Auto metallics, grain size.

[D.Pack]

A question for rattlecan metallics only, the acrylics for 1.1 cars.

Is the powder/granules used, a larger size so they're cheaper to manufacture?

Compared to thirty years ago?

Here is a pic of my nascars from the 90's, the metallics look quite fine and almost in scale.

I have this year tried a pearl and metallic rattlecan and surprised at how large the mica/flakes looked.

Edited May 6, 2023 by D.Pack
More pics

[Ace-Garageguy]

I believe the older hobby paints, at least some of them, did indeed have finer metallic particles.

I don't know why.

I have HO scale rolling stock painted with golds and silvers over 50 years ago where the particles are so fine, you can't see them without magnification, yet they still have the characteristic "metallic" look.

The Testors "one coat" was the most obvious giant-flake product of recent memory, looking like bass-boat or dune-buggy metalflake embedded in clear gelcoat.

Tamiya metallics are much better, but often still too big for 1/24-1/25.

Duplicolor colors labeled "mica" sometimes have almost acceptable flake sizes, though still on the large side.

 

 

Edited May 6, 2023 by Ace-Garageguy

[D.Pack]

Perhaps (I hope) it was the brand of paint I used, Hycote. And Tamiya being out of scale too?

I have their pearl clear, but not yet used.

Here in UK, the other 1.1 paint is Halfords.

Though there is a forum member who uses a flat coat, then a gloss coat over auto metallics which I will try out myself.

[stitchdup]

3 minutes ago, D.Pack said:

Perhaps (I hope) it was the brand of paint I used, Hycote. And Tamiya being out of scale too?

I have their pearl clear, but not yet used.

Here in UK, the other 1.1 paint is Halfords.

Though there is a forum member who uses a flat coat, then a gloss coat over auto metallics which I will try out myself.

this is the tamiya pearl clear over duplicolour flat black, not a great pic but its the best i have that shows the pearl. I would describe it as more of a metallic clear though as the pearl only really works on light colours. There is a good paint supplier called jawell paints in the uk. They carry loads of automotive paints and can put any colour you want into a spray can. Shipping shouldn't be too bad either since your on the mainland

 

[Straightliner59]

2 hours ago, Ace-Garageguy said:

The Testors "one coat" was the most obvious giant-flake product of recent memory

In my not so recent memory; wasn't there a 1:1 paint product back in the '70s called "Mirra"? As I recall, it had iridescent flakes, the size of glitter! Our auto shop teacher, at the time did custom paint. He was always being asked by kids who couldn't afford it, if he could paint a "muriel" on their car. They'd want that stuff as a night sky. He always said he was tempted to paint a giant cigar, down the sides of somebody's car!? He said he'd have done that, for free.

[D.Pack]

On 5/6/2023 at 8:14 PM, Ace-Garageguy said:

I believe the older hobby paints, at least some of them, did indeed have finer metallic particles.

I don't know why.

I have HO scale rolling stock painted with golds and silvers over 50 years ago where the particles are so fine, you can't see them without magnification, yet they still have the characteristic "metallic" look.

The Testors "one coat" was the most obvious giant-flake product of recent memory, looking like bass-boat or dune-buggy metalflake embedded in clear gelcoat.

Tamiya metallics are much better, but often still too big for 1/24-1/25.

Duplicolor colors labeled "mica" sometimes have almost acceptable flake sizes, though still on the large side.

 

 

From your other posts I see that you do also 1.1 painting of cars.

So with auto rattlecans, is there an industry standard of flake size?

And for custom car colour aerosols, will a supplier use an even smaller size if asked and if it's available? Am wanting a pearl finish, not metallic.

Here in the UK I can buy online two custom 400ml cans of 1 colour and 1 clearcoat for £20. Which is equal to a regular off the shelf price.

Edited May 21, 2023 by D.Pack

[Ace-Garageguy]

25 minutes ago, D.Pack said:

From your other posts I see that you do also 1.1 painting of cars.

So with auto rattlecans, is there an industry standard of flake size?

There are several, actually. The mixing formulas for different cars will each specify a particular flake in suspension.

I'm not familiar with current mixing systems (I haven't painted cars professionally for quite a few years now), but I know for a fact that the mixing system at the shop where I'm doing the Chevelle has, for instance, quite a few "silver" mixing bases, each with very obviously different size flake.

In general, from coarse to fine, real-production-car flake sizes run from "metallic" or "poly" (coarse), to "mica" (finer), to "pearl" (finest).

A real-car paint shop or supply outlet can custom mix just about anything, but the question is whether they will.

One example: the real '66 Chevelle I'm building is to be painted with a custom color that started with the stock '66 GM mixing formula, but our painter has substituted a much finer flake than the OEM color calls for, and has added a blue pearl toner as well.

Sorry I can't give you a more specific model-related answer, but I believe at least one of the model-car paint sources over here (who provides OEM colors for modelers) uses a more scale-correct flake.

 

Edited May 8, 2023 by Ace-Garageguy