Silver Dope

I think just a gloss aluminum or silver paint- don't worry about dulling it, but do not gloss clearcoat it either.

BTW, Navy planes of the thirties were often painted aluminum or silver.  They didn't like using bare aluminum in a seawater environment.  Those were pretty glossy too.

Don Stauffer

Aluminum doped surfaces can have a very high gloss, depending on who painted it.  On many civil aircraft it is quite a high quality surface.  On military planes it may be slightly less so, but still pretty shiny.  I use Testors gloss silver.  I really recommend paint, rather than Alclad, because it is, and looks like, a paint.

One reason it is used a lot is because aluminum paint stops UV damage to fabric, so it was used as an undercoat before spraying on the final color coat.  But, hey, since the aluminum is really all you need, why not leave it just aluminum color?  I know several folks refinishing aircraft that went that route for that reason.

Don, so would you suggest that I find aluminum colored paint and go that route?  Maybe hit it with some semi-gloss clear to give it that shiny, but not too shiny coat?

Aluminum doped surfaces can have a very high gloss, depending on who painted it.  On many civil aircraft it is quite a high quality surface.  On military planes it may be slightly less so, but still pretty shiny.  I use Testors gloss silver.  I really recommend paint, rather than Alclad, because it is, and looks like, a paint.

One reason it is used a lot is because aluminum paint stops UV damage to fabric, so it was used as an undercoat before spraying on the final color coat.  But, hey, since the aluminum is really all you need, why not leave it just aluminum color?  I know several folks refinishing aircraft that went that route for that reason.

You might try Humbrol MetalCote in polished aluminum.  I know it says "polished" but its not really that shiny.  Might be just the shade you want.  I did a Monogram P-51D in that and it looks quite a bit like the silver painted Mustangs I've seen.   That paint is also available in unpolished aluminum.  I've use both quite a bit. 

Gary