Chrome Test

[Jon Haigwood]

With all the Chrome products out there I thought I would give them a bit of a comparison. 

I started with spoons primed  black then gloss black.

I compared Revell Spray, Molotov, SMS. Splash and Alclad. 

These may not be super accurate but good enough for me. 

I spayed the chrome coats , after a good drying time I applied alclad Klear. I was told Alclad did the best for Molotov ?

Alclad Looks like aluminum, one on left was clear coated (as were all the rest)

 

Molotov did its normal thing looks OK until cleared

 

 

 

Reell looked the best until it was cleared

 

 

 

 

SMS looked about the same as Alclad

 

 

Splash another shiny aluminum when cleared

 

I will give them some time and then check their durability 

 

This was not done under scientific methods and your results may very, But I did it for me and it is what it is.

[peteski]

I have used Alclad II Chrome over gloss black (no clear coat) and mine looked much "chromier" (more reflective) than what you show on the spoon.  Closer to what you show for un-cleared Molotow. I have also seen model photos on this forum with Alclad II Chrome  painted parts and those also looked better than what you got on that spoon.  That's weird.

[64SS350]

I have tried Alclad and lately SMS. I believe them to be similar, in that there's a fine line between just enough and too much. Too much results in the dull look. I have a lot of experimenting to do yet?

The higher end automotive ones look to have better results, but much pricier.

[sak]

On 8/10/2025 at 11:27 PM, peteski said:

I have used Alclad II Chrome over gloss black (no clear coat) and mine looked much "chromier" (more reflective) than what you show on the spoon.  Closer to what you show for un-cleared Molotow. I have also seen model photos on this forum with Alclad II Chrome  painted parts and those also looked better than what you got on that spoon.  That's weird.

Same here. Alclad is can look amazing but will only look as good as the black basecoat. If theres is any orange peel or junk under the paint, the finish will be compromised. The alclad black needs to be sprayed at low pressures and at proper temperatures.