Alclad 2 question

Try Swanny's Models.  He has a wealth of information at his site.

The Secret Life of Alclad2

Yura K wrote:

Are lacquers and enamel paints compatible (i.e. can I paint enamels over lacquers)? This lacquer stuff, it isn't highly corrosive or anything, is it? Does the plastic need any preparation (i.e. a really strong clear coat or something) ? Is this stuff durable, or fragile? (i.e. is it easy to pull off with masking tape)? Any comments welcome...

The only stupid question is the one you don't ask.

1. Yes. You can generally paint enamels over lacquers, but not the other way around. See 2. below.
2. Yes, lacquers are generally highly aggressive to plastic and the underlying paint.  Alclad make specific recommendations for priming under their paints. In addition to Swanny's site, mentioned above, visit the Alclad site for their information. Swanny's explanations and recommendations are based on actual experience, and he is a "disinterested" party—he doesn't sell the stuff. But you should know everything the manufacturer has to say about the use of their product.
3. Generally Alclad is very durable. See 2. above. 

I love AlcladII, probably one of my favorite paints ever. Many people are nervous about using it, they have heard that it is very difficult to apply. I was the same way. I had a bottle of chrome that sat on my desk for about a year before I decided to try it out. After about 2 or 3 sessions with my AB and Alclad, applied on scraps, I was confident enough to use it on a kit. It really is not quite as difficult as I first thought, and applied correctly, it has a beautiful finish. I think it is a little easier to use because you don't have to thin it before use, and you can clean your AB with only 91% alcohol.

My advice: read all you can about applying it from the AlcladII website, and any other resource you can, then just jump in and start painting.

Thanks for all the advice! Appreciate it.

The Model Master Metalizer line of paints would not happen to be lacquers as well, would they? Or are those enamel-based?

I purchased some Alclad II a year or so ago, but was afraid touse it as NMF finishes were a little intimidating to me.  I had been using MM chrome silver, as well as a couple of others until two days ago when I decided that it was time to try it.  WOW!  Wish I had sooner.  I watched Floyd Werner's video on Alclad finishes, and gave it a whirl.  It works beautifully!  Just BE SURE TO WORK IN A WELL-VENTILATED AREA!  The stuff really stinks.