p38jl:
i've tried both..the Alclad and the SNJ,, although my SNJ was before it became Hawkeyes ... both have their good points.. the Alclad was easier to work with and WAY easier to fix boo-boos.. the SNJ is more forgiving for pre sanding and such.. but is messier with the rubbing powders and handling..
BOTH... loook great the more time you spend prepping...
That's exactly it. There aren't too many short cuts when it comes to getting a really good looking natural-metal finish. The more time you spend on surface preparation, the better the final model will look. I like the way Metalizers airbrush, but you better have a perfect surface because any little blemish — glue smear, sanding scratches, mismatched panel lines — is going to stand out like a sore thumb. This is pretty much true for any metallic paint.
Cheers, Aaron