Clear coating chrome like Green Stuff Chrome Metal

[Mattwurst79]

Hello everyone,

I have a question on how you guys clear coat painted Metal like Chrome oder so.
I have for example Chrome metal from green Stuff which is absolutely awesome but when I try to clear coat the model after Assembly the Chrome colors will not take the clear Coat paint it is like you Spray water on polished Metal creating bubbles.
How do you do that?

 

[urumomo]

Most clear coats will dull chrome .

The clear is beading up on the chrome ?
Which clear coat ?

I've never used any paints from Green Stuff .
Which chrome product are you using ? --> https://www.greenstuffworld.com/en/search?controller=search&s=chrome

 

[Mattwurst79]

I use the chrome metal paint from your link.
Maybe it is i am using mostly water based clear coats.
Maybe i should try alcohol based like Tamiya?
Just came to my mind while we were chatting

 

[Mattwurst79]

I just checked all my clear coats are waterbased. Vallejo and Mig.
They pearl on a glossy surface especially on chrome paints since their surface is very smooth

 

[urumomo]

Are you thinning it ?
over thinning it with water ?

 

[the Baron]

Is it necessary to clear-coat the chrome paint at all?

 

[Mattwurst79]

Are you thinning it ?
over thinning it with water ?

Thinning with water

 

[Mattwurst79]

Is it necessary to clear-coat the chrome paint at all?

Yeas, the chromes take fingerprints so easy and also there is no way not to clearcoat them when you coat the model omitting the chrome areas. For example the lower belly of an airliner in chrome or the leading edges of the wings are very often chrome while the top is white. But when you spray over the model to e.g. seal the decals which are sometimes also on the chrome area you have to clear-coat everything

 

[mark2]

I think these are like Mr color metal colors, clearcoat is not really recommended, the mr color has a wax like ingredient which allows it to be buffed to a high shine but will rub off on your fingers when handled, I have got clearcoat on the mr hobby but it with make it look just like silver paint.

 

[urumomo]

I think these are like Mr color metal colors, clearcoat is not really recommended, the mr color has a wax like ingredient which allows it to be buffed to a high shine but will rub off on your fingers when handled, I have got clearcoat on the mr hobby but it with make it look just like silver paint.

LIke the AK True Metal ?

Wax is going to make it un-coatable

 

[urumomo]

Thinning with water

Use a water based acrylic thinner for the clear , as little as necessary to airbrush .
I never thin clears .
Vallejo's AB thinner is good .
The thinner is water but with a propylene glycol retarder and a tiny amount of ammonia as a surfactant

You can over thin it with water , or thinner -- it will eventually be like spraying water and will bead up .


I looked at that chrome paint .
It looks like a solvent acrylic since it's alcohol base . not a nitrocellulose lacquer . -- or anything with wax in it .
It shouldn't cause any issues with clear coat adhesion .
I think you are over thinning the clear .
I've never heard of anyone having this issue with Vallejo or MiG clear coats .

Just keep in mind that clear coats will dull the chrome effect away .

 

[Mattwurst79]

The clears i have need to be thinned. They are too thick.
I will try to thin least possible now.
Maybe other modelers add the chrome paint after the rest of the model was clear-coated as the very last step? Dont know...

 

[stevethefish]

Hello everyone,

I have a question on how you guys clear coat painted Metal like Chrome oder so.
I have for example Chrome metal from green Stuff which is absolutely awesome but when I try to clear coat the model after Assembly the Chrome colors will not take the clear Coat paint it is like you Spray water on polished Metal creating bubbles.
How do you do that?

I have no idea about Green Stuff paints, but Alclad Aqua Gloss is specifically made to be applied over their chrome lacquer paint. Sometimes you do need to clear coat a chrome surface, for decals and such.

I think these are like Mr color metal colors, clearcoat is not really recommended, the mr color has a wax like ingredient which allows it to be buffed to a high shine but will rub off on your fingers when handled, I have got clearcoat on the mr hobby but it with make it look just like silver paint.

I dislike those metal colors by Mr. Color. They're gross because they just keep coming off on your fingers and never dry. I airbrushed a BttF Delorean car with that Stainless and it just was crap. They did do a Mr. Super Metallic 2 line (or whatever it's called) that is great. I airbrushed that version of Stainless and it looks nice.

 

[scalebuilderchad]

I have done extensive experimenting with chrome paints because I am looking for the best results possible for my automotive builds and here are the results I have come up with........

Spaz Stix. Don't even bother. It is not very chromey and it is pretty expensive considering it is not very good.

Rustoleum chrome don't even bother with this one either. It comes out kind of chrome, but it doesn't bond very well. It flaked off several of the parts I painted.

Green Stuff World is a pretty good chrome paint but it is very sensitive to fingerprints. So you can't handle it very much if at all. HOWEVER I do highly recomment the GSW Brush on chrome paint. You can't use it on large areas, but if you need to do some small touch up work, or paint very small parts, it works great! You can't brush it on like typical paint, you kind of have to dab it on, but it works very well for touch ups. I use the brush on chrome paint for very small engine parts as well.

Another chrome paint I had decent luck with is Molotow. The Molotow pens are kind of crappy. I buy the refills and airbrush it. When you airbrush it, the results are pretty good. But you have to let it dry FOREVER. Like seriously, you have to let it cure for like 2 weeks or more, if you have time. And you can't touch it, like the GSW chrome.

SMS Hyperchrome is my favorite. Apply it in 3-5 VERY light dust coats over glossy black paint and then very lightly buff it the next day and it yeilds great results. And you can touch it a little bit. It will eventually dull if you touch it too much, but you can handle it more than the other chrome paints.

Again, you can't touch chrome paints. They absorb finger prints very easily. SMS Hyperchrome is the most durable finish I have found, but even that one will start to dull after you touch it a few times.

The only clearcoat I have found that will work on chrome paints is Alclad Acrylic Clear. It has to be the acrylic. This clearcoat still dulls the chrome, but it dulls it less than any other clearcoat I have tried.

 

[Mattwurst79]

Hey scalebuilderchad thank you so much for your great input on this!!
I think same for the GSW touch up with a brush which works awesome for small parts.
I let dry my GSW Chrome for 1,5-2 weeks and after I touch it only with gloves but still it creates a dullness effect where my finger was.
I heard their Gauzy shine enhancer could do the trick now since it is part of the lineup i think I give it a go. Ordered 2 bottles and i will report the outcome here.
Also I will try to grab one SMS Hyperchrome now.
I am just wondering how e.g. scale passenger airplane builders come to their perfect results with their big chrome areas on wings and lower fuselages.
This is my plan building those and this is why i'm asking.
There is a famous website with example fotos and when I see them I drop my jaws.
Maybe they are using automotive paints for their projects.