polished aluminum on wheels

[65slotcar]

looking for best method  to replicate  polished aluminum   on  wheel rims.  Has  anyone tried   C1-metalizer?

thanks,

Bill

[StevenGuthmiller]

Alclad Polished Aluminum.

 

Steve

[Erik Smith]

3 hours ago, StevenGuthmiller said:

Alclad Polished Aluminum.

 

Steve

Yup. 

I actually don’t know how much difference there is between polished aluminum and regular chrome at 1:25 scale, especially on a small part like a wheel. I’ve never sprayed them side by side to compare...

[StevenGuthmiller]

2 minutes ago, Erik Smith said:

Yup. 

I actually don’t know how much difference there is between polished aluminum and regular chrome at 1:25 scale, especially on a small part like a wheel. I’ve never sprayed them side by side to compare...

There is not a huge difference.

But, the polished aluminum would most likely look better in this application.

 

Steve

[65slotcar]

thanks  Steve,    i picked some  alcad II   gloss black  base  , polished  aluminum  and   airframe  aluminum  to try out  .  will try to get some results posted.   going for  the dirty side of polished aluminum  since  rims are for a 60's race car.  

[Muncie]

My go to for polished aluminum is rattle can chrome - either type, auto parts store or craft store - sometimes available in the small cans - not really as bright as chrome so it makes a good polished aluminum -easier than Alclad and a durable finish that can take some handling during assembly.  covers well, minimal prep.  There is a slight variation between brands.  Someday I will try Alclad for a comparison, but for now happy with rattle can chrome.

Edited January 21, 2018 by Muncie

[StevenGuthmiller]

1 hour ago, 65slotcar said:

thanks  Steve,    i picked some  alcad II   gloss black  base  , polished  aluminum  and   airframe  aluminum  to try out  .  will try to get some results posted.   going for  the dirty side of polished aluminum  since  rims are for a 60's race car.  

I wouldn't bother with the gloss base for the polished aluminum Alclad.

Just a basic primer will give you a better aluminum finish.

with a gloss base, it becomes too much like chrome.

 

Steve

[65slotcar]

will  test  on junk wheels,  wheels should have little shine.

[StevenGuthmiller]

You might want to try Alclad "Dark Aluminum" for that.

Polished aluminum will be brighter.

 

Steve

[crowe-t]

When using Alclad Gloss Black Base ALC-305 does it need to go over primer or can it be sprayed straight on the bare surface?  

I'm going to spray some resin wheels with Alclad Polished Aluminum.

[Dpate]

On 1/20/2018 at 6:04 PM, Erik Smith said:

Yup. 

I actually don’t know how much difference there is between polished aluminum and regular chrome at 1:25 scale, especially on a small part like a wheel. I’ve never sprayed them side by side to compare...

I think i asked a question similar to OP's a long time ago. If i remember right someone had said one has more of a blueish hue compared to the other, but it was polished aluminum and and the regular or something long the lines.  Only way to know for sure is just do both on a gloss base and do the same on regular base.  I do know if you over do chrome it'll turn into aluminum. 

Edited September 16, 2022 by Dpate

[OldNYJim]

14 hours ago, crowe-t said:

When using Alclad Gloss Black Base ALC-305 does it need to go over primer or can it be sprayed straight on the bare surface?  

I'm going to spray some resin wheels with Alclad Polished Aluminum.

8 times out of 10, in my experience, you'll have no issues shooting their enamel over bare plastic.

2 times out of 10, you can get some wrinking and damage to the plastic from the paint - the variable being the plastic.  Revell's current plastic can NOT withstand Alclad enamel base, for example. 

On resin, I would bet you'd be ok, I never had a problem - but anything's possible.

For the sake of spending 10 seconds spraying a part with some primer...I wouldn't risk it.  Plus, its a lot easier to spot flaws in a part with a coat of primer and fix them than it is trying to fix it with enamel over top.

Edited September 16, 2022 by CabDriver

[StevenGuthmiller]

Alclad black base is not required to use Alclad chrome, or other metal finishes.

Any shiny black base will work just fine.

 

I usually use any black that I happen to have on hand, (dark blue, even better) and then, depending on how glossy it is, I'll shoot a coat of Testors gloss enamel over it.

 

 

 

Steve

[Mike C.]

I use that Rust-oleum chrome look spray. It doesn't look like chrome, but I would say it looks like more like polished aluminum at a fraction of the cost.

[TransAmMike]

Krylon Silver Foil would be perfect.  HL when they have it.

[Bills72sj]

This may not be exactly what you had in mind but I use actual machined aluminum for my wheel hoops now.

[Zippi]

I've never used Alclad but I'd like to try it.  Where are you guys buying yours?

[Dpate]

58 minutes ago, Zippi said:

I've never used Alclad but I'd like to try it.  Where are you guys buying yours?

scalehobbyist is the cheapest place to buy it. 

[Ace-Garageguy]

Sure would like to see some "if you do this, it'll look like this" photos.

I don't have much use for unsubstantiated opinions, hearsay, "I think...", or "I use such-and-such" without pictures.  

[Zippi]

On 9/21/2022 at 7:19 PM, Dpate said:

scalehobbyist is the cheapest place to buy it. 

Thanks.  Does it need to be thinned to airbrush and with what?

[Dpate]

9 hours ago, Zippi said:

Thanks.  Does it need to be thinned to airbrush and with what?

No 100% airbrush ready to go.  Low PSI with all there metals like chrome. 15-18PSI i shoot through a .2 needle. 

Edited October 1, 2022 by Dpate

[TransAmMike]

Anyone try Green Stuff Chrome

https://www.greenstuffworld.com/en/inicio/1430-chrome-paint-airbrush.html

 

 

[Dpate]

2 hours ago, TransAmMike said:

Anyone try Green Stuff Chrome

https://www.greenstuffworld.com/en/inicio/1430-chrome-paint-airbrush.html

 

 

I have 2 bottles of the stuff.  It's nice chrome if applied properly.  Chrome is crazy stuff cause after you use so many they start really looking the same lol.  They have a non airbrush version too, but i use AK's super chrome for that instead of airbrush.   I purchased my GSC through there ebay store - weather it's worth it or not that's subjective, because all these different types of chrome really only have a tiny tiny difference when you start comparing them.  It is worth getting a bottle to try out for yourself though and see how you like it.  It applies the same way alclad and any other chrome does. 

[TransAmMike]

3 hours ago, Dpate said:

I have 2 bottles of the stuff.  It's nice chrome if applied properly.  Chrome is crazy stuff cause after you use so many they start really looking the same lol.  They have a non airbrush version too, but i use AK's super chrome for that instead of airbrush.   I purchased my GSC through there ebay store - weather it's worth it or not that's subjective, because all these different types of chrome really only have a tiny tiny difference when you start comparing them.  It is worth getting a bottle to try out for yourself though and see how you like it.  It applies the same way alclad and any other chrome does. 

Just wondering how it compares to Molotow. Big price difference. 

[Bugatti Fan]

The very first post asked if anyone has used C1 Metalliser.   No one actually answered that question in this thread.  C1 is a polishing powder and it works really well. The effect will differ depending on what colour primer or gloss is used as the base coat.

Have a look in the thread Can We See Some Scratchbuilt Things. My Napier Railton was done with C1 Metalliser Powder over a rattle can silver. Once buffed it handles reasonably well. I have used Alclad, AK and other air brushed metallisers. Good products but more delicate to handle unless sealed.