"Polished metal finish" Topic
10 Posts
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Timmo uk | 06 Apr 2010 12:43 p.m. PST |
I'm thinking about adding some P51Ds to my 1/285 collection and wondered about using the natural metal finish of the casting. I always wash my castings before painting and I notice they come up a bit brighter but has anybody experimented with polishing their castings then gloss varnishing? I wondered if there were polishing bits I could put in my mini drill that would just buff not cut the surface? |
Editor in Chief Bill | 06 Apr 2010 12:52 p.m. PST |
I believe the gloss would nullify the metallic effect. I know when you use the metallic buffing paints, you don't apply sealer afterward. |
wehrmacht | 06 Apr 2010 1:17 p.m. PST |
I use GW "boltgun metal" highlighted with bright silver
painted lots of planes this way and they look OK I think. w. |
tinned fruit | 06 Apr 2010 3:31 p.m. PST |
Here's a link to the Raiden Miniatures painting help page:- link |
Sundance | 06 Apr 2010 3:39 p.m. PST |
A friend of mine did that with Medieval helmets. I don't know as it would work with aircraft, though, as IMO the color would be significantly different. Best color for aircraft aluminum is Tamiya's flat aluminum, again, IMO. |
Dn Jackson | 06 Apr 2010 4:18 p.m. PST |
A friend of mine did that with 1/200 B-17s years ago. They looked great though I don't think he used a sealent afterwards. |
zippyfusenet | 06 Apr 2010 5:53 p.m. PST |
Try scrubbing the casting with an old toothbrush to polish it. No, I haven't done it myself, but I have some P-51s in the pipeline and I've been thinking about it. |
Top Gun Ace | 06 Apr 2010 8:40 p.m. PST |
Polished natural metal looks best, and most realistic, on its own. Some people seal it, others don't. Non-sealed polished metal may dull over time, but I haven't had mine that way long enough for that to occur. You can use gloss, satin, or matt for sealing, as desired, for different effects. I use fine steel wool for polishing the metal. Wear goggles/glasses, and a dustmask. Try to do this outside, or at least over newspaper (to clean up the mess, in the latter case). Wash with soap and water, after polishing, to remove any residue. I imagine you will be very pleased with the results. For dirty metal, use the minis as is, e.g. good for Mig-15's being operated out of North Korea, or China. |
Timmo uk | 07 Apr 2010 1:52 a.m. PST |
Thanks all. Painting is perhaps the easier option but I'm curious about polishing them so I'm going follow TGA's method and give it a go. |
Top Gun Ace | 08 Apr 2010 7:02 p.m. PST |
Actually, I can't think of anything simpler than just polishing them, assuming you have, or can easily find the steel wool. You can then either wash with black ink/paint, or do the panel lines with a fine, mechanical pencil. 0.3mm's – 0.5mm's is best. Paint canopies and apply decals, as desired. Seal your aircraft to protect the graphite finish in the panel lines, paint, and the decals. |
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