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Model Forum / General / Models / June 2006What's good for recreating brushed aluminum look?
I have an old MPC/Ertl RD-D2 kit, and the chrome plating really irks me. If you look at photos of R2, his head appears more like brushed aluminum, at least to me. So while the FAQ tells me how to get the chrome off the parts, I'm stumped on what to use for the brushed aluminum. The local hobby shop has a healthy supply of Testors Model Master paints, as well as (I think) some of the metalizer stuff. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance! Hi Casey, a simple method would be to use the Model Master metallizer non-buffing aluminum. Air brush it on, and it gives a good natural aluminum finish. Not sure how to get the brushed finish, but I would give it a semi-gloss or dull laquer clea coat instead of the metallizer gloss clearcoat to finish it off. If you do not clearcoat the metallizer, it is a fragile surface that can be easily damaged by fingerprints. Dave > I have an old MPC/Ertl RD-D2 kit, and the chrome plating really irks > me. [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > > Thanks in advance! Dave, Thanks! I take it both choices (dull *and* semi-gloss) you mention are laquer, yes? I've forgotten what can get sprayed on what; I generally use acrylics for hand-detail and airbrushing, and Testors enamel spray can for non-airbrush large areas. I'm thinking the dull would look better. While the box photos (Return of the Jedi; R2 with those those loathesome teddy bears!) show a bright shine off of his head, I suspect that's the studio lighting, so a "natural" look would be more akin to (say) old-school audio equipment with the aluminum front, instead of today's flat black. Note to self: get more photos! :) >Hi Casey, >a simple method would be to use the Model Master metallizer non-buffing [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] >> >> Thanks in advance! Hi Casey, The Model Master metallizers are lacquer based, hence they must be airbrushed. I think that some of the colors are made in spray cans, not sure if the non-buffing aluminum is or not. Note that the buffing aluminum is made to be polished with a soft cloth when dry, should be used for a bright polished bare metal finish such as on 1960's jet fighters. The metallizer has it's own clear coat, which dries glossy but changes the appearance of the polished metal. the Testors dull coat is a lacquer based product available in bottle and spraycan, and is safe to spray over the metallizer and any of the Testors enamels as well. Not sure about the acrylics, I have never sprayed the lacquer clear coat over an acrylic base coat yet. Dave > Dave, > [quoted text clipped - 35 lines] > >> > >> Thanks in advance! > I have an old MPC/Ertl RD-D2 kit, and the chrome plating really irks > me. [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > > Thanks in advance! One option is to apply aluminium kitchen foil which has a brushed finish using Microscale foil glue. I'm not familiar with the r2 model ,but from IIRC from the movie he has a domed head which would be a bit of a challenge to apply foil to ,but it would be possible with careful cutting .At least the foil glue will allow you to remove the foil if you make a mistake.  SignatureKevin (Bluey) "I'm not young enough to know everything." bluey69@westnet.com.au My technique for applying a brushed or grained look - like what you see on American Airlines jets - is to use a pencil eraser in parallel straight strokes on foil before applying it. It can work on BM foil, but I find that it's a bit delicate for that. Back the foil with glass, stone or metal and use a guide to keep the eraser strokes parallel. Obviously you can alternate directions of grain on neighboring panels. Ken > > I have an old MPC/Ertl RD-D2 kit, and the chrome plating really irks > > me. [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] > > bluey69@westnet.com.au I would have thought that just a sprayed aluminium coloured paint would do. This is going to give a flat metallic look but not brushed. However, I think that the brushed effect is something you only see on a full size item when you are close up. Imagine the equipment panels you mentioned - standing 1 foot away you can see the brushed effect - but stand 3 yards or more away and it suspect that it just looks like a flat uniform aluminium colour. I assume your R2D2 is not full size, so at scale I don't think your would see the brushed effect - in fact any attempt to reproduce a brushed effect would probably be massively overscale. Cheers, Nigel > I assume your R2D2 is not full size, so at scale I don't think your would > see the brushed effect - in fact any attempt to reproduce a brushed effect > would probably be massively overscale. Exactly - take something that is brushed aluminium (like cellphone Siemens-BenQ S68) and imagine it in your scale. (for example by looking from a distance) Maciek > I have an old MPC/Ertl RD-D2 kit, and the chrome plating really irks > me. [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > > Thanks in advance! I am not sure which brands currently have it, but there are/have been flat aluminum paints. I think the R2D2 is more of a mill finish than a brushed aluminum, but flat aluminum does a good job representing brushed aluminum. For mill finish, I spray the chrome piece very lightly with Testors Dullcoat. >> I have an old MPC/Ertl RD-D2 kit, and the chrome plating really irks >> me. [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > brushed aluminum. For mill finish, I spray the chrome piece very > lightly with Testors Dullcoat. I've had good luck with Floquil's Platinum Mist. It's a very finely ground flat aluminum that's pretty easy to apply. Pip Moss For the best finish and description of brushed aluminum I've ever seen go to: http://www.geocities.jp/yoyuso/p47n/p47ngalle.html Go to the bottom and click on "Article" Then go about 2/3's of the way down to " 'Hybrid Painting Method' for natural metal" for a description of his painting method. It is truly unbelievable! Art >I have an old MPC/Ertl RD-D2 kit, and the chrome plating really irks > me. [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > > Thanks in advance! |
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