Metalizers on PE parts

I wouldn't want to bet on it sticking by itself. Many times it barely stays properly on styrene. Perhaps your best bet would be to prime the parts first with some primer that does adhere to metal. Krylon or Tamiya come to mind. The metalizer should stick to the primer a lot better than the PE parts.

Yep, I've had nothing but failure after failure trying this every possible way I could think of. Even after recently learning that, if you tip the bottle upside down for a few minutes, let the pigment collect in the lid, you can brush it on small areas quite nicely. But not PE parts, and I've even roughed them up some. Still no dice...or rather, no stick, not even with sealer, which seems to be more worthless and color-altering every time I use it. Talk about an evil necessity.
Tom

Prime all you parts, regardless of the material and a LOT of your painting hassles and worries will disappear.
Same way if you can strip all chromed parts and after sanding/priming redo them.

Said that primer is not magic cure-all and the rules for washing and handling parts still apply.

Just my thoughts which don't count for much.

Priming first would be good, methinks. And from what I have heard here, you're lucky if you get the stuff to stick to regular styrene.

No, MM, your thoughts here count for pretty much the whole ball of wax. I am as guilty as anybody at being too impatient to prime, and just as on the real thing, proper preparation of the parts, from washing to sanding to priming means the difference between 1) excellent and 2) ho hum, or even 3) disaster, and I've experienced a little of the first, and a lot of the second, and more than my share of the third, so thanks, MM for your input.
Tom