Mixing Alclad Paint with Primer

It seems worth a try. I am not sure if the primer is emamel or lacquer or if it even matters but color wise it should be great. Let us know how it turns out.

Managed to get the mix right on the first try. Result is a dull finish, but still somewhat metallic. Kind of like cast iron. I'll add more of the Dark Aluminum to lighten it up more for the larger panels to keep the contrast down against the aluminum ones.

For a dull metallic look like for cast iron, one can also mix steel or aluminum colors of regular hobby paint with a flat gray. No need to use Alclad.  Also, sometimes I paint a part first with flat medium or dark gray, then drybrush aluminum or steel on it for a weathered steel patina.

For the shiny Alclad colors the Alclad must be applied in a very thin coat, and the Alclad itself is very thin, so mixing anything with those Aclads doesn't work very well.

Don Stauffer

For a dull metallic look like for cast iron, one can also mix steel or aluminum colors of regular hobby paint with a flat gray. No need to use Alclad.  Also, sometimes I paint a part first with flay medium or dark gray, then drybrush aluminum or steel on it for a weathered steel patina.

For the shiny Alclad colors the Alclad must be applied in a very thin coat, and the Alclad itself is very thin, so mixing anything with those Aclads doesn't work very well.

Thanks for your input Don. I've been using Alclad paints for some time now, so I'm familiar with its properties. The base colour for the Raider was Alclad Aluminum with progressively darker panelling where appropriate. I started with Alclad's Dark Aluminum but the variation in tone was hardly noticable and I couldn't find (or didn't have) something darker among my Alclads so next thought was to darken it with the black primer I have. The base coat of aluminum was put on extremely thinly to the point where the black primer underneath can be seen through it in parts - this was intentional to replicate the striations in tone as seen on the CGI model.

Now it's just a matter of adding black or aluminum as appropriate and I should have it all wrapped up soon.

It is best to use the same type of paints.

modelmaker66

It is best to use the same type of paints.

 

Both Alclad primers and paints are lacquers, so it should be no problem mixing them.

This sounds like an interesting idea, glad it worked out. I wounder if useing grey primer would give lighter finish, then followed with the appropriate clear to give the desired finish.

Bish

This sounds like an interesting idea, glad it worked out. I wounder if useing grey primer would give lighter finish, then followed with the appropriate clear to give the desired finish.

Interesting idea, though I can't imagine it making a metallic lighter, but it might make it flatter for a rough cast effect.