Chrome Plated Parts

using a wash on chrome parts makes a neat effect!

The valve covers here are done that way:

Thanks, Shawn. I got the chrome off the tanks using brake fluid. It must have been the cheap stuff because it took almost a week. I got a can of Krylon with a top that looked just like shiny chrome. When I sprayed a piece of sprue with it, it looks just like aluminum. I think it will look just right for the tanks. The other chrome pieces are too shiny for my taste and I may use the wash or maybe a dull coat.

Simple Chlorox Bleach and an old tooth brush.

Chrome will come right off.

As to making it look like cast aluminum, I use testors aluminum paint and a wash of black.

PritMar

I was hoping that someone would recommend a paint from an auto supply store or department store. I got a can of Krylon bright silver. The can top looks just like chrome but sprayed on a sprue it looks like rather dull aluminum. I have some of the foil stuff from MicroMark and I may try that on the tanks.

Dupli-color Chrome spray paint looks pretty good. You might want to try it if you're not inclined to use Alclad but Alclad is still better if you want a true chrome appearance.

Hi, I'm new here, but have modeling various scales for a few years. I have found that oven cleaner in a ziplock baggie will remove the chrome and not mar plastic in about 1 minute. Hope that helps.

PritMar - thanks! They say chrome plated parts look like aluminium or stainless steel after dullcoating them. But you could also try a black wash on them - I heard that works for some people. Then the recessed parts of the parts become darker and the whole part starts looking more realistic. Good luck with your truck, and could we see some pictures? Have a nice day

Paweł

Thanks, Pawel. I had looked at you post previously. I doubt if my truck will look as good. I dropped the tanks in brake fluid last night. I really do not want to strip all the chrome parts but they are just too bright. Maybe I will try dull coat on a sprue and see what it looks like.

Try using Fantastic spray clearner to remove the chrome. Alot cleaner than brake fluid and does the job.

Thad

Howdy!

Please check out my build here. Maybe you could get some ideas from there. I personally thought stripping, filling, polishing and rechroming the tanks would be too much hassle. Building the tanks out of plastic pipe and styrene sheet was fairly easy and leaves you with seams that could even be realistic on truck fuel tanks. Plus, you don't have to strip paint, and the filling is decreased to an absolute minimum - so I recommend this approach. As you can also read in my thread, you have to be careful mixing factory chromed and alcladed parts - the shade is quite different and the match isn't good, IMO, so you probably will have to rechrome other parts as well, once you start. Still, good luck with your project, have a nice day

Paweł

No, I haven't. I will probably try brake fluid. I spent all weekend rebuilding the brakes on my car and I do not think getting a little more brake fluid on  my hands will hurt too much.

I was hoping that someone would recommend a paint from an auto supply store or department store. I got a can of Krylon bright silver. The can top looks just like chrome but sprayed on a sprue it looks like rather dull aluminum. I have some of the foil stuff from MicroMark and I may try that on the tanks.

Thanks for the kind thoughts PritMar. The snow is still here but the ice never showed up. It's just foggy as all get out today. Can't even see the other side of the road. Glad I don't have to go out anywhere today.

Have you tried any of the chrome removal tips yet?

Jim

Thanks for the replies. Fox, I will think about you as I sit down here in Cape Canaveral.

Don Stauffer

Alclad is the way to go.  Prime and put down a really good coat of gloss black, then use Alclad chrome or polished aluminum.  The thinner the coat the better- crank the airbrush way back.

 

Alclad is the way to go.  Prime and put down a really good coat of gloss black, then use Alclad chrome or polished aluminum.  The thinner the coat the better- crank the airbrush way back.

If you do not have an airbrush, Roundhouse Silver or Old Silver is about the best.

There are many posts on this Forum about removing Chrome from parts. My . Put some Clorox Bleach in a mason jar and put the parts in. Let it soak overnight then scrub with an old toothbrush and some dish soap. If it doesn't all come off, let it soak in the Clorox for a while longer and repeat the cleaning.It's worked for me for years.

There are also many posts in the painting Forum about using Alclad to simulate Chrome. There are also many other kinds of paint that members use. Check the paint Forum.

It's the weekend so a lot of the guys are not around or cleaning up after the snowstorm we just got overnight. We're also expecting freezing rain on top of it tonight. Just be patient and they will give you all kinds of suggestions.

Good luck with your semi. Post lots of photos.

Jim

P.S. Some use Easy-Off Oven Cleaner too. They say it works faster but you should wear rubber gloves and be careful of the fumes. There is a post on here a couple of days back about it.