Chrome Paint

[Milo]

 

Check this out, what do y'all think? Should I use this for models?

[Ace-Garageguy]

It works great. It's not cheap.

 

[Big_John]

Those videos have been around for a long time... At least 10-12 years...  It hasn't caught on from what I have seen and I've read that it's a lot of $$ to get into the business.  

I've read a few comments from seeing it up close and they say it is no where as good as they say... In fact the word "misleading" seems to come up in regards to their  advertising.  The appearance is more like polished aluminum and for use in the real world, it needs clear coat...  and the clear coat makes it look even more like aluminum. 

So, for model use, I'd say it would probably look OK... But in practicality, it would be expensive to buy what you need as I would assume that it's all proprietary. 

[Ace-Garageguy]

46 minutes ago, Big_John said:

Those videos have been around for a long time... At least 10-12 years...  It hasn't caught on from what I have seen and I've read that it's a lot of $$ to get into the business.  

I've read a few comments from seeing it up close and they say it is no where as good as they say... In fact the word "misleading" seems to come up in regards to their  advertising.  The appearance is more like polished aluminum and for use in the real world, it needs clear coat...  and the clear coat makes it look even more like aluminum. 

So, for model use, I'd say it would probably look OK... But in practicality, it would be expensive to buy what you need as I would assume that it's all proprietary. 

Not to be argumentative, but you're a little off the beam here.

This particular video is consistent with my own first-hand experience.

Alsa is the ONLY product that modelers usually look at that actually looks like the results in the video...which is very very good, but not quite chrome...as close as you're going to get without vacuum-metalizing.

It's also the only product that CAN be clear coated to enhance durability WITHOUT turning to muddy silver.

Just sprayed with NO clear, it's already WAY more durable than any of the marker pens or "ink" products.

Entry level materials will set you back a couple to 3 or so hundred bucks if you buy the full line...their basecoats and clears as well as their chrome...and that's enough to "chrome" about 30 square feet of surface area. That's a whole lot of model chroming.

You can also buy cheaper packaging, like the rattlecan version, and use your own 2K urethane single-stage black base and urethane 2K clear.

EDIT: It's CLOSE to idiot-proof, but for those who don't like to read and follow instructions, and then blame the product when it looks like Fido's backside, it's probably best to stay away.

Edited April 25, 2024 by Ace-Garageguy

[Big_John]

2 minutes ago, Ace-Garageguy said:

Not to be argumentative, but you're a little off the beam here.

This particular video is consistent with my own first-hand experience.

Alsa is the ONLY product that modelers usually look at that actually looks like the results in the video...which is very very good, but not quite chrome...as close as you're going to get without vacuum-metalizing.

It's also the only product that CAN be clear coated to enhance durability WITHOUT turning to muddy silver.

Just sprayed with NO clear, it's already WAY more durable than any of the marker pens or "ink" products.

Entry level materials will set you back a couple to 3 or so hundred bucks or less if you buy the full line...their basecoats and clears as well as their chrome...and that's enough to "chrome" about 30 square feet of surface area.

You can also buy cheaper packaging, like the rattlecan version, and use your own 2K urethane single-stage black base and urethane 2K clear.

No, you're not being argumentative at all. My info was from at least 10 years ago, so maybe things changed or maybe my info was wrong.  I've never handled or seen anything in person, depending on other's accounts. Since you have some experience, and even more important, not trying to sell me anything, I may have to rethink this...  

A lot of what I was reading at the time was that they were aiming at selling franchises and I don't know if that worked too well for them.  

 

 

[peteski]

If you search the forum (not using the native search engine) for Alsa chrome, you will see several discussion. Some here use it and are quite happy with it.

[yh70]

22 hours ago, Ace-Garageguy said:

Not to be argumentative, but you're a little off the beam here.

This particular video is consistent with my own first-hand experience.

Alsa is the ONLY product that modelers usually look at that actually looks like the results in the video...which is very very good, but not quite chrome...as close as you're going to get without vacuum-metalizing.

It's also the only product that CAN be clear coated to enhance durability WITHOUT turning to muddy silver.

Just sprayed with NO clear, it's already WAY more durable than any of the marker pens or "ink" products.

Entry level materials will set you back a couple to 3 or so hundred bucks if you buy the full line...their basecoats and clears as well as their chrome...and that's enough to "chrome" about 30 square feet of surface area. That's a whole lot of model chroming.

You can also buy cheaper packaging, like the rattlecan version, and use your own 2K urethane single-stage black base and urethane 2K clear.

EDIT: It's CLOSE to idiot-proof, but for those who don't like to read and follow instructions, and then blame the product when it looks like Fido's backside, it's probably best to stay away.

way to expensive for the most model builders..also i will disagree with one stalemate you made.. you said.....It's also the only product that CAN be clear coated to enhance durability WITHOUT turning to muddy silver.... Revell Chrome can be cleared over using Spaz Stix

[Can-Con]

1 hour ago, yh70 said:

way to expensive for the most model builders..also i will disagree with one stalemate you made.. you said.....It's also the only product that CAN be clear coated to enhance durability WITHOUT turning to muddy silver.... Revell Chrome can be cleared over using Spaz Stix

I've also had some luck coating the Revell spray with a coat of Future. It's thin but seems to be doing the trick with the grille shell for my '32 Chevy. I've been handling it normally so far during the building process, test fitting, doing mockups and such and it looks pretty well the same as when I started

[Ace-Garageguy]

1 hour ago, yh70 said:

 Revell Chrome can be cleared over using Spaz Stix 

Thanks. Most helpful. Do you have a photo of the results?

3 minutes ago, Can-Con said:

I've also had some luck coating the Revell spray with a coat of Future. It's thin but seems to be doing the trick with the grille shell for my '32 Chevy. I've been handling it normally so far during the building process, test fitting, doing mockups and such and it looks pretty well the same as when I started

Thank you too. Good to know from somebody's personal experience.

That grill shell looks good. I'd be happy with it.  

[Can-Con]

Just now, Ace-Garageguy said:

Thanks. Most helpful. Do you have a photo of the results?

Thank you too. Good to know from somebody's personal experience.

That grill shell looks good. I'd be happy with it.  

Bill, I let it dry for a week and then put one coat of Future on it. Had a time finding the Future too, A fellow builder in my club who builds planes had a little of the original left. 

I tried a second coat on a different part and it did fog up I think I didn't let it dry long enough though. Still experimenting.

[peteski]

I did a quick search, and here's one of the threads about Alsa Chrome system.  To me the $140 price doesn't seem all that outrageous considering how much a rattle can of Revell Chrome sells, and knowing that Alsa will be more durable without any extra clear coats. Like Steve mentioned in that thread, just sending the kit's parts to be "chromed" (when that service was still available) could  cost $80.  $140 doesn't seem that outrageous, considering that you will be able to do multiple kits.

 

[Paddy]

No one has mentioned Alclad ?

[StevenGuthmiller]

15 hours ago, peteski said:

I did a quick search, and here's one of the threads about Alsa Chrome system.  To me the $140 price doesn't seem all that outrageous considering how much a rattle can of Revell Chrome sells, and knowing that Alsa will be more durable without any extra clear coats. Like Steve mentioned in that thread, just sending the kit's parts to be "chromed" (when that service was still available) could  cost $80.  $140 doesn't seem that outrageous, considering that you will be able to do multiple kits.

 

That's my thought.

I will absolutely pull the trigger on Alsa Easy Chrome should the need arise, before I will ever rely on one of the other chrome paints available at the moment.

I require something with some durability, plain and simple, and none of the chrome paints currently available provide that.