Alclad fragility

Alclads high shine colors, such as chrome, are very fragile, and cannot be masked over. I would suggest to try the Aqua gloss, as I have found it doesn't alter the shine much at all. Hopefully it will protect the finish enough to survive handling. 

I often just spray chrome pieces that are too bright with a coat of Testors Dullcoat.  This works especially well for those pieces that are supposed to be aluminum.

However, if I do deside to use an Alclad, I do not bother to strip the chrome.  I clean up any flash, sprue attachment parts, etc., prime, then apply a black gloss paint.  Then I apply the Alclad.  While the adhesion is not great, I have successfully used low tack materials over it for masking, such as post-it notes or frisket paper.

I can tell you exactly what happened. You used Alclad gloss black primer. I've heard many bad experiences of people using Alclad's primer with terrible results. So stay away from Alclad's gloss black primer. Use simple Gloss black enamel paint as your gloss black primer and try again. You'll be glad you used gloss black paint instead of Alclad gloss black primer.

BlackSheepTwoOneFour

I can tell you exactly what happened. You used Alclad gloss black primer. I've heard many bad experiences of people using Alclad's primer with terrible results. So stay away from Alclad's gloss black primer. Use simple Gloss black enamel paint as your gloss black primer and try again. You'll be glad you used gloss black paint instead of Alclad gloss black primer.

 

I'll second that.  I used to use Testors Gloss Enamel black for undercoat.  Decided to try the Alclad black.  Immediately went back to the enamel.

Hi All

Thanks for the replies - It took me a while to get back here. Interesting advice to ditch the Alclad gloss black - I will pick up a bottle of Testors gloss black and give some scrap a try - I really dislike the chrome that comes in car model kits - I believe it is way out of scale

Joe F,

Yes, that gloss black from Alcad had a bad batch a while back.  I have my doubts they ever called back the product once it left their door, as I have a bad sample as well, bought well after they discovered this.  Either that, or it's still less than useless - always tacky, never dries, and heat whether it be from your hands or from sanding, just makes a gooey mess.

regards,

Jack 

Funny, but I've never had any issues with Alclad gloss black primer and it would have been the last cause I would have guessed.

Let us know how the Testors enamel works out, Joe. The more lacquer I can avoid, the happier I am.

By the way, was there any chance there was some residue on the parts from the oven cleaner that might affect the Alclad?

iSteve

Funny, but I've never had any issues with Alclad gloss black primer and it would have been the last cause I would have guessed.

Let us know how the Testors enamel works out, Joe. The more lacquer I can avoid, the happier I am.

By the way, was there any chance there was some residue on the parts from the oven cleaner that might affect the Alclad?

 

I think everyone lost confidence in using Alclad primers. So instead we resort to using enamel gloss black paint from now on.