Alclad Adventures

Applying Alclad

All models featured here are 1:72 scale. Mostly built straight from the box although some have extra details here and there. I wont highlight these as this articles about using Alclad2 and I don’t want to detract from that.
The first NMF I attempted was an OOB build of Tamiyas P-47D Bubbletop. The base coat for this was Alclad2 Polished Aluminium.
The Alclad website recommends a gloss black primer when using either Polished Aluminum or Chrome lacquers. Although I had purchased a can of Alclads own black primer to use during this build I had, while researching Alclad builds, come across references to issues with this primer not drying properly, so I elected to prime with Tamiya Gloss Black Acrylic.
I have no personal experience to either confirm or deny the reported issues with Alclad primer, as Taimya Gloss Black has become my preferred undercoat for Alclad, and this is not a reflection on the Alclad product.
After leaving to dry overnight or longer, its time to shoot some of the Alclad lacquer. Or is it?
First things first.
Always spray Alclad in a well ventilated area.
Always wear a mask.
Always follow the manufacturers instructions.
Alclad comes ready to spray, so there's no need to thin it. Just empty a small amount into your paint reservoir and its good to go. I usually spray Alclad at about 5 psi or lower.
Gradually mist the lacquer onto the model rather than going for immediate coverage. Spray from about 6 inches away and slowly build up the coverage. It takes a lot less paint to achieve an even coverage than you’d expect.
Don’t overdo it. Remember it’s very easy to mist some more lacquer onto the model. To remove it is another story altogether.
In summary.
Gradually mist the Alclad onto the model. Less really is more with this stuff. One of its quirks is that once you’ve made a pass over the models surface with Alclad2 it seems to take a few seconds before it appears. I'm sure there's a perfectly understandable scientific reason behind this phenomenon but l am not going to attempt to understand it. Maybe there's a leak in my mask!