Chrome parts

[Kelly]

25 minutes ago, Radretireddad said:

Stay away from black chrome BMF. It’s too glossy for most trim, the adhesive on the back is almost non existent, and the black rubs through if you try to burnish it.

For brush painting I shake my bottle of Tamiya semi gloss black acrylic, remove the cap and put one drop of thinner in the residual paint still in the cap. This makes the paint the perfect consistency for flowing on flat surfaces with a good brush.

The alternative is airbrushing a small piece of chrome BMF with the same acrylic semi gloss black and applying it as usual after the paint dries. Be sure to burnish with something soft alike a cotton swab.

Thanks I am glad I joined this forum You all have been a great inspiration Much respect. I have been down in the dumps after messing up a couple of parts trying to learn, but you all have given me Hope! Thank you, Kelly 

[bobss396]

4 hours ago, Jon Haigwood said:

Bare  Metal does come in black, 

I have some of that. I have used it on stock car grilles.

[Radretireddad]

2 hours ago, Kelly said:

Thanks I am glad I joined this forum You all have been a great inspiration Much respect. I have been down in the dumps after messing up a couple of parts trying to learn, but you all have given me Hope! Thank you, Kelly 

No worries Kelly. Traveling along the learning curve is an important part of the experience and we’re all very happy to help and to welcome you here. Don’t get discouraged and don’t hesitate to ask for help whenever necessary.

[Bainford]

3 hours ago, Kelly said:

Thanks I am glad I joined this forum You all have been a great inspiration Much respect. I have been down in the dumps after messing up a couple of parts trying to learn, but you all have given me Hope! Thank you, Kelly 

Keep at it Kelly. Don't get discouraged. Go into it with the expectation your first few builds will have significant flaws, or bits you aren't happy with. Each one is a learning experience, and the next model will be better as a result. Someone once said that each model is merely practice for the next one. 55 years after my first one, I still find this to be true.

[Kelly]

1 hour ago, Radretireddad said:

No worries Kelly. Traveling along the learning curve is an important part of the experience and we’re all very happy to help and to welcome you here. Don’t get discouraged and don’t hesitate to ask for help whenever necessary.

Thank you so much. I think you all will be hearing from me!!

[Kelly]

1 hour ago, Bainford said:

Keep at it Kelly. Don't get discouraged. Go into it with the expectation your first few builds will have significant flaws, or bits you aren't happy with. Each one is a learning experience, and the next model will be better as a result. Someone once said that each model is merely practice for the next one. 55 years after my first one, I still find this to be true.

Thanks. Back in the 70’s and 80’s I was very much into 24th scale slot cars were I was very successful winning a ton of races in wing cars. I guess I thought I would be good at models But I had to take a step back take a deep breath and realize I am a heck a lot older Now with some medical issues I will get back at it with a different mindset after every one here very kind words of encouragement Thank You All so much!!! 

[Straightliner59]

5 hours ago, Kelly said:

Thanks I am glad I joined this forum You all have been a great inspiration Much respect. I have been down in the dumps after messing up a couple of parts trying to learn, but you all have given me Hope!

Don't feel bad about messing up parts. We've all done it. I do it many times during a project. I do a lot of scratchbuilding. There have been many times, that I've spent an hour or more, making a tiny piece, only to have it spring from the tweezers, and disappear into the ether! Anybody who's done this stuff would likely tell you the same thing. It's taken me decades, to get to the place that I have just come to accept it, and start over, again. Mt dad used to tell me, "It's not your circumstance, it's how you relate, to it." It took me decades to really understand that, too!

[Kelly]

3 minutes ago, Straightliner59 said:

Don't feel bad about messing up parts. We've all done it. I do it many times during a project. I do a lot of scratchbuilding. There have been many times, that I've spent an hour or more, making a tiny piece, only to have it spring from the tweezers, and disappear into the ether! Anybody who's done this stuff would likely tell you the same thing. It's taken me decades, to get to the place that I have just come to accept it, and start over, again. Mt dad used to tell me, "It's not your circumstance, it's how you relate, to it." It took me decades to really understand that, too!

