Hi guys Not sure if this was the right place but it seemed like a minor issue so I didn't think the Radicons was the right place to post it. Of of my 3rd party figures has a small chrome chip what I need to paint. It seems it won't get any worse so I just need to cover the chip with a bit of paint. Which type of chrome/silver paint do you guys use for such purposes? Thanks in advance.
Acrylic metallic paints are never as metallic as enamel. I use acrylics 95% of the time, but if you want chrome---don't bother with acrylic.
Most chrome paint jobs (the kind with a mirror like sheen) are applied with either spray cans or airbrushes. This is why I tend to prefer a metallic finish over a chrome one. If chrome chips off, it can be a pain in the butt to repair (at least for a casual hobbyist). Alclad's chrome laquers are supposed to be excellent. Unfortunately they are really airbrush paints, not at all suited for brush painting. I have heard of people brushing them on. Also, chrome paints (especially Alclad) are horribly toxic so ventiliation would be mandatory. Honestly it depends on how big the chip is, and how noticeable it is. You might be able to get away with a metallic paint if it's not easily visible.
Thanks for the advice. It's such a small chip so a silver/mirror-like paint will also suffice. Any input is appreciated.
I haven't really seen any regular paints that give you the reflective finish. And even most of the spray paints don't really have the same effect. Unless you're somehow able to remove the pieces in question and vac-metallize them, it's probably a losing prospect. This, sadly, is why I'm so mad at MP-28's one huge glaring QC issue, that damn flaking chrome.
As said above. I have done a fair amount of painting with spray cans and I can safely say no type of spread can will ever give you that mirror finish you are looking for. Reflective chrome that you are looking for is from chrome dipping and this cannot be achieved properly with a spray can. That is not to say it is impossible, but if you ever achieve it, please let me know as l would love to be able to do mirror finish chrome as well So best you just stick with acrylic metallic paints, easy to spray and dries quickly.
Vac-metal look. The Promised Land. The Cup of the Lord. If you could achieve it without actually vac-metallisingerising parts, you'd be rich. Modellers from around the globe would make pilgrimages to smell the fart of the people who've smelled your fart. Alclad II is probably closest. But it'll never be an exact match so really, if the wear is bad, your only real option is to strip the rest of the chrome off the part and do an entire respray. And if there are many chrome pieces over the toy, you'll still end up mismatched. In short, chrome wear = gg bro.
He mentioned a chip. Surely a bit of normal metallic paint won't be that noticeable if the chip is small. Alternative, put a sticker / decal on it if appropriate
That's why I qualified the "entire respray" thing with "if the wear is bad". For chips ... really up to the individual, whether a little metallic paint will do the trick. Recent case in point - the touch-ups to MP Hot Rod's chromed pipes. Gaaah, so horrible. Almost as bad as just leaving the worn chrome alone.
Actually that's not the case... You can achieve a mirror / chrome look finish with a couple sprays. You'll need an airbrush like mentioned above or you can buy it premixed. Alclad makes a good mirror chrome paint as well as Spaz stix. I use the latter for my custom work for clients. You can get the idea of the look on this YOTH repaint i did for a client... all the gold bits were stripped down to bare plastic then repainted w/ spaz stix. if you zoom the image you can see the reflection of the yellow chest cab lights running up on his left exhaust pipe. But if you have a small nick, i'd recommend testors silver metallic enamel. has some reflective properties to it and easy enough to blend in if you don't go overboard.
Fantastic work!!! Never heard of spaz stick, will have to look it up. Thanks for sharing. And yea, I remember that old nice silver paint from testors I used decades ago gave a more mirrory feeling, so might just be good enough for the OP for small nicks.
Thanks for the info, your prime looks great. I'll need to invest in a small airbrush and pump since I don't have one. I generally only use spray cans, but that Alclad stuff looks a treat. I see you're the man to come to for real painting advice I once tried to spray using a chrome wheel paint and it came up great, but after it cured fully, it went kind of hazy and lost its shine, so I didn't bother with much chroming after that, but now I may have to try that out sometime.
thanks guys! yeah the chromy finished paints are tough... there aren't a ton of options but there are a few. like mentioned, alclad and spaz stix are the 2 main go-tos it seems... and i know spaz stix sells in rattle can too if you don't have an airbrush. both usually want to have a gloss black base coat before using. check out some of the youtube vids on the them... they'll give you a good idea of the finished product look and how they are used.
