Re-Chroming

DrCox Fri Mar 22, 2019 7:03 pm

Decided to clean up the QZ Trainer for display and noticed the “chrome” wearing away on the landing wheels.

Re-Chroming RhCjAuL

Researching for the best chrome brush paint led to poor results. Testors and Model Masters chrome paint did not have the best rating with many users stating that the final dried product looked more like silver to gray and not chrome.

Watched some You Tube videos with spray-able chrome; however the durability was poor at best unless sprayed with a clear top coat. The final clear top coat then left a final dull silver or gray appearance which led back to square one.

Was about to settle for a silver Testors paint, when it occurred to me: “How about Bare Metal Foil?”
Well, I stripped off the old chrome on the wheels:

Re-Chroming UaSI32t

Then proceeded to apply the Bare Metal Foil utilizing a Jeweler’s Loop.

Re-Chroming IkyI7Ze

Bare Metal Foil can then be buffed for a very good appearance of chrome and becomes quite durable with handling. Unfortunately, my camera skills do not do it justice. Trust me though. It is potentially the best chrome appearance at the most cost efficient price for chrome repair on this project.

Re-Chroming QrUJzlj

**Cribbs74** Fri Mar 22, 2019 10:19 pm

Wheels look really good. Like that QZ!

getback Sat Mar 23, 2019 6:47 am

Nice touch with the wheels , you7 make it sound easy Laughing

Ready for display. Small Cox Logo

rsv1cox Sat Mar 23, 2019 7:04 am

Good one Doc.

I never heard of "Bare metal foil" so I googled it and looked it up on ebay. Lot's of vendors selling it, gold also.

Nice job. Did you remove the wheels from the axles to apply? Just cleaning up those plastic wheels made a big difference too.

Bob

fredvon4 Sat Mar 23, 2019 10:42 am

A 20 foot roll of 3 inch wide metalized HVAC ducting tape is $3+/- and has a sticky backing (tape duh) if smooth and wrinkle free can be polished to a high chrome shine with mothers or similar

TopFlite trim sheets are 4" x 36" come in many colors including Chrome...sticky backed also and can be SET with TopFlite MonoKote Trim Solvent

I have seen a few scale airplanes made to look all metal and polished with tedious covering using Reynolds aluminum foil

BTW good look Doc

DrCox Sat Mar 23, 2019 1:22 pm

rsv1cox wrote:Good one Doc.

Did you remove the wheels from the axles to apply? Bob

Bob, wheels stayed attached. Very easy to apply with wheels stilled attached to the landing gear.

fredvon4 wrote:A 20 foot roll of 3 inch wide metalized HVAC ducting tape is $3+/- and has a sticky backing (tape duh) if smooth and wrinkle free can be polished to a high chrome shine with mothers or similar

TopFlite trim sheets are 4" x 36" come in many colors including Chrome...sticky backed also and can be SET with TopFlite MonoKote Trim Solvent

I have seen a few scale airplanes made to look all metal and polished with tedious covering using Reynolds aluminum foil.

Some GREAT ideas Fred. Thanks.

The Bare Metal Foil is extremely forgiving when applied to compound curves such as the Cox Buick and Corvette window trim. Most mild wrinkles can be burnished out and then buffed to a high shine but never as reflective as chrome. It stretched and applied very well to the outside of the Cox wheel rim as can be seen in the images.

Marleysky Sat Mar 23, 2019 1:37 pm

Yes, I have seen posts on build threads where the builder has used Aluminum foil for covering the wings and fuse. Very tedious work, but looks so realistic! I had two or three rolls of HVAC duct tape that was designed for sealing fiberglass duct. One has a heat activated adhesive that was Ironed on to the duct sections. One roll was just plain silver, and I used little strips of it to re-do the end/beginning of the tape on my 8 track tapes. Always on the lookout for craft items that can be used in “Aircrafting”. I just found some Duck brand tape called Mirror that looks like a good candidate for chrome applied to balsa or wheels.

Mark Diedrichs Sun Mar 24, 2019 6:09 pm

This stuff is great for chroming anything. Comes in 1mm, 2mm and 4mm tip pen. Great for repair or chrome detailing. I found it at my local hobby lobby.

crankbndr Mon Mar 25, 2019 10:13 am

Mark Diedrichs wrote:This stuff is great for chroming anything. Comes in 1mm, 2mm and 4mm tip pen. Great for repair or chrome detailing. I found it at my local hobby lobby.

This chrome is very interesting, have you used it yet. Some research shows it can be airbrushed also. Some questions about durability and clear topcoat.
I am going to try it on parts like these, plastic parts from Cox cars.

Mark Diedrichs Mon Mar 25, 2019 4:04 pm

Yes I use it all the time. It's the next best thing to chrome plating. I think you will be very impressed with this product. As far as durability, that's subjective. In other words I don't know. Mark

jarboy Tue Mar 26, 2019 9:45 pm

This guy does a nice job.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLQWmmmxS4E

fredvon4 Wed Mar 27, 2019 9:35 am

Thanks Jarboy......I enjoyed that video

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