Thanks for sharing your story. Kelly 

[Rossgo]

LOL. I have the shake problem also.  It's like laying a sewer with an earthquake in process. Hang in you will find ways of getting though.

[Deathgoblin]

On 11/28/2025 at 8:16 AM, bobss396 said:

I have cut similar parts apart being careful with a razor saw. Paint and rejoin them after.

Exactly what I did on my Charger that I recently posted.  Separated the front bumper and grill with the back of an Xacto knife, cleaned up the edges.  Fixed the chrome on the bumper and stripped the grill to paint.

[Kelly]

34 minutes ago, Deathgoblin said:

Exactly what I did on my Charger that I recently posted.  Separated the front bumper and grill with the back of an Xacto knife, cleaned up the edges.  Fixed the chrome on the bumper and stripped the grill to paint.

Thanks But I am not very good yet to try that. Kelly 

[Perspect Scale Modelworks]

Hi Kelly. You've had a lot of good info thrown at you so here's some more.

On this project, I would mask the bumper off with a low tack tape like tamiya yellow or something similar that won't disturb the chrome. Then I would cover the top portion in BMF. Burnished it down completely, prime, then spray it black. When dry, carefully scrape off the black from the parts that should be chrome. A black wash or just touch up should cover any imperfections. 

This could be a tedious process but may get the results you're looking for. 

[bobss396]

10 hours ago, Kelly said:

Thanks But I am not very good yet to try that. Kelly 

Got some junk parts to practice on? Of course those always come out perfect...

[Kelly]

17 hours ago, Rossgo said:

LOL. I have the shake problem also.  It's like laying a sewer with an earthquake in process. Hang in you will find ways of getting though.

Hahaha you hit the nail right on the head !!!! Thanks That made my day 

[Kelly]

6 hours ago, bobss396 said:

Got some junk parts to practice on? Of course those always come out perfect...

Thanks I am only on my 3rd build so I don’t have many parts left over But with everyone’s help I’ll figure out something Thanks again to everyone 

[Kelly]

14 hours ago, Perspect Scale Modelworks said:

Hi Kelly. You've had a lot of good info thrown at you so here's some more.

On this project, I would mask the bumper off with a low tack tape like tamiya yellow or something similar that won't disturb the chrome. Then I would cover the top portion in BMF. Burnished it down completely, prime, then spray it black. When dry, carefully scrape off the black from the parts that should be chrome. A black wash or just touch up should cover any imperfections. 

This could be a tedious process but may get the results you're looking for. 

Thanks for your input Yes I have had a lot of great tips so far This forum has helped me so much! Can’t wait for my next project Thanks again to everyone! 

[StevenGuthmiller]

On 11/28/2025 at 9:55 AM, NOBLNG said:

It is just the black area you need to paint so I have two suggestions. One would be to carefully mask and spray paint the black area. Then the paint could be carefully rubbed off the raised script with a Q-tip moistened with the appropriate thinner, similar to the BMF under paint method. Second, if you are brush painting it, would be to very carefully scrape or sand the chrome off the area to be painted. Spraying it should lay down smoothly over the chrome I’m guessing, but you could scuff the area to be painted for added adhesion.

I agree with the masking and spraying option in this circumstance.

The area is very basic and rectangular making it very easy to mask off.

Spray it with a flat enamel and then before it’s completely cured, clean the script and the edges of the trim if necessary with mineral spirits.

Mineral spirits shouldn’t damage the kit chrome, but if you’re concerned about it, cover the S/S script with foil before paint.

Then you can use lacquer thinner to remove the paint from the script if you choose.

Something like this.

 

 

 

 

Steve

[Kelly]

2 hours ago, StevenGuthmiller said:

I agree with the masking and spraying option in this circumstance.

The area is very basic and rectangular making it very easy to mask off.

Spray it with a flat enamel and then before it’s completely cured, clean the script and the edges of the trim if necessary with mineral spirits.

Mineral spirits shouldn’t damage the kit chrome, but if you’re concerned about it, cover the S/S script with foil before paint.

Then you can use lacquer thinner to remove the paint from the script if you choose.

Something like this.

 

 

 

 

Steve

Thanks Wow very nice work Unfortunately my part i don’t think I can save It might go on as is and write it off as a learning experience but not sure yet