I had been trying to come up with a different or easier method for applying a smooth gloss black base for Alclad II chrome and polished aluminum, particularly for larger surfaces (fuselages, for example). Rather than using Alclad’s gloss black base, I turned to Tamiya’s gloss black lacquer spray can (TS-14). I laid down a very thin layer of gray primer, then two light coats of the black (with a 4000-grit wet-sanding in between), followed by the finishing coats.

However, after applying the Alclad II chrome, which did not turn out well, I wondered if Blue Magic Metal Polish could be used to clean it up. Of course, I figured it would also remove the chrome. It did, but it also perfectly polished the black to a mirror-like finish without removing the paint on corners and other sharp edges. More interestingly, I noticed that some of the chrome remained embedded in the panel lines, which actually created desirable highlights for panel lines on a black fuselage. The result was an even smoother gloss black with no obliterated panel lines and no polished-out corners with plastic showing through.

Now, if I want, I can try the Alclad II chrome again — or create an interesting finish on something with a black fuselage. Using Blue Magic Metal Polish eliminated multiple polishing steps, making the process much quicker and easier.

Tip submitted by:
Ed PascuzziGreenlawn, New York