Alclad's polished polished aluminum & Chrome?

[Dpate]

So my question is are these very similar? I own plenty of Alclad chrome along with other brands of chrome, but for parts that are diamond plated like on big rigs are they chromed or aluminum?   Would chrome give the same affect or there is a difference?  I mean on 1:1 the diamond plate looks just like chrome bumpers etc.

Edited February 7, 2022 by Dpate

[maxwell48098]

Actually most diamond plate is aluminum, and on fire apparatus (which I'm most familiar with), it is left either in its natural state or polished to a chrome-like appearance.  Keeping it bright is labor intensive which is why you seldom see polished aluminum diamond plate on surfaces like running boards or tail boards.  The same applies to its use on trucks where it can be polished or left natural depending on the owners wishes and willingness to keep it bright.

 

A.J.

[Cool Hand]

From my viewing perspective, there is a difference.

Both have the same mirror reflective finish, but polished aluminum is a bluish sliver, where as the chrome is a blackish silver. Does that even make any sense LOL!

Alclad paints are the same as what I just mentioned.

Dont know much about big rigs, but I assume most is polished aluminum due to it weighing less than chrome plated steel.

 

Edited February 7, 2022 by Cool Hand

[Ace-Garageguy]

4 minutes ago, Cool Hand said:

From my viewing perspective, there is a difference.

Both have the same mirror reflective finish, but polished aluminum is a bluish sliver, where as the chrome is a blackish silver. Does that even make any sense LOL!

Alclad paints are the same as what I just mentioned...

Yup, definite different appearance between chrome and polished aluminum.

Thanks for this input. I was wondering about the Alclads now that Testors buffing metalizers are no more.

[Dpate]

8 hours ago, maxwell48098 said:

Actually most diamond plate is aluminum, and on fire apparatus (which I'm most familiar with), it is left either in its natural state or polished to a chrome-like appearance.  Keeping it bright is labor intensive which is why you seldom see polished aluminum diamond plate on surfaces like running boards or tail boards.  The same applies to its use on trucks where it can be polished or left natural depending on the owners wishes and willingness to keep it bright.

 

A.J.

Gotcha that makes sense.  Like the trumperter firetruck i have there is alot of diamond plated parts.  

7 hours ago, Cool Hand said:

From my viewing perspective, there is a difference.

Both have the same mirror reflective finish, but polished aluminum is a bluish sliver, where as the chrome is a blackish silver. Does that even make any sense LOL!

Alclad paints are the same as what I just mentioned.

Dont know much about big rigs, but I assume most is polished aluminum due to it weighing less than chrome plated steel.

 

Well i never had any polished aluminum just aluminum metal colors like AK and Valejo so what you explained makes sense.  Spaz stix chrome is little brighter than alclad which is why i tend to use it more, but i do love the alclad chrome.  So I'm def going to get some polished aluminum when i can. It's not just big rigs either it's really everything that should be polished aluminum instead of chrome is what I'm worried about.  

[R. Thorne]

If you can still find it, try some modelmasters aluminum plate buffing metalizer.