Hard Hat Hauler painting, and an Airbrush "?"

[gwangiboy]

Got out the airbrush and Alclad paints for some painting on the Hard Hat Hauler, and the results were pretty spotty.

BIG question here -- does it matter on the type of gloss black used on the part before the Alclad? For several of the parts, I used Tamiya Acrylic Gloss Black, and here were the results after using Alclad Chrome:



Obviously I was going for the chrome look, not a steel gray!

Although I'll be redoing the blower hood, I'm undecided yet on the rear axle assembly, as I rather like the look of it:



However, the axle was sprayed with a couple of light coats of Polished Aluminum after I saw that the chrome paint wasn't going to come out all shiny. The lights on my desk make it look shinier than it is, but I think it looks good.

Now, for the floor, I used Alclad Polished Aluminum, with the floor previously painted with rattlecan Tamiya Gloss Black, and the result was EXACTLY what I was hoping for (and maybe even better):



So I don't know ... maybe it does matter on the type of paint used for an undercoat with Alclad? The acrylic too soft, and it requires a harder finish like enamel?

[Paul B. Canney]

Unless something has changed in Alcladville, the black should be gloss enamel for a chrome finish

[gwangiboy]

Thanks Paul! I had a feeling that was the case after I saw what happened ... and now, of course, after going through my paint stash looking for another color I find a bottle of Testors GB enamel that I missed before (and a new bottle at that). Sheesh!

[Zombie61]

Consider this a learning experience--if you need to create a steel gray effect on a future kit, now you know how!

[gwangiboy]

zombie61 said:

Consider this a learning experience--if you need to create a steel gray effect on a future kit, now you know how!

To be honest, that thought had run through my mind!

1st thought: crap! what the #^%$#^??!

2nd thought: hey, this is a cool-looking steel gray!

Dekal Dan suggested to me to try Humbrol Gloss Black enamel ... I picked up a couple of them today and I'll see how that works out. I've had very good look before with Tamiya rattlecan Gloss Black ... Testors enamel has usually been very good, with the Model Master GB producing better results than the 'regular' GB paint, but it seems to take forever to dry. A cousin of mine who is into war game miniatures told me he's heard Humbrol is excellent paint as well.

And I finally got off my butt and upgraded my airbrush setup ... I've been using the compressed air cans for a while now, mostly because that was handy for the moment, but after last weekend, I thought "no more of this crap" -- I lost air pressure in one of the cans when it was being used, ruining the painting on the Hard Hat's frame and trunk (the lunch box). Went to the hardware store last night, got the hose, regulator, quick release connectors, etc, for my air tank that I bought this past summer. No more expensive, unreliable, and not-very-accurate controllable cans!!

[ShowRodFreak Don V.]

That looks Kool...aluminum not bad even thou you were shotin for chrome. Nice job

oneyed

[gwangiboy]

showrodfreak said:

That looks Kool...aluminum not bad even thou you were shotin for chrome. Nice job

oneyed

I originally painted the floor Chrome, but didn't quite like the look of it ... plus the first time out I put the chrome on too thick in spots so the paint job was very uneven.

I stripped the paint off, resprayed it with Tamiya Gloss Black, then used Polish Aluminum -- and that turned out beautifully.

I've also done Polished Aluminum too thin, but then it looks like a nice chrome as well.

I love these Alclad paints, and if anything else, they've really made me attempt to improve my airbrushing (the expense will help too! ).

From what I've seen so far, I like the Humbrol gloss black.

[barten]

WOw that looks perfect! ! ! ! Great job! ! ! you have to be happy with the way it is working out! ! ! !

Great JOB

GB
BArten