Chrome Parts

These are great suggestions, but there is one more option.  If you are good at getting things like glass smooth, and have the $$ and time to spare, check out Chrome Tech USA.  They are an outfit that creates show quality chrome for model car parts.  They can provide you with free schematics on how to make and mount the parts to a chroming rack, or supply you with a rack at a minimal charge, or for a bit more $$ can mount it for you.

The other option is Micro Mark sells plating kits, but they are meant for surfaces that are conductive which is something our Styrene is not.  However there are sprays out there, that are designed to give a conductive surface to plastic parts, just so they can be electroplated.  You'll have to search on electroplating plastic parts or something like that to find them, but they are out there.  Kinda pricey up front, but in the long run pretty cheap.  Especially useful if you like to build kits which have huge seam lines or joints right in the middle of a nice chrome piece.

Thanks for the info. I will look into these items and also check with the aircraft folks to see what they recommend.

I'm a fan of Alclad as well, but my backup is Bare Metal Foil. I have never used the powders (isn't it called SNJ or smoething like that?) but I have seen pretty good results with them. If you don't feel like investing in and learning to use Alclad, I would go with BMF, it's easy to use and looks good too.

I like to use Alclad II. Here's a link to some info.

http://www.alclad2.com/lacquer_colors.html

Hi there. I would check the airplane section. They use a few different types of paint, powder, and foil on their planes to simulate shiny metal (chrome). At my age, the memory has got up and gone so I don't remember the names of the stuff they use. You could use a search to find them. I'm nowhere near their level but I'm trying so I still use good old Testors Chrome Enamel. Looks so-so but I'm not ready for the good stuff yet. Good Luck.

Jim