Curt B Posted November 17, 2019 Share Posted November 17, 2019 (edited) Hey All, I've just begun doing pieces/parts of the new 1/48 Eduard P-51D. At the back of the instructions, on page 19, the instructions show the places on the aircraft that they call Aluminum Lacquer, and the other spots where Natural Metal Finish is supposed to show on the plane. Do any of you have a 'best choice' for the Aluminum Lacquer color? I plan to use a variety of AK Xtreme Metal colors on various panels in the areas identified as 'Natural Metal Finish', but i'm at a loss as to what paint to use to cover the 'Aluminum Lacquer' parts of the plane. I was thinking just use the Mr. Color Silver paint, but now I'm not sure. That's what the instructions suggest (either C008 lacquer or H008 aqueous acrylic). Does anyone have any thoughts about what the metal paint color should be, or close to what it was in reality? Thanks for any thoughts you may have. Edited November 17, 2019 by Curt B Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dnl42 Posted November 17, 2019 Share Posted November 17, 2019 As you thought, a "silver paint" is the typical model approach to "aluminum lacquer". The goal is to make those areas "look like paint" to contrast with the prototype's unpainted surfaces. I believe the correct name for the paint is aluminized lacquer. On an NMF P-51D, this paint was at least used in the area of the areas of the wings that were puttied and smoothed over to maintain laminar flow. Drawings of the wings are on ARC and elsewhere. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jonathan_Lotton Posted November 18, 2019 Share Posted November 18, 2019 Me personally... Something like AK Extreme's "White aluminum" or Alclad's "Semi-Matte aluminum" would be good for replicating the aluminum paint color that NAA put on the wings of the P-51D's. For the bare natural metal I'd use something like AK's Polished Aluminum over a gloss *white* base or perhaps Alclads Polished Aluminum or Airframe Aluminum as well. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Falconxlvi Posted November 19, 2019 Share Posted November 19, 2019 I used a custom silver mix - Mission Models Duraluminum with a drop of White. It has a nice contrast with the natural metal areas. Steve Quote Link to post Share on other sites
seawinder Posted November 19, 2019 Share Posted November 19, 2019 Is there photographic evidence that the aluminum lacquer applied to the wings was duller than the unpainted areas? Also, FWIW, I personally would not use the high gloss Alclad shades on the unpainted areas, but rather normal Aluminum, Duraluminum, White Aluminum and some Steel-Aluminum mix for the exhaust areas, since active duty planes weren't all that shiny. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Curt B Posted November 19, 2019 Author Share Posted November 19, 2019 1 hour ago, seawinder said: Is there photographic evidence that the aluminum lacquer applied to the wings was duller than the unpainted areas? Also, FWIW, I personally would not use the high gloss Alclad shades on the unpainted areas, but rather normal Aluminum, Duraluminum, White Aluminum and some Steel-Aluminum mix for the exhaust areas, since active duty planes weren't all that shiny. Thanks for your thoughts. I can’t say that I’ve seen any photos that show the painted areas either more or less glossy that the natural metal areas. And, for what it’s worth, I had not planned on making the natural metal areas particularly shiny, except maybe for a few scattered panels that could represent replacement panels. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Curt B Posted November 19, 2019 Author Share Posted November 19, 2019 5 hours ago, Falconxlvi said: I used a custom silver mix - Mission Models Duraluminum with a drop of White. It has a nice contrast with the natural metal areas. Steve Steve, BEAUTIFUL airplane! I’ve been pondering that very paint scheme for one of my P-51D buildings , now I’m even more sure I want to do that!! I’m generally not a fan of blue on vehicles, cars, motorcycles or airplanes, but that shade of blue just really POPS! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Falconxlvi Posted November 20, 2019 Share Posted November 20, 2019 7 hours ago, Curt B said: Steve, BEAUTIFUL airplane! I’ve been pondering that very paint scheme for one of my P-51D buildings , now I’m even more sure I want to do that!! I’m generally not a fan of blue on vehicles, cars, motorcycles or airplanes, but that shade of blue just really POPS! Thanks Curt - I definitely agree 😉 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
WymanV Posted November 21, 2019 Share Posted November 21, 2019 Well, aluminized lacquer is essentially lacquer gloss coat with aluminum powder mixed in it so it will start out glossy. It's the same 'silver' used in pre-war USN Yellow Wings era aircraft. OTOH, I polished the aluminum bits on my bike when I was putting it back together and they're quite a bit shinier than the silver painted frame... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Johnny_K Posted November 21, 2019 Share Posted November 21, 2019 I use Testors' Metalizer Aluminum for the painted areas of NMF airplanes, such as the middle wing area of a B-29. It provides a nice contrast to the remainder of the model which was finished in Bare Metal Foil. After the paint dried I sealed it using Testors' Metalizer Sealer. I did not buff the paint. I left it in it's natural mat finish. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Curt B Posted November 21, 2019 Author Share Posted November 21, 2019 Johnny, definitely a nice looking airplane, and good ‘contrast’ difference between the types of ‘metal’ looking materials. Thanks for the idea! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Falconxlvi Posted November 21, 2019 Share Posted November 21, 2019 1 hour ago, Johnny_K said: I use Testors' Metalizer Aluminum for the painted areas of NMF airplanes, such as the middle wing area of a B-29. It provides a nice contrast to the remainder of the model which was finished in Bare Metal Foil. After the paint dried I sealed it using Testors' Metalizer Sealer. I did not buff the paint. I left it in it's natural mat finish. That’s gorgeous! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Johnny_K Posted November 22, 2019 Share Posted November 22, 2019 (edited) Here is another pic of my B-29. Not only are the painted surfaces a different color that the foiled surfaces, but the texture of the two surfaces is also different. It would be possible to duplicate this using paint instead of foil. The majority of the model would be painted in a gloss aluminum paint and the center section of the wing painted in a dull light gray paint. Edited November 22, 2019 by Johnny_K Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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