Chroming/Metal Plating Resin

[Hirohawa]

Thinking about metal plating a resin Rick Ross Blade Runner blaster kit- I have heard this can be done but was wondering if anyone here has any experience doing this. Was thinking of a chrome or ideally a satin metal finish.

Any pics would be great as well as ball parks of how much something like this would cost.

Thanks

 

[treeboar]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Hirohawa @ Feb 22 2007, 11:06 AM) [snapback]1424155[/snapback]</div>

Thinking about metal plating a resin Rick Ross Blade Runner blaster kit- I have heard this can be done but was wondering if anyone here has any experience doing this. Was thinking of a chrome or ideally a satin metal finish.

Any pics would be great as well as ball parks of how much something like this would cost.

Thanks
[/b]

Use ALSA MIRRACHROME its awesome.

 

[Hirohawa]

I have seen the demo looks like great stuff.

But was also hoping for the added weight/feel of plating

 

[Hirohawa]

bump

 

[the DOCTOR]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Hirohawa @ Feb 24 2007, 08:39 AM) [snapback]1425508[/snapback]</div>

bump
[/b]

Here's the chrome on a resin 'Thunderbirds' FAB 1:

For chroming, the parts were primed with acrylic auto primer, and smoothed down with 6000 grade wet or dry paper.

I used a company called VMC here in the uk.

 

[Hirohawa]

About how much that run you? It looks like you didn't lose any detailing either.

 

[the DOCTOR]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Hirohawa @ Feb 24 2007, 04:35 PM) [snapback]1425660[/snapback]</div>

About how much that run you? It looks like you didn't lose any detailing either.
[/b]

No detail lost here. But with other companies I've seen before the amount of lacquer put on before the chroming has been excessive, so it's best to see samples before you get it done.

The cost of this, for six hubcaps, two bumbers, the grill and mascot was £50, around $100, but the price has probably gone up since then.

 

[Spoons]

Having problems with that VMC site at the mo.
Any ideas if that stuff works okay on vinyl kits?

 

[the DOCTOR]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Spoons @ Feb 25 2007, 12:44 PM) [snapback]1426218[/snapback]</div>

Having problems with that VMC site at the mo.
Any ideas if that stuff works okay on vinyl kits?
[/b]

Their site has been 'under constructin' since the Earth cooled, so no surprise that it's not behaving.

They've done stuff for a lot of movies, 'Thunderbirds', ' The League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen', the Star Wars trilogy, and loads of commercial stuff; as to vinyl- good question; I've seen chromed terminator skulls before now that started off as vinyl kits, but I've no idea if they need special treatment- might be worth dropping them an email.

 

[SurferGeek]

Any of the chroming services or even the do-it-yourself systems such as ALSA will give you good results only if your pieces to be chromed are super smooth with glass like finishes.

That said, here are a few services that do small runs to check out. I've used the first one and they aren't too pricey and give good results.

http://mmmetalizing.com/services.html

http://www.cvvacuumplaters.com/

http://www.chrometechusa.com/

 

[Hirohawa]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(SurferGeek @ Feb 25 2007, 06:50 AM) [snapback]1426257[/snapback]</div>

Any of the chroming services or even the do-it-yourself systems such as ALSA will give you good results only if your pieces to be chromed are super smooth with glass like finishes.

That said, here are a few services that do small runs to check out. I've used the first one and they aren't too pricey and give good results.

http://mmmetalizing.com/services.html

http://www.cvvacuumplaters.com/

http://www.chrometechusa.com/
[/b]

On the pieces you had done does it actually leave a metal coat on top of the plastic or is it more like paint?

Thanks for all the links.

 

[Laser Brain]

Here are some pics of wheels that were chromed by VMC last week.

They are polyester resin, 2-pack primed. The spokes came out perfect, but the rims do have a very slight texture to them.

[image]http://www.wackychimp.com/uploads/wheels.jpg[/image]

[image]http://www.wackychimp.com/uploads/final-wheel.jpg[/image]

Neil

 

[SurferGeek]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Hirohawa @ Feb 25 2007, 03:29 PM) [snapback]1426411[/snapback]</div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(SurferGeek @ Feb 25 2007, 06:50 AM) [snapback]1426257[/snapback]

Any of the chroming services or even the do-it-yourself systems such as ALSA will give you good results only if your pieces to be chromed are super smooth with glass like finishes.

That said, here are a few services that do small runs to check out. I've used the first one and they aren't too pricey and give good results.

http://mmmetalizing.com/services.html

http://www.cvvacuumplaters.com/

http://www.chrometechusa.com/
[/b]

On the pieces you had done does it actually leave a metal coat on top of the plastic or is it more like paint?

Thanks for all the links.
[/b][/quote]


Nope... it's actual metal on the plastic. Albeit a very thin coating but it was metal. Gave the pieces a nice, cold to the touch feel. Just remember, prep the parts as best you can before plating as ANY surface defects are greatly magnified. The shiny surface makes irregularities stand out like a sore thumb.