Author Topic: Plastic with a chrome finish  (Read 2613 times)

Offline nham3407

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Plastic with a chrome finish
« on: September 30, 2013, 02:57:54 PM »
I have located a couple of older posts regarding the chrome finish on some of the interior plastic pieces.  I have a 01/72 Dearborn Mach 1 and the only piece of interior plastic showing visible wear is the plastic trim piece attached to the glove box door.  I purchased reproduction pieces to compare and the grain texture in the plastic is terrible.  I would prefer to restore my OE piece.  I have attached the posts identified in my search, but would appreciate feedback on both if a new technique is available or the quality of how the foil tape held up over time in that process.  I have researched the pros and cons of the paint process and Duplicolor may have the best outcome, but I am concerned it will look closer to unpolished aluminum than a shiny chrome look. 

http://www.concoursmustang.com/forum/index.php?topic=5574.msg31205#msg31205

http://www.concoursmustang.com/forum/index.php?topic=932.msg5132#msg5132

Below is the part I am referring to.  It is a straight line across without any complex bends.

67 GT S-Code, San Jose, 06/67
72 Mach 1, Dearborn, 01/72
68 Merc. Cyclone, Lorain, 12/67 (Red)
68 Merc. Cyclone, Lorain, 6/68 (White)

Offline jwc66k

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Re: Plastic with a chrome finish
« Reply #1 on: September 30, 2013, 05:11:25 PM »
I promise to be politically correct in all my posts to keep the BBBB from vociferating.

Offline drummingrocks

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Too much junk, too little time.

Offline J_Speegle

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Re: Plastic with a chrome finish
« Reply #3 on: September 30, 2013, 10:55:18 PM »
There use to be a number of shops that specialized in "rechroming" original pieces (MR G and others) not sure who will do them currently.

Guess I should check also - need to have a heater/radio bezel done
Jeff Speegle

Anything worth doing is worth doing concours ;)

Offline nham3407

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Re: Plastic with a chrome finish
« Reply #4 on: October 01, 2013, 02:58:35 PM »
Thank you for the feedback.  I am still looking for any feedback on the process indicated above with the RC plane material.  I am not sure if the pictures were stripped away with the age of the post, but I cannot view the included pictures.  I have located the reference to a couple of the vaccum metalizing companies.  Here are the websites for others to reference: 

www.cvvacuumplaters.com   (a.k.a Instument Specialists)
www.laysons.com
www.newdash.com

I hate to pay a significant amount of money to send off one small part for plating to then get it back and have to repaint both the glove box section and the upper passanger side section black areas that are in very good original condition.  If I repaint those I will also need to repaint the center dash section and drivers side cluster section so the black matches across the whole dash.  I want this done right, I just do not want to make a mountain out of a mole hill with this one area of blemished chrome. I have called a couple of hobby supply shops to get their feedback on this material and process.  I does not sound like it is a foil transfer process like mentioned above but more of a heat activated adhesive backed vinyl film.  It does not transfer a metal like appearence to the underlying material in the rc airplane hobby it shrinks the film to make the skin of the aircraft.

Still seeking ideas on the subject from this very knowledgeable community.

Thank you,
67 GT S-Code, San Jose, 06/67
72 Mach 1, Dearborn, 01/72
68 Merc. Cyclone, Lorain, 12/67 (Red)
68 Merc. Cyclone, Lorain, 6/68 (White)

Offline shubham

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Re: Plastic with a chrome finish
« Reply #5 on: October 04, 2013, 03:13:13 AM »
Nice sharing, Thanks for share with us....keep it up.

Offline nham3407

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Re: Plastic with a chrome finish
« Reply #6 on: October 04, 2013, 01:55:36 PM »
Has anyone ever used this process or know of a painter who applies it?

http://spectrachrome.com/index2.html
67 GT S-Code, San Jose, 06/67
72 Mach 1, Dearborn, 01/72
68 Merc. Cyclone, Lorain, 12/67 (Red)
68 Merc. Cyclone, Lorain, 6/68 (White)