Natural metal finish - my attempts with alclad

Thanks Guys nice to hear you like them.

'Groot' - The chipping was done by various means. On the F-86 and the B-26 I mainly used the 'salt technique' but replaced the salt with a card craft product called embossing powder. (I think it's used with a heated stamp to emboss designs in card) It's a coarse powder like substance bought on spec to see whether it would work. - It does! Unlike salt, though it absorbs water, it does not dissolve and reduce to a mushy paste.  

After some experimenting i found the best way to use it is to wet the area required then sprinkle the powder into the water' moving it around with a paint brush if required. Let it completely dry then gently flick off the areas not wanted. The initial spray coat has to be very light and at low pressure as the powder is only just attached and is easily knocked off but once that first layer is on it's quite resilient to further spraying. Once the paint has dried it's a matter of brushing off the granules leaving exposed metal beneath. These granules can be reused by the way. This shot might give a better impression of how it works.

The other thing I have used successfully is a food product called 'Marmite' in the UK ('Vegimite' elsewhere?) If this is applied with a sponge, again very lightly, then spayed over it's just a matter of washing it off with water as soon as the paint has dried. If used over Tamiya paints it can bleach the area very slightly which also adds to the effect. As opposed to the usual masking fluid this is also a good masking material if very small parts require masking as the removal is much less stressful than fluid

Finally I have found if any area needing chipping that hasn't been masked as above and has been over painted with Tamiya paint - if the area to be chipped is washed over with water and left for a few minutes the Tamiya paint will soften slightly allowing hand chipping with the tip of a scalpel or a tooth pick without damaging the underlying surface.

Well I hope that helps you 'Groot' and anyone else who may be interested. My current build has come somewhat to a halt of late but I'm off now for a good painting session 

Regards - Tug

I think I'll send you all my kits that need a bare metal finish and let you paint them for me....... Simply astounding work!

Those look fantastic.  I have to ask how did you "chip" the colored paint markings?  Was it a mask or did you actually chip them off?  I was never a huge fan of NMF because I always felt it looked too clean, but I may have to give one a shot to dirty up and make it more visually appealing!

Groot

Thanks Silver for your thoughts but I'm afraid I shall have to decline - that's an awful long way to go as I'm in the UK.

I'll think about your show though and be there in spirit if nothing else - I hope you do as well again and that you'll put some pics up for us

Regards - Ramon

Hi Guys - Thank you for all your kind and appreciative comments - nothing gives me a greater buzz than if someone is inspired to have a go at something because of something I've made. Although I have in the past - I don't actively compete now, much more preferring to just display and talk with those who find a model of particular interest. I think sharing what you do has to be the best bit about this hobby. If I can pass on anything just say.

My initial interest in metal finish transpired with the need to do the engine area on a Flanker which was the first aircraft I tackled after the Lanc described elsewhere. I choose Alclad because it's made close by where I live and found it so easy to use. Consequently, though I have the odd jar of other stuff here and there, I've never used anything else and it was from this that the desire to do more NMF arose. Incidentally, the Mirage was built halfway through this Flanker build - this was a long haul.

(BTW excuse the dead spider! I only noticed it as I inserted the image. All my models live under card covers but looks like he found a way  in)

When I did the Sabre I used the 'new' heat stain colours....

I find the affects you can get with these is so varied - the only minor issue is the constant need to change colours/ clean the airbrush occasionally. Alclad also produce a colour called Gold Titanium. I found that if this is just 'dusted' on in a very thin layer the effect is even more striking. This is the one area I'm really looking forward to painting on the current build.

Should you be wondering the bases are all made from 'Poly-Filla' a water based DIY wall crack filler. The surface is textured by various means and takes Acrylic very well. It's joy is it will then take layers of oil paint/ white spirit washes to create some very nice effects. The tire marks on the sabre base where done by mounting a small felt wheel on a motorised tool, rubbing the wheel in paint then bouncing it off the base (with the tool running). I like to keep them as simple as possible though - just enough to convey their environment

Hope that's of interest too - Thanks once again

Regards - Tug

NMF one of the greatest thorns in my side yet you make it look easy. congrats!

Simply stunning work.  Some of the finest NMF's I've ever seen.  

Darn, Brother!  Those look fantastic!  Superb work - one day I hope to emulate those fantastic finishes.

Thanks for sharing the pics.  

Awesome as ever Tug.  I always enjoy seeing your work.

Absolutely Tug. I'll echo what everyone else here is no doubt thinking. Great job on all of these. Your attention to the little things is what ties everything together. All of what I see here is exactly what I set out to do on my builds...only I see you've done it already...and more of them! =]

Looking forward to seeing your sabre on the NMF group page.

Very nice. You are a NMF expert, and know how to weather them properly too.

I agree, they all look great to me.  Tug, you got it down man!  That F-86 looks spot on to me, a real hard-workin' aircraft.  Your painted markings are also so well done, these are mighty fine models sir!

Gary

I remember your Marauder from an earlier post. They all look magnificent. And I'm certainly no expert but I think the weathering on all of them is fine. It makes the model more interesting in my opinion. And because of how that Mirage looks I think at some point I'm gonna try painting markings. Looks WAY better than decals.

Very impressive, TUG. To me, the sheen is just right, not the polished aluminum look, but some oxidation. Well done, sir.