Hi, I needed something to fiddle with and started building a 1/72 Hasegawq Ki43 Oscar. Great little kit! I’d like to try the Model Master Metalic (buffable), but I’m not sure about the paint sequence. The airplane has an anti-glare black/blue coat and the yellow ID markings on the leading edge of the wings. Should I paint the colors first, mask, then do the metal or paint the metal, seal, then colors? I have the recommended sealer.
I would try to avoid masking the metalizer with tape if you can,it’s pretty delicate stuff.I have masked it with post-its.
Important note: Do not use primer. The metallizer is designed to be applied to bare plastic, for best results.
Tojo72 is right, it is very delicate and easy to pull off with masking tape. Post-its are a good idea, if you can’t avoid masking. I would try to use colored decal strips cut to fit, to avoid any masking.
I paint the antiglare and leading edges first, masking off any thing that will be covered in metalizer later. Then I mask those areas and paint the metalizer. Probably why I’ve done only one nmf bird. If you don’t seal it, use cotton gloves and try to limit handling it so you don’t smear metalizer on places that you don’t want it.
Thanks for the replies. I’ve heard it’s a delicate paint. I picked the paint and sealer up when I first got back into modeling, before doing much research on it. I’m reluctant to try it!
Get Alclad instead. No sealer needed.
I agree with Chuck, never use primer. If you use primer first the Metallic paint will have a rough finish. I use a paper stump to buff the Metallic paint prior to sealer. Once the paint is buffed it will no longer come off on your fingers. After the paint is sealed it is not too delicate. I do use masking tape, but first I press it to my forehead to remove some of the stickyness.
This is the wing of a B-24. It is painted with Testors’ Metallic Aluminum. It has been buffed and sealed.
This is the wing with blue masking tape. I painted the unmasked areas with Testors’ Metallic Stainless Steel.
This is the wing after the masking tape was removed. Notice that the masking tape did not “lift” the Metallic Aluminum paint.
Great tutorial!
JohnnyK, that looks great! Thanks for posting