Alclad Perfection

[Guest]

So what's in the stuff that stinks so much?

[stona]

Alclad absolutely stinks! Loads of ventilation needed, and a face mask. I clean the airbrush afterwards with cellulose thinners, which also stinks.

You're not wrong there!

I have a very good extractor and don't always bother with a mask when spraying small bits and bobs with paint. I always wear my mask when spraying Alclad, even if it's just a couple of wheels!

I don't care whether that image is "adjusted" either. Frankly it would be surprising if it wasn't. It doesn't matter, it is an advertisement for a product and should be treated in the same way as any advertisement for any product....with a little circumspection.

I certainly don't have a dog in the fight as I already use Alclad for all my metallic finishes

Cheers

Steve

[Ian M]

LOL If you thing that Alclad lacquer stinks keep well away from their airbrush cleaner....I can only describe it as vial. A sort of diarrhoea/vomit/thinners mix. I used it once and promptly purchased a bottle of cellulose thinner.

I do like their primers though.

Ian M

[Guest]

I will give you this Steve (Stevekir) you certainly produce some beauties. Very interesting with caustic do not care comments some even refusing to argue, quite incredible !

Rather like innocently being involved in an accident & looking on in amusement at the consequences o_O.

Very amusing.

All shine & stinks !

Laurie

[Adrian "Marvel" Reynolds]

Ok, I must have weird nostrils, I don't think Alclad smells as bad as enamels and the cleaner isn't much worse than cellulose,,,,,,,,and no I didn't sniff glues as a teenager

Adrian

[Ian M]

More wit than caustic Laurie and I know better than to come with sideways comments and would rather say things 'straight up'.

I often find it much more entertaining than coming with random comments just to stir things up.

Adrian; Your weird. lol

Ian M

[Guest]

Very interesting with caustic do not care comments some even refusing to argue, quite incredible !

That seems to have been my fault .... That's twice now for which I'm sorry .... I will refrain in the future.

Maybe I'm just getting old ... I do hit the half century next week sometime so I've been lately reminded

*edit* see I must be getting on I forgot this ..... Question I asked above about this stuff smelling, is it a solvent based job then?

[stona]

Ok, I must have weird nostrils, I don't think Alclad smells as bad as enamels and the cleaner isn't much worse than cellulose,,,,,,,,and no I didn't sniff glues as a teenager Adrian

Not just the smell! When I spray it I can see little glittery particles being sucked into my extractor if the light is right. I wouldn't want them floating around the room.....or in my lungs.

Colin the Alclads are lacquer based, which is a pretty 'hot' solvent (or mixture of solvents).

Cheers

Steve

[Guest]

Colin the Alclads are lacquer based, which is a pretty 'hot' solvent (or mixture of solvents).

Ta for that, are they hot enough to affect the surface of an unprepared plastic? Or is it just a reaction that gives off an odour and that's it?

[Guest]

That seems to have been my fault .... That's twice now for which I'm sorry .... I will refrain in the future.]quote

Na good fun Colin.

Thinks will stay away from Alclad it seems to cause a whole host of problems in some many directions.

Ian shall we settle for WItstic.

Laurie

[stona]

Ta for that, are they hot enough to affect the surface of an unprepared plastic? Or is it just a reaction that gives off an odour and that's it?

When you apply them you simply mist it on to build up the desired finish. It won't damage the plastic this way. I know from first hand experience that if you spill Alclad on plastic it will etch the surface, despite what I've read elsewhere.

I don't think Alclad is difficult to use. Careful preparation applies to all finishes, particularly metallic ones which tend to show up any flaws. This is not unique to Alclad.

Alclad sprays straight out of the bottle (which comes with agitator for ease of mixing) and cleans up easily with cellulose thinners. The bottle does fall over easily if knocked and can make a mess if you forgot to put the top back on......see above

It isn't cheap but gives consistently good results, if not quite as "perfect" as in that advertising photo.

Cheers

Steve

[yak face]

Its certainly a very well executed bit of paint finishing , Alclad can produce some fantastic looking effects. Personally I cant get the hang of it , i tried but ended up using about half a bottle and only managed to paint 2 elevators !! At that rate it would have cost me about £150 to paint my Tu 22 !!! One final two penneth to chuck in the ring , although its a great finish its certainly not realistic in this case , although MiG 15's were natural metal finished I dont think any had gold leading edges , copper trim tabs , and chrome rear panels , unless they had been to the "Pimp my MiG " garage !!!!!!!

[Ian M]

I think they just used the tail of the mig as a demo due to the clear divisions in the panels. I would have thought copper and gold way to soft and heavy for an air frame lol

I think the thing a lot of new users of Alclad fall for the mistake of using it as a paint, put way to much down and are disappointed with the result (and the amount it uses).

It really is a case of gently bently and as soon as you think its getting there stop and have a good look at the part.

Ian M

[Guest]

I use it on my bikes to good effect . The choice of basecoat is critical.

http://forums.europeanmodeller.com/index.php?showtopic=5886

[stona]

I use it on my bikes to good effect . The choice of basecoat is critical.http://forums.europeanmodeller.com/index.php?showtopic=5886

Absolutely, particularly as I imagine that you are using some highly polished or other special finishes on your bikes.

For aircraft finishes (apart from highly polished aluminium) I get away with a grey primer.

Cheers

Steve