Brushed metal paint effect?

[GBrittelleJr]

I hope this is in the proper forum, but I am in need of knowledge. I need to recreate the effect of brushed aluminum on a plastic model. Does anyone know how that would be willing to explain the process, or could point me in t right direction?

I've already searched several pages of results on google to no avail. I'd really appreciate any help.

Greg

 

[cheech9898]

I know with a few of the automotive chrome paints like Ghost Chrome and Mirachrome they say for a brush effect to sand your gloss black base coat with 400-500 grit sandpaper then spray. So my suggestion would be to run a test panel and spray down your gloss black, let dry, sand with 400-500 grit, then airbrush on alcad aluminum model paint and see how it turns out.

 

[BornKilr]

Well, if you want the easy, although not as effective as Cheech's method, is Krylon Spray paints. I've only used it once for a quickie effect, and it did OK.

Krylon/Consumer Div 51251 Brushed Metallic Aerosol Enamel

 

[Parjai]

That is what i use, and paint pens.

 

[jasonw2112]

Well when I was helping on a custom automotive paint job, we used the House of Color Aluminum finish paint. After application ( with much practice ) we took a piece of scotch brite ( that comes in the roll ) the width of the car. Then ran it accross the finish, and this gave a nice brushed aluminum effect. It actually turned out awesome! The car went to Las Vegas SEMA show and won, one of GM's top picks!

 

[GBrittelleJr]

Cheech, Jason- Is the effect strong enough to where I could paint a clear candy color over the brushed aluminum paint, and keep the brushed appearance?

 

[cheech9898]

If it's a true straight/translucent candy and just a coat or two then I would think you'd be fine. Most are very translucent to show detail like that through. Issues wish seeing underlying detail usually only start unless you have too many candy coats (same or multiple candy colors) trying to get a deep/darker color, or a regular base color (larger paint pigment particle size usually) thinned with clear coat to make it a candy/translucent paint.

My only worry would be the size/area you're trying to do. For the brushed effect to really be noticed as you want it to be scene as it would need to be a medium/big area I'd think.

 

[jasonw2112]

Cheech is pretty much on the money with this. Basically you would use a candy concentrate to apply over your ground coat ( aluminum, silver,etc... ). But if you put to much on it will get to dark. Put to little on, and you see to much silver. That's why you would want to try a test panel, to see how many coats are needed to get the effect you want. Also if your spraying a large area, you must be consistent! If your spraying a large area, and you slow down, or stop, you will have a dark or blotchy looking spot. Candys can be a pain sometimes! So you may check with your local automotive paint supply shop. They may be able to help you with what you need..if they know what the hel@ their talking about. If anything steer you to a custom painter.

 

[GBrittelleJr]

That's awesome information. Thank you everyone. It is a large area, on a 3D prop. I might just see if for a small fee an auto shop will paint it for me!

 

[SingleSeat]

I also agree with the Scotch-Brite technique. On a smaller application, you could also try a rubbing with rough/cheap paper towel in one direction back & forth on a Testors buffing metalizer color out of an airbrush. I've tried that myself with their aluminum color with good effects, but it might take a few attempts to get it right and learn how it works. Testing different techniques on junk would be a good plan.

 

[Bernardicus]

Not sure what size you're needing to cover, but could you foil it? I know this works pretty well on small-scale models:
Old Model Kits :: Plastic model info and howtos » Blog Archive » Foiling Plastic and Resin Model Kits for Realism by Ken Friend