i have not used MM metalizers. and i have yet to use enamels.
but i have used alclad II chrome on various of ocassions and test shots. i practically used up a whole bottle of alclad chrome.
and i have tested on different applications and base coats. below is a list of what i have done.
bast coats i have used before applying alclad II chrome:
tamiya black gloss, tamiya clear red, tamiya clear blue, alclad II black gloss, gray primer, and already black glossed plastic.
tamiya black gloss and alclad II black gloss seems to have the same glossy look. thus making the alclad chrome to come out pretty much the same. although i have had better luck with alclad black gloss sometimes. i guess it has something to do with luck as well as timing, and precise pressure on the airbrush.
tamiya clear red and clear blue actually came out exactly the same as black gloss base coat. for anyone who says you can't apply alclad over tamiya acrylics, is saying that to someone who have already tested it out on numerous of occasions. and for anyone who say you need a black gloss base coat before applying chrome is also talking to a guy who have already tried it out.
conclusion:
you do not need a "black" gloss base coat before applying alcad chrome. alclad black gloss and tamiya black gloss seems to be the same.
tamiya clear red and tamiya clear blue base coats gives the same chrome results as if applied over a black gloss base coat.
acutally sometimes, applying the clear paint as the undercoat gives a more shinny chrome affect.
alclad chrome will not give you any kind of reflection. unless you put your finger or an image really closely, it will not reflect off anything.
"UNLESS," you apply alclad chrome over an already black glossed plastic peice. this is pretty much the same thing as the highly reflective automotive black gloss paint.
and applying chrome over such a gloss paint will give you a very nice reflective peice. but it is not that shiny. it's somewhat fogged and dirty looking. it will not give you true chrome what so ever.
i have masked over alclad chrome on numerous occasions as well.
results:
sometimes the chrome became more dull and fogged up. sometimes the chrome paint just lifted off. and u can see small chips of black paint from the undercoat.
and sometimes it had no affect.
basically, alclad chrome that i have used has too many different results. you never know what you're gonna get until you try it at that moment. it never gives you an official result everytime. everytime has been different for me. sometimes it will be more reflective than other times. sometimes it will be more shinier than other times. i don't have a clue as to how to control the end results.
and as for polishing this stuff? don't waste the effort or money on it. i have used micromesh to try and polish this chrome. the micromesh made everything more foggy like crazy. it also scrape off the chrome paint really, and i mean exremely easily.
i have tried to apply clear paint over this chrome. it will definitely protect the chrome really well. but, it seems to make the over look more dull.
this is still the best chrome paint to date. but it's got a long way to go if they consider this to be Real Chrome.