Sprue marks on chrome

Suggestion...it may be a bit expensive but how about using Alclad2 range of metal laquer airbrush paints. There was an article in Tamiya Model Magazine #98 (Jun/Jul 03) in which Eric Evain used Alclad2 Chrome on the exhaust sytem. Looks great to me

I say just scratchbuild new pieces from real chrome...
It can't be THAT hard, can it?

Robert, there isn't really a way to completely hide the sprue attachment points on chrome plated parts.
Often Bare Metal Foil will cover the blemish, but for a truly complete fix, the only way is to have the bits re-chromed.
I've seen several advertisements in FSM over the years for plastic chroming companies.
Does anyone out there know of one?
Cheers
LeeTree

I think that the companies should just make these parts without the chrome, that way you could just paint them yourself and eliminate the sprue marks all together.

I, personally, strip the chrome altogether and paint those parts a different color, but for the folks that like the look of chrome, I think that would be a good way to go. Just let us paint the chrome ourselves, we paint everything else.

DDRmaniac,
you and your friend are correct, Testors chrome silver doesn't exactly match the chrome of plated parts. But if only placed on a small area one cannot usually tell. I think that is why on larger areas people are using BMF.

Stoopidfish,
that is a great idea. I hadn't thought of using silver leaf. That could work great and a sheet should last half a lifetime.

We use some stuff at work to simulate foil stamping. It's like bare metal foil but with no adhesive. You have to paint something and press a piece of it to the painted area as it tacks up and the foil only sticks to the paint. Hobby Lobby and Michaels carry this stuff. -ask 'em for silver foil leaf.

Kinda like guilding your hot rod.

-fish

Actually, from what I've seen, chrome silver paint does not exactly match the chrome shade used by model kit manufactorers. I was told this by my friend who builds only model cars, so I believe I can trust him. However, I guess this would not really matter, as long as the touched-up spot was small. Oh, I forgot to mention; I'm talking about Tesor Model Master's chrome silver, so this may be different than other company's chrome silver.

Ditto, bare metal foil works O.K. on larger pieces, or use chrome paint on the smaller blemishes.

I wish kit manufacturers would mold all chromed parts with black plastic. Chrome molded with black plastic hardly needs touching up, the black just looks like a shadow or reflection on the plastic.

HEY,
I agree with thyamis when he says that you should use chrome silver or i use those paint pens. I found a chrome silver one at a craft store. Hope this helps.

Randy

use a chrome silver paint or bare foil. no matter how clean cut you have sprue chrome will have imperfections.