mirror paint

[henrywalker]

Ok, i'm not certain if i really want to do this but i'm looking for silver paint to do my new grey knights with.

I want the silver to be much more toward mirror finish than regular silver. (i know i won't get a model that i can see a reflection in)

i'm looking for more of a liquid shine.

 

I'm just interested to see if it can be done

 

thanks

[Brother Nihm]

I suggest that you continue your quest here, as the topic deals with one way of achieving that effect.

[henrywalker]

ok, this is what i wanted.

 

http://www.alclad2.com/

 

the pickup truck top left.

 

or even better the chrome for plastic here

 

http://www.alclad2.com/finishes/highshine.html

 

has anyone used these products?

[winterdyne]

To be honest, if you're asking 'should I use Alclad?' you probably shouldn't. By the time you have the skills to get a decent result with it (as opposed to a result than could just as easily be achieved with standard paints), you'll know.

 

Yes, you can get a pure reflective / mirror finish with Alclad. It requires a LOT of skill though. Edit: Or the patience to go through all the steps properly.

 

Alclad are awesome, but are laquers and toxic as hell. You will want a respirator (not filter mask) if doing large jobs / more than about 5 minutes working. Small jobs, a filter and careful breathing is OK. Generally I use it for jetplane exhausts etc. Painting an army with it might be interesting, but I don't think it's ideal, really.

 

Some working tips:

 

Ensure you're practiced with your airbrush - you want to be able to put on smooth even coats without any runs and without spackling with dried paint. A spraygun (badger / citadel) probably won't do the job. Dual action, gravity feed is what you want.

 

Sand down and prep properly. Alclad will pick up every single surface imperfection. Sand, prime, sand, prime, sand. Do NOT handle with bare fingers - gloves are essential! Alclad will pick up anything on the surface - slight imperfections, sanding scratches, finger oils, and you won't be able to cover it. Be absolutely meticulous. Sprue markings will show up like sore thumbs - you need surfaces to be as near to perfect as you can get them.

 

Gloss it. Alclad Chrome requires a gloss black enamel undercoat. They mean it. You want the shine to allow the lacquer to coat smoothly - it will pick up any imperfections (as detailed above) and on a matte finish, the roughness of the surface won't let you get a nice reflective finish.

 

Seal it - a gloss finish (Future / Klear) works well enough as does a thinned gloss enamel. Don't matt it as you'll lose your reflective surface.

 

Hope this helps, but suspect this isn't the answer you were hoping for.

[mr tough guy]

Somebody at Forgeworld did something like this on a necron tombstalker, no idea how he did it though, but it can be done

 

http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/Warhammer-4000...MB-STALKER.html

[winterdyne]

That looks to me very much like Alclad aluminium.