need help starting mercedes clk dtm d2

hi to all, i'm new here

i'm used to building tanks and 1/350 ~1/700 ships... so everything's muddy and rusty and stuff

i want to get started on building cars again, but i have never achieved any spectacular results. I've seen the built-up models of the CLK DTM in Tamiya's model magazine as well as scale auto modeler. Is it me or does the metallic silver finish on those models seem a bit rainy (like, you could almost pick out the individual metallic chips in the paint).

I've seen really really nice metallic finishes before, that's like, *SMOOTH*.... it's like a mirror finish. How does one do it???? Oh yeah, I'm thinking of airbrushing Tamiya Chrome Silver or Testors Acrylic Silver on the CLK DTM... which one is better suited for that consistent, glossy mirror-like look? :sun:

i tried both

the testors that i had was a lil too dark
the tamiya chrome silver is nice and will look good on a car body.
i would use the tamiya.

IMO metalizers like Tamiya's acrylic X-11/XF-16/XF-56 etc. and Model Masters enamels use too big metal flakes, for a look that's out-of-scale.

Alclad II aluminum (you'll need an airbrush) is an excellent metalizer that doesn't contain and metal flakes (that are noticeable on the finish) ...when sprayed on it looks like real aluminum. You could spray a base coat of alclad II aluminum, then get some metal flake powder from your local arts and crafts store, mix with a clear coat, and spray the clear coat over the aluminum. You will have a nice silver base with in-scale metal flakes.

Alclad II aluminum may be too dark, they also offer a White Aluminum metalizer too. Don't use their highly polished aluminum as that is more of a matte chrome (think Tamiya's matte chrome parts for their bikes execpt a bit darker) unless you want that look.

Finally, make sure to test this all out on a test piece of plastic. I haven't tried it myself, just offering a solution that may or may not work. Alclad II is pretty pricey too, $8 for a one ounce bottle.. And I wouldn't recommend acrylic as a final base paint...flakes off too easily and is not easily polished.

Hey thanks... I think I'm gonna go with the Tamiya chrome silver for now... I don't feel experienced enough to fool around with Alcad just yet...

Got another question. I just spray painted an empty CD case with Testors Dark Red. Looks like crap. I think my backyard is very dusty or something, I dunno, but now the CD case looks like a rendering of Martian landscape. So I took out Tamiya's sandpaper/abrasives and stuff and started rubbing the crap out of it. It ends up smooth and everything (after using 2000 grit), but why do I still see "pink patches"? Like, shinny pink patches and stuff??

I am also working on the CLK-DTM but the black one.
I plan to build the D2 too. And I will paint it simply using the Tamiya spray TS-17.

Well, if you're gonna use Tamiya Chrome Silver you're going to get that "rain" effect you were talking about.

How do I use Alclad?

xim-crow, keep me posted on how ur CLK DTM goes, got a digica?
:D

no, unfortunatly not yet. But I plan to buy one in 1 or 2 months.
I will keep you informed on how it goes !
now I am working on the cockpit and the engine. I decided to put a lot of carbon in them. (as in reality) .:D
Check out this website, it is very useful :
http://www.8ung.at/kb_modellbau/modellberichte/projekte05clkdtm.htm

Bye,


PS I'll manage to take some pic of my work