Is alclad II chrome really the best chrome application?

Tools, Techniques, and Reference Materials Painting and airbrushing
1

i have tested out the alclad II chrome. i have used both tamiya black gloss and the alclad II black gloss as the undercoat. but i still have not tried any enamel black gloss. probably the smart thing i should have done.

is it just me or did anyone else failed to see alclad II being “True Chrome?”

i have heard great things about this stuff but experience shows how “okay” the chrome finish is. i don’t know if enamel has something to do with it.

the chrome finish that i have seen on the net are pretty decent. at least better than my results. they actually have a “shine.” mine doesn’t. i give 3 light coats of black gloss. and 3 ligh coats of alclad chrome. but it comes out more like aluminum foil. it has very little reflective characteristics and very little shine. at least not as good as everyone else’s, or how they say it turned out.

has anyone have “really good” results with alclad chrome? i mean, how do they give those “shiny” looks to the chrome finish? people say, no buffing or clear coating is necessary. but in my experience shows that they need some great amount of touch ups. but i don’t know how to do it.
everytime i try to practice chrome painting, it turns out very dull. i have tried to paint on top of actual plastic and metal that already has a black gloss finish. the reflectiveness was pretty good but the shininess, that’s another story. it’s is really fogged.

i have heard differenct things about the results though. i’ve read somewhere that alclad chrome is more easier and faster than actually sending out the parts to be proffessionally chrome plated by vacuum metalizing.
well this is true if people are satisfied with okay chrome.

is there a way to make “Real Chrome” without having to send them out? i would think there is no way to recreate true chrome without an actual machine.

i have also used micromesh. now this was a total waste of money. it nearly scrapes off half of the paint that was applied. and i tried to rub the clothes on top of the chrome finish. it actually makes it 3 times worse than it was.
i guess i’ll just have to settle with aluminum instead chrome.

2

I have some Alclad Chrome, but haven’t used it yet. However, I have seen some results (in person) with this stuff that made my jaw drop. I don’t know the secrets, but my understanding is that an enamel glass black is what you really need (although you did say you used the Alclad II black which should have done the trick.)

After seeing the results in person, I’m a believer.

Good luck in your quest.

Murray

3

The Alclad Lacquer is the best chrome finish I have ever seen for a paint.

BUT… the surface has to be very very smooth! I think the enamel base might make it easier to get the rigth surface because it is thicker and will fill imperfections better.

I have heard that you can polish it and wax it to make it more mirror like.

But I am not sur eyou can ever get a real mirror finish with a paint.

I have some Alclad tips here: http://www.naplak.com/modeling/tips/paint_alclad.htm

And anything you would care to add would be appreciated! [:D]

4

HEY,
I have never used Alclad or Bare-Metal Foil, but my impression is that bare metal foil is the way to go. The only place to get it is at http://www.bare-metal.com. Hope this helps.

Randy

5

Model Master Metalizers are the way to go for me.

It works best with no primer, on clean plastic surface. I love it. You buff it with a paper towel 10 minutes after application and it shines as much as you want. The Metalizer Aluminum Buffing is breath taking.