Alclad Chrome

[Didymus]

I'm starting to build a Lotus 25. Tamiya supplied a large "chrome" sprue tree with all the suspension parts plus the exhaust trumpets and some other stuff. Except for the rearview mirror surfaces, I don't want anything on the car to have that fakey-doo plastic chrome finish.

My initial plan was to Soft-Scrub the entire tree and airbrush most of it with Alclad II Chrome lacquer. But then realized I don't have any Alclad base coat. I don't need any other stuff just now, and just placed a big order with Scale Hobbyist, so I'd have to pay shipping for just the base coat.

1. Will I get the same results if I substitute glossy black acrylic for the Alclad base coat?

2. Is there an LHS-available paint that will give me a chrome finish that's as realistic as Alclad II?

Ddms

[koksik]

Yes, You can use any black paint on base for alclad.

[MPWR]

Originally Posted by Didymus

1. Will I get the same results if I substitute glossy black acrylic for the Alclad base coat?

Yes, gloss black acrylic will work fine. You can use gloss in other colors also, if you want a slightly colored look tot he chrome.

The quality of the finish of the base acrylic will determine the look of the chrome- so do what you need to get it 'perfect'. If the base finish is good, the Alclad itself is easy to apply.

[guiwee]

does the base have to be enamel?..i read in one of the mags(tamiya)that youre supposed to use a black gloss enamel to really make it pop?..also dont you just kinda mist it onreally light?i dont have an airbrush so i use their can alclad chrome

[Didymus]

Thanks, koksik and MPWR. I'll just airbrush the pieces with Tamiya gloss black acrylic, thinned with Tam thinner.

Ddms

[klutz_100]

Originally Posted by Didymus

I'm starting to build a Lotus 25. Tamiya supplied a large "chrome" sprue tree with all the suspension parts plus the exhaust trumpets and some other stuff. Except for the rearview mirror surfaces, I don't want anything on the car to have that fakey-doo plastic chrome finish.

My initial plan was to Soft-Scrub the entire tree and airbrush most of it with Alclad II Chrome lacquer. But then realized I don't have any Alclad base coat. I don't need any other stuff just now, and just placed a big order with Scale Hobbyist, so I'd have to pay shipping for just the base coat.

1. Will I get the same results if I substitute glossy black acrylic for the Alclad base coat?

2. Is there an LHS-available paint that will give me a chrome finish that's as realistic as Alclad II?

Ddms

That's quite funny - I just stripped the chrome tree on my Lotus 25 last night too LOL

I'll be using Gunze Gloss Black as the basecoat for the Alclad.

[ZoomZoomMX-5]

I'd be very wary of applying Alclad chrome over anything but black enamel.

I applied it over black Tamiya TS spray and it did not stick (looked nice, but you couldn't touch it). Regardless of whether it was applied over dry or wet or damp TS paint. I can't say I've tried acrylic. But Alclad specifically says to apply over black enamel or their own base. It certainly doesn't bond w/Tamiya lacquer. It does bond well w/enamel.

Some hobby shops carry Spaz Stix chrome; it's made for applying inside of clear R/C bodies. It's slightly better than Alclad chrome, and it will stick very nicely to Tamiya TS lacquer.

Regardless what chrome you use, the quality of your base coat is the most important. If the base coat isn't perfect, the chrome won't be. Also you must buff off the dusty overspray from the chrome with an exceptionally soft cloth.

It's easy with practice.

[360spider]

Alclad also becomes more resilient to rubbing off after a few days, so don't touch it too much for the first few days after spraying.

[Didymus]

Originally Posted by ZoomZoomMX-5

I'd be very wary of applying Alclad chrome over anything but black enamel.

Now that comes as a surprise! According to the label, Alclad is a lacquer. Spraying lacquer over enamel is traditionally a huge no-no. I realize that the new synthetic lacquers are not as "hot" as the old cellulose lacquers, but it still comes as shock.

Oh well, whatever works!

Actually, I'd rather use an enamel undercoat because it's harder than acrylic and it covers better. But I think I ought to let it cure for several days before spraying the Alclad.

