Alclad 2 Paints FAQ

Alclad II Paints Frequently asked questions

We sell the range of Alclad II lacquers and supporting products at Hiroboy. It is great stuff, but it's not something you just slap on. With attention to preparation, using the right Alclad lacquers for the job, and taking your time to experiment and learn how to use them, you can get some truly stunning results. The information below is by no means exhaustive, but should help give you a few pointers to get the best results.

Preparation

Preparation is key to getting a good finish with Alclad II.

Ensure the object to be sprayed is thoroughly clean and dust free.
Special attention must be paid to ensuring all surfaces are free of grease, mould release agents, oil or finger marks.
Once clean, use a lint-free cloth or similar to handle the model to avoid putting new finger marks onto it.
Apply the correct primer for the type of Alclad being used and the surface being sprayed.

Primers

Injection Moulded Plastic and similar materials
You MUST use a primer before spraying Alclad onto injection moulded plastic. Alclad is strong enough to dissolve or craze the kind of plastics kits are made from !

Regular Alclad Finishes can be primed with any of the following;

ALC302 - Grey Primer
ALC306 - White Primer & Microfiller
ALC309 - Black Primer & Microfiller
Zero Paints range of Grey, White and Coloured Primers
Tamiya or Gunze Sangyo plastic primers
Car Primer, white or grey

If you use plastic primers or car primers, once dry they should be lightly polished with 1000/1200 wet & dry paper to give a less absorbent smooth surface (again, ensuring no dust is left behind).

High Shine Alclad Finishes can be primed with...

ALC303 - Clear Base
ALC305 - Gloss Black Base
Other high quality enamel paints can also be used, but it is strongly advised to carry out some testing on scrap plastic of the same type as your kit to ensure it provides enough coverage to protect the plastic from beaing eaten by the Alclad and gives a result you are happy with.

Prismatic Alclad Finishes and Holomatic Spectral Chrome should be primed with;

ALC305 - Gloss Black Base. These finishes require a very smooth dark gloss base coat; 2-3 light coats of Gloss Black Base should be used.

Lexan Polycarbonate

Alclad is designed to be sprayed straight onto the INSIDE of lexan polycarbonate bodyshells without a primer (but make sure it is clean and grease free !). A backing coat is then applied afterwards.