alclad II question

[chopperfreak2k1]

i recently purchased a bottle of alclad (steel) and the bottle says i have to spray it on. well i don't have an airbrush yet so i was wondering if i can brush it on or should i wait and buy an airbrush? thanks in advance for all your help!!

[Karmodeler2]

i recently purchased a bottle of alclad (steel) and the bottle says i have to spray it on. well i don't have an airbrush yet so i was wondering if i can brush it on or should i wait and buy an airbrush? thanks in advance for all your help!!

Roger,

You can brush Alclad on, but you will not have the effect of the paint to it's full capabilities unless you airbrush it. It is kind of a waste of $8 paint when you brush it on. I have done so, but the greatest effect (and coverage) is to airbrush it. I recommend a double action if you are going to get one, for alclad paint because of the control it gives you. Below is an excerpt from a post on the 30 November about another question about alclad. Hope this helps.

David

One thing to keep in mind is that the only allclad paints that need the gloss base coat are Stainless, Polished Aluminum, Chrome (and there may be one more). ALL of their others can go straight onto plastic with no primer (although they do not recommend this, it can be done......you will learn a lot this way by just trying things and not being afraid to fail once or twice along the way,....that's how some of these tips come to be!!!!!). Also, get you a bag of plastic spoons at the Dollar store for about a.......yes, a dollar,.......and try your practice shots on the back of the spoon. On the inside of the spoon write what you sprayed on the back of the spoon. It's a cheap way to practice....and if you drill holes in the handles, you can hang them up with the back of the spoon showing for your own "paint chip" rack, and when you need a color you like, grab the spoon, look on the inside to see how you mixed it, and there you go. It's also helpful in repairing a model that you mixed a custom color for...and forgot how you mixed it!!!!!

BLACK BASES ONLY

One thing to keep in mind with the "black bases" needed for the particular allclads: these paints are translucent, not opaque. The light needs to pass through them, hit the base, and come back up through to give you the "Chrome" look(or one of the others). You can use dark colors, then put a coat of Future on the part, then allclad it. As long as the final coat had the deep shine, you will have the reflective property you are looking for. The best result I have found (and you will find many on this board, this is just mine) is to use a double action Paasche airbrush with NO MORE THAN 4 to 5 PSI. Put a cheap surgical glove on your left hand (if you are right handed) and hold the part in your left hand. Take your airbrush and push down all the way for the air, and slowly pull back on the trigger while spraying your index finger around your first knuckle. You will start to see the allclad come out in a very fine mist or spinkle(you need the glove to see this, that's why the glove) and while you are holding your trigger finger still, move your gun from your knuckle to your part you are holding with your fingers on your left hand. Rotate the part and let the allclad "sprinkle" onto the part. Because you are opening the hole on the gun to such a small opening, it tends to clog real easy and fast. No problem. Put the gun back over on your knuckle, pull back a little more aggressively, clear the clog, and then start the misting process again, then move it over to the part, rotate the part, and repeat. It takes about 5-8 times of doing this....but man!!! What great chrome!!!!

While this may take some time, it WILL keep your chrome looking like chrome, and not some fancy silver paint. This technique has worked for me countless times. I wish you luck! (you can do this on spoons too....shoot the black, future if you want it, then the allclad....you can play with pressures, flows and the like and not have to mess up the real thing while you are learning). Experience is the best teacher.....after all it should be....it's the most expensive!

David

[spkgibson]

one question,How do you keep it from rubbing off ?I used it on some wheelcovers and 2 sets of bumpers,well after letting the stuff dry,for over 2 weeks,I went back to push the wheelcovers in the tires,and it just rubbed off in my fingers,how do you seal this stuff?I tryed clear coat,on scrap plastic,well that didn't work,what is the secret?mind you,I spent $16 on this stuff,and have nothing to show for it,I could have sent my parts out to someone that plates the parts for less,any help,Steve

[crispy]

one question,How do you keep it from rubbing off ?I used it on some wheelcovers and 2 sets of bumpers,well after letting the stuff dry,for over 2 weeks,I went back to push the wheelcovers in the tires,and it just rubbed off in my fingers,how do you seal this stuff?I tryed clear coat,on scrap plastic,well that didn't work,what is the secret?mind you,I spent $16 on this stuff,and have nothing to show for it,I could have sent my parts out to someone that plates the parts for less,any help,Steve

Steve, therein lies the problem. There is no good way of sealing Alclad. Pretty much be ready to paint and apply the item to your model and NEVER touch it again. It is probably the only real drawback.

Clear coats dull the finish. This had been tried for a long time by almost anyone that uses it.

Chris

[weasel]

it doean't take well to handling, clear it...

[Fuel Coupe]

I've actually found Alclad chrome to be fairly durable when it comes to handling, much more so than other "chrome" paints. It also doesn't show fingerprints nearly as badly. Of course, it won't stand up to severe and repeated mishandling, but I've never had an issue with it rubbing off during the course of normal assembly.

I as well have never had it rub off from minor handling. Could be the paint you used under it that caused it not to stick.

[ratnasty]

I use latex gloves when handling my Alcladed parts. But still not trying to handle them very much.

Chuck

[Steven Zimmerman]

III

[Steven Zimmerman]

i recently purchased a bottle of alclad (steel) and the bottle says i have to spray it on. well i don't have an airbrush yet so i was wondering if i can brush it on or should i wait and buy an airbrush? thanks in advance for all your help!!

[chopperfreak2k1]

thanks for the info and insight Karmodeler2, and everyone else. it is appreciated