I've never actually seen chrome flaking in my own figures, having owned very few that actually have the stuff (only Primal Prime and BW 10th Rattrap), so I'm curious as to what it looks like. A story I hear fairly often is that it's the color applied over the chrome that actually flakes, and that the gold or silver underneath is still ok. If anyone has pics to confirm or deny that, I'd definitely like to see. Thanks all!
I could've shown you on my RID Prime. The small robots chest flakes off where Magnus clips on to form Omega Prime. The reason I can't show you now is that I found a way to fix it. As you said, it was just the red that flaked off. The chrome was ok. I used a red sharpie, and you can't even tell. Looks more mint than it did coming out of the box.
I'll have to dig my TM Rattrap out of storage at some point to take pictures, but in that case, the chrome comes off the wheel hubcaps in chunks. Not just the colour, but the chrome flakes off to reveal tan plastic underneath (the same colour as Rattrap's robot limbs, IIRC). I'm glad TM Rattrap's been included in the BWX series, because my vintage one is probably missing half its chrome, at least. I think it might depend on the figure, though. My TM2 Ramulus has some chrome chips as well, but the area underneath the chips is shiny and it appears to be just the top layer of colour rubbing off.
Silver sharpies are your friends when it comes to touching up on some Transformers. I used one on Cyb. Ransack's key and now he looks like GF Gasket! But without the black heels...
wouldnt you have to put a protective coat on over it? sharpie ink tends to rub right off from plastic.