, remove seam lines and flash and have a crisp, clean plastic that I Alcad 2 or BMF. The need then to “disguise” where it was removed from the sprue is eliminated.
Yuo can also get alcad 2 from Hannants in the UK at £4.00 per bottle.