Ask the experts: paints to do realistic aluminum finish on WWII P-55?

[Wickersham Humble]

I haven't done airplane models since the 'fifties, but our local (Yuba City CA) IPMS annual show is heavily aircraft, at least half of all entries; so I'm trying a couple.  I have Tamaiya AS-12 Bare Metal Silver (rattle can) and the Krylon very-bright silver -- plus a number of PPG automotive silvers (which seem to have metallic too coarse for model scale) but wonder what else is accessible to get the finishes that modern builders achieve. The AS-12 aerosol (right out of the can) didn't look fantastically well on my Brewster Buffalo racer last year, actually.

Not that I want to go to his extreme, but 2024 had a large-scale MIG-15 that had the most stunning 'bare aluminum' tones I could imagine; it was amazing!  I'm tolerably good at airbrushing and masking, and probably will do some BMF low-gloss aluminum also: my turbojet-converted Curtiss P-55(B) needs to look new, but not pristine for a diorama with a jet-converted Kyusu 'Shinden' which will be IJAF green, with off-color panels, etc. and USAF/RAF insignia.  

This display hopes to simulate a post-war 'Ascender' at Itazuka AB alongside the Japanese experimental jet (as captured enemy a/c) for evaluation purposes, etc.  Both were among the very few swept-wing a/c developed and flown in WWII, albeit as prop-pusher jobs; both make a fairly easy conversion to jet engines, the Kyushu looking more natural because of it being a radial-adapted fuselage, rather than the Allison V-12 fitment of the Curtiss.  The P-55 looks awesome with tiptanks, ala P-80 (or P-90) though.  I'll post some photos, if I'm not too ashamed of my re-entry into aircraft.  I have both a/c with removable tail-cones on carts, like the P-80/T-33 birds.   Ole' Wic

[Ace-Garageguy]

There's a lot of useless 3rd-rate mediocrity celebrated on YT, but there's also some good info if you dig for it.

These appear to be the latter, perhaps:

 

[Deathgoblin]

I've gotten a very similar finish using Duplicolor spray chrome.  It's not exactly chrome, but kind of a bright aluminum, more like the B-17 or MIG above

[Wickersham Humble]

Thanks, experts!  I was surprised to note so much clear-coating on a/c; it seems like it would throw off the scale effect of the surface?  I guess the main trick is giving the separate panels some texture/color differentiation.  I've done some vol resto work at our local air museum; see all kinds of metal finishes there from over the eras.  Our Aerovovodchody L-29 has a striated texture - tiny parallel mill marks that go top to bottom - and very hard to refinish, as after the USSR breakup the Czech AF scratched the red-star motif off with cold chisels, by the appearance!  Who got to repaint them all?  First guess!

Even my Krylon bright silver ratcan gives a very chrome-like finish, but I'd rather have slightly weathered, like a/c not hangered get.  I found an article also in an old Fine Scale Modeler that was somewhat helpful.  Thx, again!   The Shinden will have some bare aluminum replacement panels, and the huge lettering of the Allied Evaluation group. Ads for newer Tamiaya models show a weathered green finish.  Apparently only three of either ship were ever prototyped.  Wick

[LDO]

Oh yeah, the XP-55 with the engine in the back. It had a strange name, IIRC. 

[Brudda]

3 hours ago, Wickersham Humble said:

Thanks, experts!  I was surprised to note so much clear-coating on a/c; it seems like it would throw off the scale effect of the surface?  I guess the main trick is giving the separate panels some texture/color differentiation.  I've done some vol resto work at our local air museum; see all kinds of metal finishes there from over the eras.  Our Aerovovodchody L-29 has a striated texture - tiny parallel mill marks that go top to bottom - and very hard to refinish, as after the USSR breakup the Czech AF scratched the red-star motif off with cold chisels, by the appearance!  Who got to repaint them all?  First guess!

Even my Krylon bright silver ratcan gives a very chrome-like finish, but I'd rather have slightly weathered, like a/c not hangered get.  I found an article also in an old Fine Scale Modeler that was somewhat helpful.  Thx, again!   The Shinden will have some bare aluminum replacement panels, and the huge lettering of the Allied Evaluation group. Ads for newer Tamiaya models show a weathered green finish.  Apparently only three of either ship were ever prototyped.  Wick

Hello Wick, I love the Yuba city show!!! A group of us from Reno ipms( high rollers) go there. Fantastic show! You guys are very pleasant and it’s a treat to go there, I will be at the next one for sure!

