Chroming Resin Parts

[Fun_E_Car]

Hey guys,

 

I am about to start building again after 17 years and need to know who you would recommend to chrome resin wheels and parts.

I used Chrome Tech back in the early 2000's. Are they still around?

Any info would be great. Thanks,

--Dave

[Ian McLaren]

Most people have gone away from actual chrome plating.  With the advances of spray on chrome paints it's become almost obsolete.   One of the original players was Alclad 11 with a whole line of metallizer colors but almost all or the major paint companies have gotten on board.   There is probably 15 plus different chrome paints and of those a few give outstanding results.  I use the term paints but they are actually inks and as such do have some drawbacks the main on being the finish is fragile for a long time unless clear coated.  The clear has to been acrylic as any other type dulls the finish.  There are numerous video's on you tube comparing the chrome paints them selves and another set dealing with clears.  For myself  I have had very good results with Alclad II and Spaz Stix chromes and I have used Future acrylic as a clear with no problems.  Feel free to PM me if you need additional info.

 

Edited July 5, 2022 by Ian McLaren

[Can-Con]

44 minutes ago, Fun_E_Car said:

Hey guys,

 

I am about to start building again after 17 years and need to know who you would recommend to chrome resin wheels and parts.

I used Chrome Tech back in the early 2000's. Are they still around?

Any info would be great. Thanks,

--Dave

No, he stopped a few years ago. Seems to be the only one left is Little Motor Kar Company. 

[Fun_E_Car]

48 minutes ago, Ian McLaren said:

Most people have gone away from actual chrome plating.  With the advances of spray on chrome paints it's become almost obsolete.   One of the original players was Alclad 11 with a whole line of metallizer colors but almost all or the major paint companies have gotten on board.   There is probably 15 plus different chrome paints and of those a few give outstanding results.  I use the term paints but they are actually inks and as such do have some drawbacks the main on being the finish is fragile for a long time unless clear coated.  The clear has to been acrylic as any other type dulls the finish.  There are numerous video's on you tube comparing the chrome paints them selves and another set dealing with clears.  For myself  I have had very good results with Alclad II and Spaz Stix chromes and I have used Future acrylic as a clear with no problems.  Feel free to PM me if you need additional info.

 

Ian, Thanks much for this info. I will have to look into this and where to purchase these products.

So much to learn in the past few years.

--Dave

[StevenGuthmiller]

2 hours ago, Ian McLaren said:

Most people have gone away from actual chrome plating.  With the advances of spray on chrome paints it's become almost obsolete.   One of the original players was Alclad 11 with a whole line of metallizer colors but almost all or the major paint companies have gotten on board.   There is probably 15 plus different chrome paints and of those a few give outstanding results.  I use the term paints but they are actually inks and as such do have some drawbacks the main on being the finish is fragile for a long time unless clear coated.  The clear has to been acrylic as any other type dulls the finish.  There are numerous video's on you tube comparing the chrome paints them selves and another set dealing with clears.  For myself  I have had very good results with Alclad II and Spaz Stix chromes and I have used Future acrylic as a clear with no problems.  Feel free to PM me if you need additional info.

 

I agree that re-plating has almost become obsolete, but it surely is not because the paints or inks are better.

Far from it.

It’s because finding anyone to re-plate is becoming more and more difficult. 
 

As far as I can see at this moment, “chrome” paints are never going to rival the reflectivity or durability of real chrome parts.

Or, at the very least, chrome paint technology is going to have to make considerable advances to get to that level.

 

 

 

Steve

[Ian McLaren]

5 hours ago, StevenGuthmiller said:

I agree that re-plating has almost become obsolete, but it surely is not because the paints or inks are better.

Far from it.

It’s because finding anyone to re-plate is becoming more and more difficult. 
 

As far as I can see at this moment, “chrome” paints are never going to rival the reflectivity or durability of real chrome parts.

Or, at the very least, chrome paint technology is going to have to make considerable advances to get to that level.

