Hey All,
For those of you which had seen my previous post about the paint damaged Terminator 60 inch Flying Hunter Killer I purchased and received, well I've finally taken the next step in what needs to be done in rectifying the look of this very expensive grey elephant model.
I asked for feedback on what members here would do, and with most saying that they'd repair/repaint the model, I agreed.
Unfortunately Electro Chroming wasn't an option as no one within my state had the equipment wide enough to accommodate the model, so the next best option was to take it down to a car automotive resprayer. Well unfortunately the cost was going to be around $2000 dollars so that option became financially unviable, but spraying the model myself seemed the cheapest option since most of the quoted $2000 was labour.
The paint I've decided to use is "Virtual Chrome" made by an Australian company called DNA.
Their Virtual Chrome is used on several sponsored cars and looks effective (well as best as you can get without Electro Plating Chrome).
I did contact the company with regards to possibly getting a sponsor agreement between ourselves so they could use the model & pictures for promotional advertising but they declined, so I absorbed the $500 dollar cost for the Virtual Chrome which certainly appears to give a good Chrome look on a smooth flat surface (lets hope I didn't go wrong here since not all of the Hunter Killer is nice and flat)!
If you want to visit the companies website and see pictures on what Virtual Chrome has been used on then go to this link:
DNA® – Custom Paints & Finishes
I've posted a few pictures of how extensive the paint damage was on the model.
Thanks to all the forum members which helped give me ideas on how best to sort my huge dilemma out, especially from a financial perspective.
My battle so far, is that it has taken me 2 weeks to get to this point which is stripping the old damaged paint from the rear wing of the Hunter Killer.
I figured this would be the best place to start since the wing is the smallest piece on the model (1 mtr long) and I really wanted something to practice on.
Lets just say that I hold no airbrushing, spray painting or modelling experience but im ready to learn to get the best result I can, which is why the wing will be my test before painting the full body.
Stripping the damaged dull silver paint off the Hunter Killer is going to take a while, because the model is enormous, it's going to take at least 4 to 8 weeks.
I've been using 'oven off' but im just not getting the results other people get, leaving it either 30 minutes or 3 hours, still has the same results.
Very time consuming with plenty of rubbing/wet sand paper needed to get the original damaged paint off.
If anyone has any other idea's im open to suggestions especially since it will save me hours if not days!
Last week I finished the rear wing which is now smooth and ready, I'll be experimenting with a Spray Gun so I can learn techniques, results of different air pressure and how to achieve the best possible finish before I attack the Hunter Killers rear wing.
For those who want to see a true HCG Studio Scale 60" Chrome Flying Hunter Killer stayed tuned, I haven't herd/seen anyone else attempting a project like this from the x25 Hunter Killers which were produced for HCG.
Cheers,
For those of you which had seen my previous post about the paint damaged Terminator 60 inch Flying Hunter Killer I purchased and received, well I've finally taken the next step in what needs to be done in rectifying the look of this very expensive grey elephant model.
I asked for feedback on what members here would do, and with most saying that they'd repair/repaint the model, I agreed.
Unfortunately Electro Chroming wasn't an option as no one within my state had the equipment wide enough to accommodate the model, so the next best option was to take it down to a car automotive resprayer. Well unfortunately the cost was going to be around $2000 dollars so that option became financially unviable, but spraying the model myself seemed the cheapest option since most of the quoted $2000 was labour.
The paint I've decided to use is "Virtual Chrome" made by an Australian company called DNA.
Their Virtual Chrome is used on several sponsored cars and looks effective (well as best as you can get without Electro Plating Chrome).
I did contact the company with regards to possibly getting a sponsor agreement between ourselves so they could use the model & pictures for promotional advertising but they declined, so I absorbed the $500 dollar cost for the Virtual Chrome which certainly appears to give a good Chrome look on a smooth flat surface (lets hope I didn't go wrong here since not all of the Hunter Killer is nice and flat)!
If you want to visit the companies website and see pictures on what Virtual Chrome has been used on then go to this link:
DNA® – Custom Paints & Finishes
I've posted a few pictures of how extensive the paint damage was on the model.
Thanks to all the forum members which helped give me ideas on how best to sort my huge dilemma out, especially from a financial perspective.
My battle so far, is that it has taken me 2 weeks to get to this point which is stripping the old damaged paint from the rear wing of the Hunter Killer.
I figured this would be the best place to start since the wing is the smallest piece on the model (1 mtr long) and I really wanted something to practice on.
Lets just say that I hold no airbrushing, spray painting or modelling experience but im ready to learn to get the best result I can, which is why the wing will be my test before painting the full body.
Stripping the damaged dull silver paint off the Hunter Killer is going to take a while, because the model is enormous, it's going to take at least 4 to 8 weeks.
I've been using 'oven off' but im just not getting the results other people get, leaving it either 30 minutes or 3 hours, still has the same results.
Very time consuming with plenty of rubbing/wet sand paper needed to get the original damaged paint off.
If anyone has any other idea's im open to suggestions especially since it will save me hours if not days!
Last week I finished the rear wing which is now smooth and ready, I'll be experimenting with a Spray Gun so I can learn techniques, results of different air pressure and how to achieve the best possible finish before I attack the Hunter Killers rear wing.
For those who want to see a true HCG Studio Scale 60" Chrome Flying Hunter Killer stayed tuned, I haven't herd/seen anyone else attempting a project like this from the x25 Hunter Killers which were produced for HCG.
Cheers,
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