When using their high shine finishes it is best to spray it over a gloss black finish. They sell a product just for that and you don’t use a primer.
My question regards using a primer first. I want to paint something with Tamiya Fine Surface Primer and then use the Alclad black and an Alclad high shine color over it in some areas. Will I run into any problems?
I think the only problem will be film thickness of the gloss black over primer.my opinion is that it’s ‘worth it’ to get the buffed metalized surface.
You might be able to use some form of surface activation rather than a formal primer coat – this is the approach used to get labels to stick to polyethylene bottles. Some approaches are chemical (as opposed to plasma or flame) and for example the ‘activator’ used in replacement rear-view-mirror adhesive kits should do the job, with negligible thickness itself. Check compatibility in an inconspicuous spot inside the shell first!
Thanks. I was thinking about using that particular primer for the interior of a diner. Rather than masking I was just going to paint the whole thing and then do the exterior in the black gloss and shiny metal over the primer. I’m not worried about losing details.
If it’s not advisable I will do them separately.
Keep in mind that some primers require topcoating and will degrade if left exposed. Check that your chosen material does not have that concern. (Or just mask the areas that will get gloss black/Alclad and shoot a color coat of some suitable paint over the ‘rest’ of the primer…)
I did a few LW passenger cars a few years ago, and liked the resulting stainless-steel look. One other thing to remember is not to touch the painted surface, a fingerprint will show. Spray a gloss clear coat over the Alclad to protect the finish
Do you remember how coverage was? I am going to paint the exterior of Walthers Miss Bettie’s Diner and I need to know whether I can do it with one bottle of paint or if I will need two.
Continuing the discussion from Anybody shoot Alclad2 paint?:
The coverage was very good. The thing to remember is not to touch the dry painted surface uti you spray a clear coat over it.
I figure the diner is a little less than two cars. Is one bottle enough?
I think it should be. No one else seems to be willing to come out and say so, though…
And I get that. I doubt anyone else on here has done that structure with the paint that I will use. Given that you mist it on I suspect that it will go a long way.
Another question that I hope someone will answer is what nozzle/needle to use in the airbrush? Since this is a thin paint I suspect it is best to use one on the fine side, correct?
Black paint layer needs to be thick enough to self-level to a smooth glossy finish. That might not happen if too fine a spray allows too much vehicle to evaporate from the paint particles. Some of the ‘tutorials’ on Alclad II call for a clear gloss coat over the black to get the smooth surface.
In the absence of experienced commenters, I’d think an 0.2mm needle and about 15psi would give good results.
That is what I was thinking so thanks for confirming. I definitely don’t want to need a redo and I would rather not waste paint practicing.
Update: I contacted Alclad and asked them about the proper needle to use. Their response was a 0.3mm or 0.5mm. That surprised me a bit because I thought this paint (polished aluminum) was very thin. On the other hand when looking at info on needles the 0.5mm size is supposedly good for metallic paints. I think I am going to start with 0.25mm and see how it goes. I can always go bigger if I don’t like how it is working without ruining my project.
Be sure to keep us fully informed on the results of the experiments. Did they give you any recommendations on pressure?
Recommend air pressure is on their website. If I remember correctly it is 15 psi. I will correct this if it is something different.
From their website: ALCLAD should be sprayed at 12-15psi. Spray from a distance of 2-3 inches from the surface being painted using a narrow to medium width spray fan. Use the airbrush like a paint brush-aim to cover the model in a methodical manner.
Nothing about the airbrush.
