The Energon Pub

Which one of the chrome paints below is the best that ends up being smooth and/or shiny after it's applied?

1) Alsa Killer Chrome
2) Alsa Mirrachrome
3) Chrome and Matte Bare Metal Foil
4) Tamiya Chrome Sliver
5) Testors Chrome Foil
6) Other (please specify with post on thread)

I've only used Tamiya's stuff before, but it's pretty decent. You'll need to undercoat with gloss black for a shinier finish. IIRC, you can't spray any clear coats over it. Future Floor Polish aka Pledge might be inert enough, though I haven't tried it myself.

One other brand I've tried is from Thailand called TOA. It's pretty durable even without a clear coa, although the finish is more like movieverse Optimus' thigh parts rather than a mirror-like sheen.

Thing is, you can never get a true chrome finish with paint. If you want something that looks like actual chrome, you'll have to use metalizers like Alclad. FYI, you'll need an airbrush to apply metalizers as they won't work when hand-painted. They're also fairly toxic, so be sure to either paint outdoors, or use a spraybooth. Or better yet, wear a respirator.

I highly recommend Bare Metal foils. You get a much better result than paint, and it's easier to work with.

This is my ROTF Ejector, with chrome foil. Mind you, the sheet was old when I did this, which explains the wrinkles.