Alclad 'll chrome, what am I doing wrong?

[b-body fan]

The title says it. I followed their instructions to the letter. I used their primer. The first light coat looks very chrome-like . It's a mist coat and does not cover completely. The second coat either looks great, looks like black chrome, or looks like silver paint . If anyone has any insight on this please let me know. I'm aware there are threads about alclad on here. I would just like some fresh opinions. Thanks, Mike.

[hgbben]

Silly question but did you use a glass black basecoat between the primer and alclad?

[b-body fan]

Yes, Alclad gloss black primer.

[b-body fan]

Is the key for the gloss black to show through somewhat?

[Quick GMC]

You need to spray at an angle across the surface. Also, it doesn't have to be gloss black base, any super smooth and shiny surface will work. Very thin, almost non existant coats. I do between 15-20 passes nornally to build it up. I spray almost parrallel to the surface. It needs to be nearly dry when it hits the surface, id it goes in wet, it wont give you the reflective surface

[disabled modeler]

I might still have another bottle of Alcad here yet...do not use the stuff myself have no airbrush.

[Crazy Ed]

  Maybe this'll help:

http://www.modelcarsmag.com/alclad-chrome-how-to/

[GeeBee]

After trying Alclad's black base with very little success, i went over to Testors gloss black enamel thinned with lacquer thinners, with first class results.

[Chillyb1]

I might still have another bottle of Alcad here yet...do not use the stuff myself have no airbrush.

Next time I'm in Quincy, Mark, I'll take that bottle off your hands. I love the stuff and I'm just upriver in Hamilton. 

Michael, there are lot of variables in play when using Alclad chrome and there are a lot of modelers who will provide you with absolutes that they claim must obtain or the result will be ruined; however, those absolutes may not work for you. In other words, you'll have to play around some to find the right combination to get results you like. 

That said, there isn't any real trick to using Alclad chrome or polished aluminum. I find that the polished aluminum, which also requires (or really likes) a black basecoat, is more foolproof than the chrome and might give you the finish you are looking for. 

The chrome paint works, as you mention above, by creating the illusion of a plated surface using the black base and whatever magic substances are in the little bottle from Alclad. And this works best on very smooth surfaces. Alclad's own black base, which you said you are using, is an excellent base coat but I've had just as good results using Tamiya's TS-14 gloss black base. Another thing I and some other modelers do is to spray the chrome shortly after painting the black base, contrary to the Alclad instructions. I never wait more than an hour. 

Also as already mentioned, spraying at very low pressure is probably a better approach than more pressure. Shooting at an angle, as Cameron said, is a good idea, too. But I cannot see myself EVER using "15-20 passes" of chrome. Probably no more than three or four, really. 

Another thing you'll have to do on your own is inspect your results in different lighting conditions. Sometimes when I'm painting with Alclad chrome I find that my parts look perfect until I look at them in bright daylight. In any case, keep at it and you'll get the hang of it. It is not a difficult thing to accomplish. 

[StevenGuthmiller]

I usually do mine in one thin coat over a shiny black base.

I have the same problem.

The more coats I use, the more likely it seems it will look like silver paint.

But then again, I only use it for very small parts.

I have my large parts re-plated.

 

Steve

[b-body fan]

Thanks all for your input. All others still welcome.

[fseva]

Thanks all for your input. All others still welcome.

I haven't had a lot of success with Alclad, but I've tried all the alternatives and I found that AK Interactive's Chrome works better, is less finicky, and can be handled a bit more than Alclad. It is true that you can apply too much paint, and it will start to look like plain old silver paint. To get the reflectivity you want, you need to be very patient, spraying on light coats until just about full coverage. If you're not sure, stop spraying and take a breather. Then, look at the results again - if you're happy that you've got good reflectivity and coverage, put your airbrush away and call it a session!