 

 

 

Steve

Sorry Steve but the advances have already be made.  In non modeling areas there is  a wet on wet on wet Chrome finish for non metallic surfaces that are for all intents is non distinguishable from real chrome let alone the vacuum plating typically used in the automotive industries.  Draw back,  it is very expensive, but it is here.   The model paint manufactures have been going  to school on this process and they have the surface reflectivity handled.   They do require some patience and initial careful handling.  The secret to success with these paints is  (as it is in real chroming) preparation, The surface HAS to be mirror/chrome smooth before refinishing.  They are at their best as is, but with care and a quality acrylic clear the results are still most convincing.  The other bonus is you can do it in house anytime you wish, no freight, lost or damaged parts, and the costs are reasonable but not cheap.

[peteski]

Just to clarify things, what we colloquially call "chroming" is actually a vacuum metalizing process using aluminum vapor.  This is the process used almost exclusively by most plastic kit manufacturers.   Most current kits still use the vacuum metalizing process for their "chrome" parts trees.

The "real"  chrome plating plastic is fairly complex process (using nasty chemicals).  There are few companies that used that for their plastic kits (like Trumpeter), but those parts are very difficult to work with since the layer of chromium is much thicker than a typical vacuum metalization.  Scraping it to get to bare plastic is difficult.

Little Motor Kar Co. seems to be the only one still offering this service to modelers. For more info see:

 

Edited July 6, 2022 by peteski

[peteski]

31 minutes ago, Ian McLaren said:

The secret to success with these paints is  (as it is in real chroming) preparation, The surface HAS to be mirror/chrome smooth before refinishing. 

Ian, this is true with any type of metalizing process (vacuum metalizing, Alclad II, Molotow, Alsa Chrome, etc.) when one expects to obtain a smooth reflective finish. 

[Bills72sj]

These videos may help you see what is out there. He is a bit long winded at times, but you can actually see the techniques and results.

 

 

 

 

 

[StevenGuthmiller]

1 hour ago, Ian McLaren said:

Sorry Steve but the advances have already be made.  In non modeling areas there is  a wet on wet on wet Chrome finish for non metallic surfaces that are for all intents is non distinguishable from real chrome let alone the vacuum plating typically used in the automotive industries.  Draw back,  it is very expensive, but it is here.   The model paint manufactures have been going  to school on this process and they have the surface reflectivity handled.   They do require some patience and initial careful handling.  The secret to success with these paints is  (as it is in real chroming) preparation, The surface HAS to be mirror/chrome smooth before refinishing.  They are at their best as is, but with care and a quality acrylic clear the results are still most convincing.  The other bonus is you can do it in house anytime you wish, no freight, lost or damaged parts, and the costs are reasonable but not cheap.

I suppose that I should have been more clear.

 

Yes, I realize that there are processes that are available that mimic chrome, but as you stated, the "good" ones are prohibitively expensive, especially as it applies to our hobby.

True metalizing chrome kits, such as PChrome use chemical reactions to apply a thin layer silver nitrate which more closely mimics the properties of a metalized surface, but even a small "artist starter kit" will run you somewhere in the neighborhood of $400.00 to $600.00.

I think that we can probably agree that prices such as this will be prohibitive for most casual modelers.

 

The alternatives, (which I was referring to) are basically paints and inks, and in my opinion, are a relatively poor substitute for "real chrome".

While some of these products may do a "good enough" job for some, the durability is a major issue, especially with products such as Molotow, which is extremely fragile when compared to a "plated" finish, or even a "chrome paint", which might be tougher, but do a largely mediocre job of simulating chrome.

 

My point being that in order for these spray can and airbrush finishes to do an acceptable job of impersonating chrome, more technology is going to be required to integrate the durability and high reflectivity of true chrome.

 

 

 

Steve

[Rocking Rodney Rat]

I have used Little Motor Kar Co 'chrome' plating services a couple of times. He does a good job and you'll get your parts back pronto. Unlike ChromeTech, who retired, you have to put styrene and resin on separate trees for plating. -RRR