The Energon Pub

by **TinglingSensation** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 1:45 pm

Does anyone have any advice on how to restore old G1 accessories and missiles? For example, I have a ravage with hip missiles that are just about black. I looked into rechroming, but for the price, I was better off buying some from Wheeljack's Lab. They don't need to look brand new, just better than their current crappy state. I was thinking about trying some of the Testors silver model paint (enamel, I believe). Just want to know if someone has any better ideas before I do something irreversible.

by **Auto Bot** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 10:58 pm

I'm not really a big fan of chrome toys or accessories. I'd say, paint that part with Tamiya silver paint. Make it look semi glossy. It will look more realistic. That is, if you're willing to let go of being a G1 purist.

News Credits: 4 · by **Bumblethumper** » Thu Oct 11, 2007 1:06 am

anyone know how the chroming process is done for those toys? I'm a fan of chrome, for me it's all part of the G1 magic. I've tried silver paints, and it's pretty good at replicating a brushed metal type look, which some people find more realistic, but I've not been able to replicate the G1-style chrome look.

by **Auto Bot** » Thu Oct 11, 2007 1:10 am

It's an electroplating process. Not something you can do at your home. You have to bring the part to an electroplating shop.

Items with lots of dings and grooves are very hard to electroplate. Usually, the shop will refuse the job.

The hard part is polishing those small crevices.

News Credits: 4 · by **Bumblethumper** » Thu Oct 11, 2007 1:22 pm

Interesting, thanks. I always thought you could only electroplate metals.

by **-Barricade-** » Thu Oct 11, 2007 1:59 pm

Plastics are not electrically conductive, its gotta be painted on, or the following...

A little more info

By definition, electroplating requires that an electric current flow between
the part being plated and the chemical solution. If the part is
non-conductive then an electric current cannot flow.

How can one plate nonconductive materials like plastic? The answer is
"electroless" plating. These chemical baths deposit metal coatings but
do not' need electricity. After an electroless coating is produced, a normal
electroplating bath can be used to make the coating even thicker.

News Credits: 4 · by **Bumblethumper** » Thu Oct 11, 2007 4:15 pm

-Barricade- wrote:
How can one plate nonconductive materials like plastic? The answer is
"electroless" plating. These chemical baths deposit metal coatings but
do not' need electricity. After an electroless coating is produced, a normal
electroplating bath can be used to make the coating even thicker.

Ahhh. Yeah, that doesn't really sound like something many of us would be able to replicate at home.

Makes sense, thanks.