Chrome Platers

[MoparWoman Jamie]

I was wondering is there any chrome platers out there that does chrome plating for model car parts? A friend of mine bought an Italeri rig kit an the chrome in it is no good at all, it's chipping off all over the place. I would like to send out the parts an have then rechromed alot better then what Italeri does.

[jbwelda]

chrome tech for one...i dont know details but i am sure a quick google search will find it.

[High octane]

www.chrometechusa.com

[monkeyclaw]

Advanced plating in the Nashville area now has a process for doing "real" chrome plating on all types of plastics as well................Matt

[MoparWoman Jamie]

Thank you all for the advice an help on this. My friend paid good money for the semi kit an it's weak plastic really. I had to change glues to work with it as the glue I mostly use will melt through the plastic. Then the other day I went to work with the kit again an seen the chrome is chipping off bad. The grill along has lost a big chunk on the bottom, the one head light bezel lost it's chrome almost also an when my friend went to look at the chrome parts after I told him about the chrome, it started chipping off in his hand too. I wouldn't trust tape over the stuff (Laughs Out Loud) due to how the chrome is chipping off. If anymore of you all can remember anymore chrome plater's out there please post by all means. Thank you all.

[Maindrian Pace]

I've been using Chrometech for over 15 years, and Bob is the best anywhere. He's a model builder, so he knows exactly what to do, and the end result will be better than any Italeri chrome you've seen. If you're not comfortable properly stripping the tree, let him do it.

-MJS

[Junkman]

Thank you all for the advice an help on this. My friend paid good money for the semi kit an it's weak plastic really. I had to change glues to work with it as the glue I mostly use will melt through the plastic. Then the other day I went to work with the kit again an seen the chrome is chipping off bad. The grill along has lost a big chunk on the bottom, the one head light bezel lost it's chrome almost also an when my friend went to look at the chrome parts after I told him about the chrome, it started chipping off in his hand too. I wouldn't trust tape over the stuff (Laughs Out Loud) due to how the chrome is chipping off. If anymore of you all can remember anymore chrome plater's out there please post by all means. Thank you all.

There was a time when saying Italeri's quality was atrocious would have been a gross understatement. Shortly afterwards they went under. The quality of the resurrected company is lightyears better. If the model is available in the newer series, I'd suggest buying a new one. You will not regret it.

[jbwelda]

one thing to think about with re-doing chrome like you want to do: as with real chrome prep is 99% of overall finished appearance. you are in a unique position amongst those who want stuff chromed (not that i know from experience...i have never had it done to any of my parts) in that presumably all your parts are still on the original sprue (or "trees"). so you dont have to mount it for chroming like most would have to.

but there is something else to remember: you certainly dont want to chrome over the stuff that is on there now. so you need to strip the chrome. a lot of products work great for that but the one i use is castrol super clean also known by a few other trade names (i think): purple power, etc. a few minutes in this stuff will remove chrome completely...most chrome anyhow, theres always the exceptions.

the other thing to think about is how good you want this model to look. i say that because if you look closely at the parts, especially after the chrome has been removed, you will notice what are called "parting marks", raised lines in each part that arent supposed to be there. and ejector pin marks, ditto on the not supposed to be there. not only that but the chrome is attached to the sprue still in the place the original factory planned it...and thats not always the best place. so what i am getting at is that if you want this to really really look great, and justify the expense of having the chrome done (like i said i havent done it but i suspect the price will come to around 20$ or maybe more) you might be needing to cut and finish and remount each part before sending it in for chrome.

anyway should be a good project and please report back if and when you decide to go through with it.

[Dr. Cranky]

I always try to cut off the chrome parts carefully, then I use a little dab of Sharpie chrome on the bald spot.