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In scale metallic paint?


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I suspect that this question must have been asked before, but I cannot see it in the search.

My question is about achieving a metallic paint finish that is in scale. I have never been totally happy with any metallic paint job I've done. The metal flakes in an automotive paint (by that I mean paint for a 1:1 car) are far too big. Take a look at these pics...

whha.jpg

vy6k.jpg

Admittedly, the 'glitter' effect looks worse on camera than it does in the flesh but the paint job does look like a custom metal-flake job, rather than a factory metallic.

I have only ever used automotive paints for car bodies, but I wonder if anyone knows of any brands or types of paint that will give a finish that is more in keeping with a 1/24 or 1/25 model?

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Some of the Duplicolor aerosol 'pearls' have a smaller flake, which tends to be less bass-boat looking. Some nail polishes also have finely-ground metallics (I was in a Sally beauty supply store this AM and was blown away by the color selection...too cool). The Testors basecoat-clearcoat metallics mixed to simulate actual 1:1 colors also have much finer flake that the Testors "One Coat" metallic line, which looks rather like your photographs.

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I suspect that this question must have been asked before, but I cannot see it in the search.

My question is about achieving a metallic paint finish that is in scale. I have never been totally happy with any metallic paint job I've done. The metal flakes in an automotive paint (by that I mean paint for a 1:1 car) are far too big. Take a look at these pics...

whha.jpg

vy6k.jpg

Admittedly, the 'glitter' effect looks worse on camera than it does in the flesh but the paint job does look like a custom metal-flake job, rather than a factory metallic.

I have only ever used automotive paints for car bodies, but I wonder if anyone knows of any brands or types of paint that will give a finish that is more in keeping with a 1/24 or 1/25 model?

Those are "metalflake paints" that you are referring to and are quite different from metallic paints.

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I won't ask why... :lol:

Specifically to look at nail polish colors for car models, but I'm so insecure about my masculinity and so fearful someone might think I was buying the stuff to put on my own fingers while in drag that I hired a really gorgeous hooker to hang all over me while I was in there, just to make sure nobody got the wrong idea. Okay? B)

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Thanks for all the ideas guys. I will give MCW and Scale finish paints a try (if they'll ship to me in the UK).

The nail polish idea sounds good too. Does anyone know what type of thinners you would use with nail polish? I have always thought they were enamels, but I've never been too keen on enamels for car bodies as the enamels I have used in the past seem to loose their gloss after a year or two on the shelf (I've mainly used Humbrol branded model paints). Do all enamels fade over time - or have I just been unlucky?

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I used Testor's Lacquer Fiery Orange for this jeep but I toned down the metallics by using dull coat on the paint before adding the clear. It works pretty good!

Pat yourself on the back, Marcos. You just taught a middle-aged dog a new trick. I've been avoiding most of Testors' One Coat line because of the ridiculous flake size, but it looks like you've created a way around that.

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