polishing metallic paint

I have a model I just painted with Tamiya Deep Metallic Blue TS-53 and I want to do the sand and polish treatment, but I am concerned that the metallic look will be lost. Does anyone have suggestions for the best way to handle metallic paints? Thanks.

Never polish or sand metallic paint without a clear coat.

Clearcoat is how you polish metallic colors. You apply the paint as smooth and thin as possible (just enough so that the color is even and opaque- no more), then apply clearcoat over it. Polish only the clearcoat.

Metallic colors are simply not intended to be polished uncoated.

Good to know, I actually buffed metallic blue from MCW, I did have to paint it again, but the reason I had buffed it was it went down too rough and I had planned on recoating.

I do know this, if you are using metallic silvers from finishers, do not apply decals before clear coat. The decal solutions like micro-sol will mess up the silver paint. You won't notice it until the clear is applied but then it's too late and it sticks out like a sore thumb. Since I haven't clearcoated the blue I mentioned earlier, I may have the same result.

I've polished Tamiya metallics and the results were great. The softer enamels tend to smear, but lacquers and acrylic lacquers are harder and polish out a lot better.

You don't know unless you try. I've done the Tamiya TS metallic blue, the gun metal and red.

Bob

Personally, I've tried it but my results have led me to the actions of applying a clearcoat firstbut that's just me.:2cents: