Kommander Adolf Galland III./JG 26 Battle Of France

[KennyX]

Have never even paid attention to the graininess of Tamiyas silver... however, now when you "mention" with pictures and all....

I am not the right person to say which one.. But I would perhaps, looking at the comparision, go for non-Tamiya...

But that's just my 2 cents..

- Kari

Kari,

I’m leaning toward testing out that Mr. Metal Color.

Here’s the issue- I like both Tamiya’s Chrome Silver and Flat Aluminum. And I used the Flat Aluminum sprayed over Chrome Silver (which was sprayed over Black) on my Corsair for the paint chipping. I’m pleased with the effect I ended up with in every regard except one: under certain light, the “bare metal” looks black. Now, that might just be how it is. I’m really not sure. And what I actually want may very well be unavoidable, and undesirable too- a metal finish that was so flat as to be non-reflective.

I’m not sure.

I want to do my Warhawk differently than I’ve done before. I want to prime it, lay down the black to prep for the bare metal, then lay down the bare-metal, then lay down my “Chromate Primer” and chip that down to bare metal in a few places, then seal it with clear, then go about the main painting in a similar manner to the ground-breaking technique Mr. John uses, vis- black base certain areas in a pre-shading manner, paint her like that, and chip down to primer and bare metal through the main paint layer where applicable. And I’m wondering what would be best for that bare metal. And I’m definitely okay with going the non-Tamiya route.

[jkim]

For chipping purposes, most metal colors will suffice. In fact, I prefer metal finishes that aren't that shiny so that the hairspray doesn't pool on it. I've been using Tamiya AS-12 silver in a spray can. For me, it straddles that line between a grainy metallic color and the shiny metal foil-type colors like Alclad.


For shinier bare metal finishes, it's hard to beat Alclad. Lots of available shades and its pretty strong, meaning you can mask over it without messing it up. Chrome is their shiniest color and I use it on oleos and struts.

[Stikpusher]

[jkim]

Another comparison... Tamiya AS-12 on the wings and Alclad on the fuselage and tail planes.

[KennyX]

See those results there, with that AS-12? That is PRECISELY what I want in a bare metal for chipping. That is 110% dead-on. It’s metal. But it’s flat. Bare metal, to me, doesn’t shine and sparkle when it’s peeking through chipped paint on an aircraft that’s been in the field awhile. That’s right on the money. Aaaaaand I guess Tamiya doesn’t make that in XF form do they? LOL I hate rattlecans. BUT for that, I’ll gladly not be a pragmatist!

[KennyX]

The aircraft looks fantastic. But I’m preferring what I’m seeing with the AS-12 in terms of chipping of course. I’d pick that there Alclad for a bare metal finish all over the aircraft definitely.

[jkim]

Yeah, the AS-12 only comes in a can. I just spray it straight into my airbrush cup... not too messy.

[KennyX]

Yeah, the AS-12 only comes in a can. I just spray it straight into my airbrush cup... not too messy.

Groovy!

[Cherrylock]

very good different between the different metal style

[speedgraflex]

I like enamels and lacquers so I would go first to Alclad airframe aluminum then Mr. Color. Surface preparation on John’s AS-12 + Alclad Mustang wing looks phenomenal, so that is a big plus. I have sprayed AS-12, too. I have not decanted any to air brush, though.