Best aluminium paint?

[Doggy]

So normally I use revell 99 but it's running low. I also have some tamiya chrome silver.

 

Is there a better paint worth trying for aluminium airframes?

 

Thanks

[Space Ranger]

Commit these words to memory: AK Interactive Xtreme Metal.

[bmwh548]

Same for me. I use other people's metallics too, but AK's stuff is really, really good.

[Rabbit Leader]

8 hours ago, Space Ranger said:

Commit these words to memory: AK Interactive Xtreme Metal.

+1 for AK’s metals. It’s made NMF finishes more than possible for this modeller. 
Cheers.. Dave 

[ckw]

Agree with AK ... but I and others have had issues when it comes to masking. It's not quite as straight forward as some videos suggest. The secret seems to be light, almost dry, coats and very low tack masks (to be safe I use Parafilm). Alternatively, a coat of AKs intermediate Gauzy agent provides robust protection - though it is too shiny for my taste.

 

However, you do need an airbrush to apply this. For brush application, I like Humbrol MetalCote

 

Cheers,

 

Colin

[Giorgio N]

You don't mention if you use an airbrush or not, in any case I'd say that there are plenty of better paints when it comes to reproducing natural metal finishes.

AK has already been mentioned, and same for Humbrol Metalcotes. I may add the Vallejo Metal Color range, that can also be applied by brush. The metallics from the Vallejo Model Air range also look nice, although they can't compete with the more specific metallic paints. And of course there's the Alclad range, airbrush only. Maybe the first "modern" metallic paints but still popular.

 

The above for proper natural metal finishes, if you're interested in reproducing aluminum painted subjects, then many of the above will be too shiny. In this case my favourite used to be the old Citadel Mithril Silver, that is however not produced anymore. Today I use Vallejo Model Air Aluminum, that however then needs a semigloss coat to tone down the shine a little. Another popular option is Metalcote Aluminum not polished

[Beazer]

Sometimes the best aluminum paint isn’t paint at all.

Consider delving into Bare Metal Foil.  I’ve done entire models with it and it works like a charm.

[RODH2]

Tamiya AS-12, straight from the rattle-can. Go and look at an Aluminium aeroplane, and you'll see!!  🙂 🤔

[Duncan B]

AK Interactive Xtreme Metals every time unless you don't like enamel based paints in which case I can also recommend Vallejo Metal Colors. I stock and use both depending on my mood but do usually go for the AK first.

 

Duncan B

[Doggy]

Thanks everyone.

 

I use acrylic with my airbrush so maybe the Vallejo would be a better option if the ak is enamel.

[HoolioPaulio]

I only shoot Vallejo, so I'm not the most reliable source, but I can agree that Vallejo Alu is very nice, brushes as well as it airbrushes.

[Duncan B]

10 hours ago, Doggy said:

Thanks everyone.

 

I use acrylic with my airbrush so maybe the Vallejo would be a better option if the ak is enamel.

In that case I would recommend the Vallejo 'Metal Colors', they do a nice range of colours which can be mixed to give you the exact shade you're after.

 

Duncan B 

[Doggy]

2 hours ago, Duncan B said:

In that case I would recommend the Vallejo 'Metal Colors', they do a nice range of colours which can be mixed to give you the exact shade you're after.

 

Duncan B 

Have you got an eBay store?

[Duncan B]

3 hours ago, Doggy said:

Have you got an eBay store?

Yes, they should be on my eBay store however I definitely have them on my own website www.blackmikemodels.co.uk (I don't put everything on eBay).

 

Duncan B

[Doggy]

3 hours ago, Duncan B said:

Yes, they should be on my eBay store however I definitely have them on my own website www.blackmikemodels.co.uk (I don't put everything on eBay).

 

Duncan B

I think I've used your store before.

[Nocoolname]

Another vote for AK's XM. My use of these changed my entire approach to airbrushing. I'd tried with various acrylics - Tamiya, then Revell, then Vallejo, Mig, etc., with specialised thinners, flow improver, everything but struggled. AK XM shot straight from the bottle with perfect coverage. Their Black Base is so good I tend to use it just for black rather than as a primer for XM. I've since bought the entire XM range along with switching other colours to pre-thinned enamel (Mil-Spec). They stink a bit but they work and they still stink less than my Alclad liquors. 

[Rob K.]

On 31/05/2020 at 18:20, Nocoolname said:

Another vote for AK's XM. My use of these changed my entire approach to airbrushing. I'd tried with various acrylics - Tamiya, then Revell, then Vallejo, Mig, etc., with specialised thinners, flow improver, everything but struggled. AK XM shot straight from the bottle with perfect coverage. Their Black Base is so good I tend to use it just for black rather than as a primer for XM. I've since bought the entire XM range along with switching other colours to pre-thinned enamel (Mil-Spec). They stink a bit but they work and they still stink less than my Alclad liquors. 

Fully agree with what your saying. I used to avoid NMF's, but since AK XM I find it easier than airbrushing camouflage schemes.

 

It attaches very well to a mr Surfacer or a Tamiya grey rattle can primer.

I also use AK's black primer (micro-filler) a lot, not just for NMF's.

 

For polished aluminium I use their black primer, followed by mr Color GX Ueno black gloss (fast drying and hard), followed by AK Pol Alu,

I often seal it with Mr color GX2 gloss clear, because it can ever so slightly wear from the black gloss when handling too often near leading edges etc. where you tend to pick up the model.

(If this happens I correct it at the end of the build by gently applying a little metalized chrome powder by UvdR and polish the metal back)

 

Masking is not a problem on AK XM, not even with their polished Alu coat.

 

 

Paint brush: I like the Revell aqua colours, metal and regular matt colours.

Yes they can be really thick in their little container, but add a little water on your brush, mix and most colours brush really nice without brush  marks.

I use their aluminium, silver, iron, black, grey, olive and brown colours a lot. Brass is not great.

 

The only thing I found was that with AK XM I had to switch to a different filler. I switched to a mix of thin CA-glue with ammo gun metal powder for contrast and easier sanding compared to regular CA.

My previous go to Tamiya filler is just a little too porous and shows up when applying the AK XM's

 

AK is real easy to airbrush and even when I have pooled it by mistake it settled itself back without leaving any marks. My last 4 builds were all NMF's and so will be my 5th!

 

Regards,

 

Rob