polishing metallic paint

[teegeefla]

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.

[Khier]

Never polish or sand metallic paint without a clear coat.

[MPWR]

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.

[grundski]

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.

[bobss396]

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

[tonioseven]

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