Hey guys, so I am a member over at scaleautomag.com, and while browsing, I found this: Small Spray On Chrome System on a shoe string Budget... - Scale Auto Community This guys doin this from his home in Nicaragua. It looks great, and gives exactly what he did, and where to get the chemicals from as well. Idk if we're allowed to use this stuff in the US though, so that's the down side of it thus far..
While I've never done it to a TF toy..... I do independent films in my spare time and we have had, on occasion, the need to make something look metalic that isn't actually metal. We have used a combination of metalic spray paint and clear coat to great effect. It's not AS good as being able to actually plate something...but it does work well enough to fool the eye of high def cameras.
How about just buying alclad II mirror chrome? Spray some glossy back down, then a thin layer of alclad chrome and you have a virtually mirror finish. Very inexpensive. http://www.alclad2.com/finishes/highshine.html
Z, just curious, but where are you buying your supply of Alclad II? (Welcome To Alclad II Where to buy Alclad II Finishes- Retailers/Distributors) Also, I presume you're using an airbrush for application?
You are indeed supposed to use an airbrush to apply Alclad, and I'd say it's pretty much essential if you want the proper mirror-like finish you can get with it. Personally, I don't have an airbrush, so I actually use a very soft brush and drybrush it onto the gloss black base coat. While it doesn't quite have the flawless finish you can achieve with the airbrush, it still gives you a very realistic high-gloss metal look. Have a scan of this shot of my WiP Stinger (specifically the left thigh and head), and you should see what I mean.