Wrinkling chrome finish!

Now before you all jump on my case about read the faq's etc, let me say I don't want to remove the chrome I want to wrinkle it in a way to replicate knackered chrome thats not quite at the rusted through stage.
Let me explain, I got one of the new Airfix kits of the Wallace and Grommet van for Xmas, I know how to weather the paintwork and replicate the rust but all the brightwork is pristine which obviously isn't right. I need something that will wrinkle the chrome but not fully remove it.
I have tried plastic weld solvent glue which sort of works but not as well as I would like. anyone any ideas? :confused:

It's a shot in the dark, but in the past I screwed up on a plated piece and achieved a result I think you're aiming for. If I remember right, I had applied some liquid cement to a piece and had attached the other piece, but there was too much and it squashed out. So I just grabbed a rag and gently rubbed it, but it started pulling the plating off and stretching it out. When i tried to place it back on, it had the wrinkled, beaten look to it. I've since passed on the model, or i'd snap a pic.

Might be worth a try. I don't remember what the cement was exactally, but it was a watery cement and achieved what you're looking to do.

If you get it figured out, do share, please.

Denatured alcohol. I forgot how long you let it sit, but in my quest for a chrome stripper, I tested this and found that it isn't all that effective. After a while, it wrinkles and bubbles. It might take some trial and error...

Mist on some clear dullcoat from a long distance, or stiple it on with a paint brush (Dip the brush in it and flick the paint off the bristles with your thumb).

Good luck with these methods. Sounds like an interesting mission:)

i've never tried this before, but maybe you could try stripping it, improperly prepare the surface for a repaint by doing something like spraying a little bit of water on it, and then use one of the good chrome sprays available (i think people on here like alclad or whatever, but i've never used anything like it). no idea if this will work, or if it will even give you the effect you want, but if having a crap preparation job can cause wrinkles in paint for the body, no reason it cant for the chrome too.

Now before you all jump on my case about read the faq's etc, let me say I don't want to remove the chrome I want to wrinkle it in a way to replicate knackered chrome thats not quite at the rusted through stage.
Let me explain, I got one of the new Airfix kits of the Wallace and Grommet van for Xmas, I know how to weather the paintwork and replicate the rust but all the brightwork is pristine which obviously isn't right. I need something that will wrinkle the chrome but not fully remove it.
I have tried plastic weld solvent glue which sort of works but not as well as I would like. anyone any ideas? :confused:

I've never tried anything like this, but I think that I'd probably strip the part and then try something like klutz_100 did with the salt masking here (http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=437156&page=6&pp=15) (The part you need is part way down the page, just look for the bright orange wheels and you'll be there.

Now, stop holding out on us Wallace and Gromit Fans who don't have this kit. Show us some pics of the kit - please! :biggrin:

Thanks for the ideas will try them and see if any of the solvent methods work before I go for the full blown strip. Will let you know.
Gridgirl - Camera issues at the moment but will post progress pics when I can.
The kit is well molded but some of the parts are in a strange plastic, almost a vinyl but not quite. It is a bitch to sand though as it sort of mushes rather than sands off. It also doesn't react well with normal plastic cement and I have had to use cyano for some of the parts.