Do you think it needs primer? I hesitate to put so many coats of paint on small parts with so many details.

Ddms

[BVC500]

A little off topic, but still speaking of Alclad, I just picked up a bottle of their Holomatic Spectral Chrome. I was intrigued, despite the $19.75 price. Anyone use this, and what's so special about it? From my basis research, it offers true 7 color spectrum paint. What's so special about rainbow chrome?

[Didymus]

Originally Posted by klutz_100

That's quite funny - I just stripped the chrome tree on my Lotus 25 last night too LOL

Great minds etc. Let's keep in touch and compare notes. Are you adding any upgrades?

How did you strip the chrome? I hadn't planned to do that; I've just scrubbed it with Soft Scrub like I do all plastic and resin before painting. I thought that would be sufficient, but maybe not.

What do you guys think? Is the Full Monty really necessary?

Ddms

[klutz_100]

Originally Posted by Didymus

How did you strip the chrome?

Mr Muscle oven cleaner in spray in a plastiv bag.
I personally will be using primer - mostly to check if I have removed all the seam lines and my putty filling is not visible.

After reading Bob's advice, I have changed my plan and I'll be undercoating the Alclad Chrome using Alclad black base coat. I have a tin but I just never use it for some reason - which is pretty stupid of me because I do have problems with the Alclad finish being very delicate. Time for me to stop cutting corners, I think

Yes, I do have a few detail parts for the kit but I won't be doing the 63 box version. I shall be doing a 62, pre-yellow stripe version.

[ZoomZoomMX-5]

Originally Posted by Didymus

Now that comes as a surprise!

Ddms

Before Alclad sold their own black base coat, their only recommendation for Alclad Chrome was to spray over enamel. The other Alclad finishes could be sprayed over a wider variety of base coats. The chrome needs to "bite" the surface chemically. Alclad Chrome doesn't "bite" into Tamiya TS, that's for sure!

Sometimes following directions is a good thing

Spaz Stix works just the same, is slightly more reflective, and chemically bonds w/black lacquer, so it's become my hobby chrome.

Chrome Test

[klutz_100]

Hmm...I just finished putting Alclad base coat on the parts.

I am not an expert on enamels because I never use them but I always thought that they can be thinned/cleaned with White Spirit. However, when I tried to use W. Sprirt to clean my airbrush, it had absolutely no effect at all :o A strong celulose thinner removed it in a jiffy. Also, the base coat seems to become touch-dry rather more quickly than I would have expected from an enamel.

Does that mean that the base coat is not an enamel? Or was I wrong about the W. Spirit? Or are there different kinds of enamels?

I shall be interested to see if the Chrome will be more resilient to handling when applied over this base.

[Inquisitor]

Originally Posted by ZoomZoomMX-5

I'd be very wary of applying Alclad chrome over anything but black enamel.

I applied it over black Tamiya TS spray and it did not stick (looked nice, but you couldn't touch it). Regardless of whether it was applied over dry or wet or damp TS paint. I can't say I've tried acrylic. But Alclad specifically says to apply over black enamel or their own base. It certainly doesn't bond w/Tamiya lacquer. It does bond well w/enamel.

Some hobby shops carry Spaz Stix chrome; it's made for applying inside of clear R/C bodies. It's slightly better than Alclad chrome, and it will stick very nicely to Tamiya TS lacquer.

Regardless what chrome you use, the quality of your base coat is the most important. If the base coat isn't perfect, the chrome won't be. Also you must buff off the dusty overspray from the chrome with an exceptionally soft cloth.

It's easy with practice.

Well a few years ago I sprayed all the Alclad colors I had on a styrene sheet to have a color chart. I applied the chrome, stainless steel and polished aluminum over TS14 black and I would leave fingerprints and even rub off pretty easily the first few days, a week later the paint settled pretty well. Recently I tried to rub off the chrome applied on that sheet and nothing came off.

On the other hand I think the first Alclad Black Base I bought was from a bad batch. The paint in that bottle never ever dries completely, the Alclad metallic applied over it would crack after a few weeks, so I stuck with using Tamiya TS14 Black instead and never had problems if I let the chrome dry for a week.