Tutorial and Review Blog

Top 3 Types of Chrome Paint

Do you want to restore your model that originally had a realistic shiny chrome effect? Here we will show you which chrome paints for airbrush are best to use and how to apply them!

Summary

What is Chrome Paint?

Chrome paint is a product designed to provide a mirror-like finish to various surfaces; it mimics perfectly the reflective and shining look of chromium. Designed to be used with an airbrush, always spray the paint on glossy surfaces, preferably black or very dark. A matte base will not allow mirror-like reflections, and light colors will reduce the desired effect. The mirror effect could be reduced or even lost if inks or varnishes are added on top. There are different types of chrome paint—each one providing a unique effect, depending on how it is applied.

3 Types of Chrome Paint

In this article, we will be testing and reviewing three (3) types of chrome paints that are designed for airbrush application and works best over a high gloss black base. 

Featured Chrome Paints

• Green Stuff World Chrome Paint - Airbrush 
• SMS Hyperchrome Cold Tone
• Alclad

The Preparation:

• The base preparation governs the final effect of the chrome, so it is very important to have the base as mirror-finish as possible before the chrome paint is applied. 
• Set your airbrush compressor to 10 PSI for best effect.

Green Stuff World Chrome Paint - Airbrush

Step One: Make sure to mix the paint well before using it. To check, flip the bottle upside down and look if there is still pigment sitting at the base. Shake until it has been mixed through all the paint. A bottle of Green Stuff World Chrome Paint - Airbrush has a couple of plastic balls inside of it to help mix the paint inside better. 

Step Two: Pour some paint into the colour cup and seal it back up. After testing it out on some paper, grab your model and spray your first thin coat. Let it dry, spray a couple more coats, and see the results.

The Review

On the first coat, the Green Stuff World Chrome Paint - Airbrush has a gunmetal look. As you move on to the second coat, you will notice that it will start to get the glossy effect. The more you spray chrome paint into your model, it will achieve a silver tone but will start to look fuzzier than it did with a really high gloss black base. 

It will take a lot of practice in airbrushing chrome paint to achieve the best result by controlling the amount of paint you will spray per coat. 

SMS Hyperchrome Cold Tone

Step One: Shake the paint thoroughly before using, as you did with the first paint. Check the base of the bottle for any pigment stuck at the bottom and spin it around when it is all clear.

Step Two: Pour some paint into the colour cup and seal it back up. Chrome paint is incredibly thin, so make sure to be extra careful in pouring to avoid spillage. After testing it out on some paper, grab your model and spray your first thin coat. Let it dry, spray a couple more coats, and see the results.

The Review

On the first coat, the SMS Hyperchrome Cold Tone is still very black. While the second coat definitely looks much more silver at first with the black base coming through it, as the paint dries you will start seeing a reflection. Finishing with the third coat, which is very similar to the Green Stuff World Chrome Paint - Airbrush.

Alclad

 

Step One: To clean your airbrush, drop a bit of lacquer thinner into the colour cup and spray it all out. Since Alclad is a lacquer based paint it leaves a strong odour hence why good ventilation in your workspace is important.

Step Three: Pour a little bit of Alclad into the colour cup and seal it back up. Keep in mind that the chrome paint flows really easily, but they do not pour very well. Get your model and spray your first thin coat. Let it dry, spray a few more coats, and see the results.

The Review

On the first coat, Alclad’s finish is impressively fine, with the silver coming through and the reflection still amazingly clear, but the black base has not really doled off much at all. While the second to third coat has the appearance of the first coat, the other two are still quite dark. In our test, Alclad needed additional coats to match the brightness and get a more silvery look, but overall it gave a smooth finish and sharper reflection—it applies much finer with less coverage. In close inspection, the Alclad achieves the best reflection quality. Although Green Stuff World Chrome Paint - Airbrush and SMS Hyperchrome Cold Tone are very close in finish

Important Points

• Use a black super gloss.

• Apply three to five very thin coats.

• Experiment and make sure you are comfortable with how it applies to your model.

• After your paint has completely dried, if the surface does not completely mirror, polish and highlight the mirror effect with something soft. 

Watch and learn! 

See it in motion! Follow BJ’s examples to understand the three (3) types of chrome paint better!

 

We hope this guide enlightened you about the various benefits of chrome paint. If you want to learn more customisation tips, feel free to browse through our blog posts.

Have any tips up your sleeve? Feel free to share it with us! 

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