[Brudda]

Just now, Brudda said:

Hello Wick, I love the Yuba city show!!! A group of us from Reno ipms( high rollers) go there. Fantastic show! You guys are very pleasant and it’s a treat to go there, I will be at the next one for sure!

By the way , the guys I go with are aircraft guys and you can ask them, about silver/ aluminum finishes, we will be wearing our IPMS name tags from Reno. These guys are IPMS nationals champs so their aircraft finishes are great. I asked questions on aircraft models all the time. I have only built one and with their info, the darn plane took 3rd at the Vegas Nationals. Hope to see you at the contest!

[Wickersham Humble]

Bruce; oh yeah; you're one of the bunch who take the trophies?  Hope to meet!  I wanted to come to your show, but couldn't find anyone else to share the trip with... I'm 79 & counting...  Wick

[Belugawrx]

19 hours ago, Deathgoblin said:

I've gotten a very similar finish using Duplicolor spray chrome.  It's not exactly chrome, but kind of a bright aluminum, more like the B-17 or MIG above

I purchased some Duplicolor Chrome spray for the first time yesterday, and tried it out... not bad 👍

I sprayed Duplicolor gloss black first, then 2 coats of Chrome... (and apparently I didn't sand the surface first ..) Doh!!

It seams very durable, after rubbing it with my thumb.

You are right though, more of a high polish aluminium.

WARNING...ALOT of material comes out of that nozzle, may think about decanting...

 

 

[Wickersham Humble]

Since the advent of Aluclad II and Molotow, a lot of domestic ratcan producers have upped the shine of their aerosol offerings; some are impressive.  Where were they all in 1959, when I was struggling with Testor's silver to make chrome trims and window moldings?!  Two kooks in our little N CA town decided that Western Auto spray silver would fool us into thinking they had chromed rims, and gained it the name of 'Okey chrome'!*

Wick  * No slur on Okla, birthplace of my Pop!

[dmthamade]

Lots of ways to do a BMF finish out there. I've used Tamiya AS-12 on most of them with different panels airbrushed with different shades of Vallejo Metal Color. Doesn't do a factory fresh finish, but a good base for a weathered finish. If you want super shiny factory fresh , Alclad is a great choice.

 

Don

 

[Ace-Garageguy]

On 12/30/2024 at 9:04 PM, Wickersham Humble said:

...Western Auto spray silver would fool us into thinking they had chromed rims...

I remember that stuff. Tried it on my hot-rod bike and wasn't very impressed, but that was also eons before I'd learned the critical importance of proper preparation prior to spraying anything.

The "little pages" car mags hawked variations of the same idea, and all any of it was was silver paint with more finely ground pigment.

That's pretty much still all any of it is, but the pigments get more finely ground with each successive generation of "bare metal" spray products.

I was really disappointed to see the demise of Testors "buffing metalizers", as I'd pretty well perfected doing very believable aircraft (and other) finishes with the stuff, after having read and experimented rather a lot.

[89AKurt]

Since I'm using rockets to pull myself out a bad slump (have not done anything since the last GSL), and paint goes bad sitting around, I'm digging Alcad paint.  John Terresi is a master with it, it's always a hit & miss on getting a decent result.  I also found a nail "polish" that is supposed to be chrome, but looks like aluminum when airbrushed, but it's about 100 times more durable.  

[Wickersham Humble]

"Chrome Aluminum' ratcan paint; been around since Moses, I guess.  It seems like none of it, even Molotow and that ilk, ever really equal real chrome plating -- or the 'vacuum aluminumized' stuff that we get in kits now, which is really very good for gloss, etc.  

I probably mentioned before that a couple of guys in our little town, c. 1960, tried a couple of cans of the old skool stuff on their rims, and got a horse laugh.  At that time, however, NO ONE in our burg could afford chromed rims, much less 'mags'.  A fond dream!  A nicely customized '58 Impala from a 'big city' pulled into our high school parking lot with a set of deep-reversed chromed wheels, and our whole mechanical drawing class (all male, oc) jumped off their stools and dashed out the door to admire it at one accord.  The teacher had to interrupt his nap to be alarmed!  Oh, the two aerosol customizers got the label for their rims of "Okie Chrome!"* 

Ole' Wick  *Again, not wanting to malign the birthplace state of my Dad!

[dmthamade]

These were done with Tamiya AS-12 overall with panels picked out with Vallejo Metal color. Weathering was mild. 

[stavanzer]

Here is a recent Build from Modeling Madness that has an all Aluminium finish.

 

https://modelingmadness.com/review/allies/gb/others/camly.htm