Natural metal finish

I'm in the same boat as you are...I'm sort of half way on my quest to complete a natural metal finish on my Tamiya Mustang. I'm following the guide by Swanny as written up here: http://www.swannysmodels.com/Alclad.html

So far, the guide has been really helpful. However, I did run into one problem: I got a sort of gritty, matte finish when I sprayed on the Krylon primer with my airbrush. Apparently this is due from the paint drying before it hits the model, resulting in little pigment grains that contribute to a sort of coarse feel. I used a relatively high pressure (20-25 psi, instead of 15) and painted far away from the model, which probably did me in. However, by wet sanding with 600 grit sandpaper I think I've mostly fixed it, and am going to try for another coat to get the necessary gloss finish. Good luck!

As for seam lines, just make molten plastic by mixing sprue with glue, and dab it on offending seam lines with a Q-Tip. Then sand it down, and wash with a toothbrush, and rescribe any panel lines with a sewing needle. By the time you put the primer on, the seam line will be nearly invisible.

This type of finish is usually a challenge for most of us, but, when done right, is very rewarding. Surface prep is the key. I like Novus #2 for polishing out plastic prior to painting. I also like Alclad regular aluminum shades and ave had good luck using well cured Future as a primer for these shades. If I am in doubt about a particular seam I will hand brush a light coat of silver paint over it which will make defects stand right out. You can then sand this out and, if necessary, repeat until you are happy with the results. I might suggest trying techniques on a smaller aircraft such as a 1/72nd scale Mustang or Thunderbolt since you are just getting started with natural metal. Once your like your work on these smaller aircraft move on to your B58. Just a thought.

Mike McShea

Thanks for the help guys. i will look for a 1/72 plane to try it on