Achieving that Stainless Steel 'Plated' finish on our models?

I’ve been asked to do this very task at least a million times Sam, ……I never would try it on a model, ….even the Tamiya product won’t match that level of plate. IMHO, there isn’t a rattle can product that’s going to match that plated look, …..why??….because it is really plated,…..first, the model is sprayed with a super thin copper infused coating, then it’s actually plated, like chrome on a bumper….the process is similar, but not 100% like tank plating, ……might try a google search for DIY home plating plastic…..but anything you might want to try, do it on scrap stuff first, …..like I said, I’ve never seen a rattle can product that even comes within a galaxy or two,…..

Pat

I guess you get a car you don’t mind testing paint on and try various chrome paints?

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Ru...nt-7718830/100151050

Thanks fellas. Was thinking there might be something like a paste that could be rubbed in and buffed to achieve a similar look.  I just received several boxes of old Flyer parts, locos, and MARX stuff that I might try this chrome paint on...

I believe the process for plating plastic toys, our models, and things like plastic flashlight reflectors, is called vacuum metalizing. The process involves a specialized coating, then the components ( in our case a model shell ) is exposed to a cloud of metallic dust under vacuum, and the coating adheres to the components…..

Pat

Alcad paint seems to be the go to paint for metal like finishes. I've seen several HO passenger cars in Alcad stainless and they look pretty realistic. It appears to be a complicated system with a coat of gray or black primer required, then the Alcad stainless paint, and then a coat of clear sealer. Apparently by varying the "grayness" of the primer you can vary the color of the final finish. There are a lot of YouTube videos on Alcad if you want more information.

Ken

Thanks again guys,  this is the first I've heard of the likely processes involved.  There certainly are a lot of different toys and hardware items out there (forgot about the flashlight reflectors - certainly are 100's of thousands of those!) that utilize this.

I had posted this question last year with no responses - Thanks again!

Molotow Chrome gives chrome finish though I have never tried it on large areas, only headlight reflectors. It can be sprayed though using the material in their refill bottles.

https://www.molotow.com/en/app...ations/liquid-chrome

As for chrome plating on plastic it was developed by Kodak in the 1950s, used on their Brownie Cameras.

Pete