In a continuing effort to answer your questions, The Secret Life of Alclad 2 is now available at http://www.SwannysModels.com
A complete “How To” for achieving an easy Natural Metal Finish
Once again an excellent write up Swanny.
I especially found your explanation for the ‘cracking’ of the Alclad finish a help.
I used the Alclad primer, black coat, then Aluminium on my P-38, 2 days drying time inbetween coats, and then 2 days after the final colour, she started cracking al over the place![:(!]
Back then I couldn’t find anyone that could explain why this happened, and wrote it off to poor prep on my part.
Now I’m not so sure[:D]
(the P-38 has entered the ’ when I could be bothered’ section of the model closet)
Well done Swanny, and thanks.
Thanks Tweety, isn’t it good to know that it was not your fault?
Excellent Swanny…
Your site is already in my Favorites, but this tops it for me… looking forward to my next NMF so I can try all this out!
Swanny, Iv’e never tried the Krylon, but it sounds like a good idea. My process has been to paint a flat black base coat using Floquil Engine Black, let it cure, smooth it down with very fine MicroMesh pads, Top coat with Future. Let it cure 48 hours minimum, then spray the Alclad2. Have had excellent results with out any problems, but I’ll have to try your method. Sounds a bit easier than mine.
great and very informative article swanny.[tup] its a good thing as i have 2 tamiya P-51Ds in the oven as we speak. your article speaks to me when you say why take a chance with the priming as i ruined a P-51 not long ago with orange peel. the kit had the resin True Details cockpit which turned out to be a dandy when finished…all for naught when i ruined the model’s alclad finish. i used alclad’s gloss black primer though and after 24 hours it still felt a wee bit on the tacky side!! maybe this time i’ll try krylon gloss black and see what happens. you have a very nice looking stang as well!! hoping mine turns out this time as i have a more expensive aires pit and a black box pit in the other. dont want to repeat the last debacle for sure. i’ll be rereading your article before the finishing stage. thanks, later.
Thanks for that Swanny i’ve been avoiding NMF but my modeling tastes have led me to the CAC SABRE.This kits a conversion so i don’t want to put all the hard work in and ruin it witha crappy paintjob.
Swanny: You wrote a well written and informative article on this subject. I like your “cookbook” approach. I would like to add some information regarding Krylon Gloss Black. Your process certainly works but I suggest a short cut to this process. I have used a Krylon product called “Short Cuts”. Short Cuts comes in a 1 oz bottle, in gloss black, and can be airbrushed. Lacquer thinner works great with it for thinning and clean up. Short Cuts airbrush beautifully and dry very fast to a hard gloss finish ready for Alclad. It costs less than $2 and can be found at K Mart. Might give it a try because I think you wil like it.
Mike McShea
Thx Swanny for the info. I may be trying Alclad2 in the near future for my NMF builds thx again!
Mike, that sounds very interesting. I have never seen this “short cuts” product but will look for it and give it a try.
Thanks everyone for the positive feedback and comments.
I had the Alclad 2 crack on a Tamiya mustang, but it was the Aluminium that cracked which was applied over highly polished aluminium. (there was no problem with the highly polished aluminium). Im currently in the process of repainting her. I put it down to touch ups and not enough drying time (the wings are fine). I loved the article and I am now looking for Krylon gloss black spray or 'Short cuts' in the UK, so I dont ruin any more of my NMF aircraft.
Thank you for sharing the secret life of Alclad 2