| Louie N | 13 Feb 2008 4:06 p.m. PST |
Hello, I am looking for a good and straight forward painting method to reproduced the silver/aluminum effect on my wargaming aircraft. The subjects are the… French Nieuport 17 of WWI
US P-47D Thunderbolts (bubbletop) of WWII
US P-51D Mustangs of WWII
US F-86s Saber jets of the Korean War
Communist Mig-15s of the Korean War Mostly in 1/144th scale but the Nieuport is 1/72. So is there a better way to get that metal finish without simply painting on GW Chain mail or Mithril Silver. Thanks for any advice. |
| Top Gun Ace | 13 Feb 2008 5:01 p.m. PST |
Don't paint them, if they are made of metal, but just polish them with fine steel wool. Wear a dust mask and rubber gloves while doing so, and put down some newspaper that you can just throw away. Obviously, don't eat, drink, or smoke while using this process, until your hands have been thoroughly washed. If they are not made of metal, you will need other opinions. |
| mmessenger | 13 Feb 2008 5:36 p.m. PST |
Vallejo Model Color has Flat Aluminium acrylic paint (#993). It goes on a nice silvery gray. It does a nice job on Alien teeth. |
| Matsuru Sami Kaze | 13 Feb 2008 6:40 p.m. PST |
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| mrln68 | 13 Feb 2008 7:06 p.m. PST |
Take a look at ALCLAD II metallic paints. They aren't for everyone, but they provide the absolute best metallic finish of anything that I have seen. |
| Pajaro Muerto | 13 Feb 2008 7:16 p.m. PST |
Top Gun Ace: Yours is the same advice as quoth TheRaven ( pardon the pun, Raven ) in an August 07 thread ( TMP link ) . However, my concerns are: 1. If I can't use a primer, won't the painted parts chip or peel? All those anti-glare panels, invasion stripes, red noses, etc… I guess handling the minis for the actual playing would have to be exessively careful. 2. Metal wool, or polishing with chemicals ( like Brasso or Silvo ) will of course, in time, lead to tarnishing once again. Then what? And could you prevent this by a Crystal Clear coat, or some other gloss acrylic coat, WITHOUT the plane losing the metal appearance in lieu of a plastic one? :( |
| dragon6 | 13 Feb 2008 10:32 p.m. PST |
You can gloss it and it will still have a metal appearance. Flat… I don't know. It will, obviously, take the shine off and that's part of what you want. |
| Louie N | 13 Feb 2008 11:48 p.m. PST |
Thank for the replies. Almost all these aircraft are 1/144th plastic kits. The Vallejo sounds intereting. Would you prime white or black prior to applying that color. |
 Doms Decals  | 14 Feb 2008 2:15 a.m. PST |
I use a chrome spray paint, when everything's painted coat the whole model with Klear / Future, leave it for a couple of days and then spray with Dullcote. Dom. |
| mmessenger | 14 Feb 2008 6:46 a.m. PST |
Regarding the Vallejo aluminium color, I was painting over white primer. |
| jpattern2 | 14 Feb 2008 10:01 a.m. PST |
As Dom says, chrome spray paint, then Future for protection, then Dullcote if you want a flat surface.
I really like Krylon's version: link
Remember, several light mist coats, not one heavy coat. |
| Louie N | 14 Feb 2008 10:52 a.m. PST |
Does any one have photos of finished models using either the Vallejo paint or the Chrome spray paint. Also, becuase I am ignorant, why do you need to hit it with a Klear / Future? It that to give it a shine? Thanks |
| Doms Decals | 14 Feb 2008 12:38 p.m. PST |
Mainly as a protective finish – I matt varnish over the top anyway. Dom. |
| Doms Decals | 14 Feb 2008 12:41 p.m. PST |
PS – I frequently mix a very little (1 part in 30) GW chaos black (fine pigment, so good for this) in with the Klear for a second coat; this is a good low-effort way of black-lining, as Klear has good flow properties. I'm still trying to get my new camera to behave in macro mode, but should have pictures soon…. Dom. |
| mex10mm | 14 Feb 2008 12:44 p.m. PST |
I also used Krylon Chrome spray paint and a coat/wash of future with light grey ink. (this to bring out all the panelling in the planes). I think they look quite good. |
| XRaysVision | 14 Feb 2008 4:45 p.m. PST |
The French Nieuport 17 of WWI is fabric sealed with an aluminzed dope. Just paint it silver and you will good to go. For the other planes, you have a lot of good suggestions. |
| jpattern2 | 14 Feb 2008 4:53 p.m. PST |
The French Nieuport 17 of WWI is fabric sealed with an aluminzed dope. Just paint it silver and you will good to go. True, and the same goes for many of the aluminum-skinned planes planes of the 30s: the aluminum was almost always painted silver (or some other color, obviously), never left bare, for protection from the elements. Polished aluminum didn't become common until the final years of WWII. For example, I would love to do an Airfix/Minicraft Boeing B-314 flying boat in shiny chrome/polished aluminum: link But the real deal was painted with silver aluminum paint, not left polished aluminum. Of course, that doesn't mean I won't do a polished aluminum "what if" B-314 someday . . . |
| quidveritas | 14 Feb 2008 8:43 p.m. PST |
I reluctantly recommend you look at the French Aluminum color from MisterKit Paints out of Italy. They used to sell these in glass bottles -- and they were great. Now they sell these paints in plastic bottles and quality of paint has declined. The plastic containers dry out way too fast; and the aluminum color in particular is a pain in the a___ to mix and keep it mixed. That said. IF you can get it mixed and applied over a primer, it gives a great finish. The only supplier of MisterKit paints in the USA is Roll Models. Best of luck. mjc |
| Windward | 20 Mar 2008 11:44 a.m. PST |
I tried the krylon chrome paint with very good results. I also followed someone's advice and put the can into a bath of hot tap water for 5 minutes before I started. My only comment is you must clean up any mold lines with great care, the chrome paint emphasizes any details on the model good or bad. |
