Alclad question

I tried a search, but found nothing. I was wondering for the Alclad chrome, you have to use a black enamel base. My question is, does the black base have to be fully cured before I can spray the Alclad? I just sprayed to base this morning, and I was wondering if I can spray the chrome on tomorrow morning. Anyone who used the chrome before please let me know. I am anxious to spray it. :) Thanks.

I usually shoot the chrome once the enamel base is tacky-dry, but letting it dry longer shouldn't be a problem ... in fact, I've heard that it helps to go over the black base with a polishing cloth before shooting the chrome.

khart is right,if you let it cure and then give it a buff with a soft cloth,it will give a better result.

make sure the black is very dry is my advice, I didn't wait long enough once, it never cured right. I now use Duplicolor for the base because it dries fast, also if you put a coat of clear over the black it will have more depth to the shine

Here's how I do it. First I airbrush Testors Boyds gloss black thinned 50:50 with Model Master airbrush thinner with my Aztek airbrush. After 2 to 3 coats of black I clean the airbrush and let the black flash over. Then I shoot 2 to 3 light mist coats of Alclad at 15psi.

After all of this I bake in the dehydrator for 6-8 hours. I got a hint on the HHMB about using Humbrol gloss black because it dries better than Testors. I'm gonna test Humbrol with my next Alclad shoot.

I've sprayed Alclad Chrome over cured Tamiya spray black and freshly applied Model Master black enamel. It didn't adhere to the Tamiya paint, looked good but you couldn't touch it.

It adhered perfectly to the freshly applied enamel. Of course buffing the black would give an even better, cleaner surface...but I haven't tried it. Testors enamels never dry very hard, so the Alclad should adhere to it...it needs to bite into the surface a bit so it won't come off from handling like it does w/lacquers. Since it's applied in microscopically thin layers, it shouldn't hurt the enamel at all.

Has anyone tried it over dark blue, gray, or white? I found the chrome effect slightly dark over black, and think that gloss white enamel may brighten it up a bit.

Thanks everyone. :) I sprayed it this morning and it came out alright. The finish looks a little hazy though. I think I sprayed it on too thick. Actually too many layers. Live and learn. Hopefully the next time I use it, it comes out better.

I've sprayed Alclad Chrome over cured Tamiya spray black and freshly applied Model Master black enamel. It didn't adhere to the Tamiya paint, looked good but you couldn't touch it.

It adhered perfectly to the freshly applied enamel. Of course buffing the black would give an even better, cleaner surface...but I haven't tried it. Testors enamels never dry very hard, so the Alclad should adhere to it...it needs to bite into the surface a bit so it won't come off from handling like it does w/lacquers. Since it's applied in microscopically thin layers, it shouldn't hurt the enamel at all.

Has anyone tried it over dark blue, gray, or white? I found the chrome effect slightly dark over black, and think that gloss white enamel may brighten it up a bit.

If you spray over white it won't show up chrome at all, Alclad actually works like a miror and relies on the dark backgroud for the refelctive quality. Much like the chameleon paints

dag65,

No offence, but have you tried putting the Alclad over white?? I haven't either, but I know that you could do it with the SNJ Metalizers. I used to use their aluminum buffing powder on white and it turned out pretty bright.

Like I said, I don't know for sure if it will work either, but it would be good to know. Unfortunately my bench is still not set-up (likely another month or two away) so I can't really try it...

Murray

dag65,

No offence, but have you tried putting the Alclad over white?? I haven't either, but I know that you could do it with the SNJ Metalizers. I used to use their aluminum buffing powder on white and it turned out pretty bright.

Like I said, I don't know for sure if it will work either, but it would be good to know. Unfortunately my bench is still not set-up (likely another month or two away) so I can't really try it...

Murray
Yes and it does not work, the metallizers are totally different than Alclad, over a very dark blue or something you might get some fair results but Alclad relies on the black background for refelctivity

Thanks for clarification on that dag65. Good to know...

Murray

has anyone ever tried using one of those chrome silver pens?? Can't remember what they are used for commercially, but I can remember having some around the house a long time ago...

has anyone ever tried using one of those chrome silver pens?? Can't remember what they are used for commercially, but I can remember having some around the house a long time ago...

I have a Sanford Silver marker and a Sanford Gold marker they both are fine tipped and are almost as good as Dupli-Color paints and its recomended you use it on a black surface.

thanks for that info. would probably be a lot cheaper and easier to do :D

Strange, I'm using the Alclad Black Base for the Chrome as suggested by Alclad, but it still comes off. Should I switch to some Black Enamel or spray the Chrome while the base is tacky?

I use Testors black enamel and let it cure over night.If you handle it a lot once you've sprayed the chrome it will begin to rub through but with no more handling than needed it will be fine.

Strange, I'm using the Alclad Black Base for the Chrome as suggested by Alclad, but it still comes off. Should I switch to some Black Enamel or spray the Chrome while the base is tacky?

Well, so much for "perfection"! My suggestion would be to spray it over the Alclad black while it's still tacky. I've sprayed the Alclad over nearly wet black enamel, it sticks just fine like that. I've seen great results when someone has started w/a black enamel base, polished it, clearcoated it, polished the clearcoat, and then applied Alclad. I'm still leary of it not sticking to paint that has dried. If I want "perfection", I think I'll try spraying the black, polishing, and applying a thin coat of black as a second coat, just before applying Alclad.