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Paint & Finish
For automotive paint and finishing topics.
Removing Chrome Plating
Northwestern
#195
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Texas, United States
Joined: May 03, 2007
KitMaker: 349 posts
Auto Modeler: 7 posts
Posted: Saturday, May 21, 2016 - 08:18 AM UTC
Bought myself a new car kit and there are some parts that have that stupid chrome plating.

I know you can use Simple Green to remove it, but it sometimes makes the plastic soft or ruins detail. I don't want to ruin this kit since it's an older Monogram kit

Any suggestions for removing the plating?
Clunbb9
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California, United States
Joined: March 14, 2016
KitMaker: 66 posts
Auto Modeler: 64 posts
Posted: Saturday, May 21, 2016 - 08:35 AM UTC
The fastest and the simplest way to remove chrome from plastic trees would be putting them in a container of bleach. This will ensure the chrome finish to be removed through a chemical process. However this does not remove the top coat in the plastic. Make sure you wash with soap and water after the chrome removal.
Lokis_Tyro
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Wisconsin, United States
Joined: March 08, 2016
KitMaker: 128 posts
Auto Modeler: 31 posts
Posted: Saturday, May 21, 2016 - 08:52 AM UTC
I use brake fluid. Haven't had a problem. I scuff up the surface a bit to speed things up. How long were your parts in the bath? What kit did you get if you don't mind me asking?
AussieReg
Staff MemberAssociate Editor
AUTOMODELER
#007
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Victoria, Australia
Joined: June 09, 2009
KitMaker: 8,156 posts
Auto Modeler: 2,953 posts
Posted: Saturday, May 21, 2016 - 09:06 AM UTC
I use "Mr Muscle" oven cleaner, overnight in a ziplock bag, then scrub with an old toothbrush. Sometimes if it's stubborn another few hours after its scrubbed to get rid of a few stubborn streaks of chrome, but it gets rid of old enamel paint as well, and I've never had any issues with it affecting the styrene..
I did a step-by-step in a thread HERE, hope this helps.

Cheers, D
Northwestern
#195
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Texas, United States
Joined: May 03, 2007
KitMaker: 349 posts
Auto Modeler: 7 posts
Posted: Saturday, May 21, 2016 - 10:38 AM UTC

Quoted Text

I use brake fluid. Haven't had a problem. I scuff up the surface a bit to speed things up. How long were your parts in the bath? What kit did you get if you don't mind me asking?



I got the Days of Thunder Mello Yello Lumina, felt like building out of nostalgia
Hwa-Rang
_VISITCOMMUNITY
Kobenhavn, Denmark
Joined: June 29, 2004
KitMaker: 6,760 posts
Auto Modeler: 2,182 posts
Posted: Sunday, May 22, 2016 - 11:28 AM UTC
Like Damian I use oven cleaner(Different brand though) 15-20 min. in a plastic bag and no trace of chrome.
Lokis_Tyro
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Wisconsin, United States
Joined: March 08, 2016
KitMaker: 128 posts
Auto Modeler: 31 posts
Posted: Sunday, May 22, 2016 - 11:40 PM UTC

Quoted Text


Quoted Text

I use brake fluid. Haven't had a problem. I scuff up the surface a bit to speed things up. How long were your parts in the bath? What kit did you get if you don't mind me asking?



I got the Days of Thunder Mello Yello Lumina, felt like building out of nostalgia



Very cool. Days of Thunder was the first movie I saw in a theater and one of the reasons I was a Kyle Petty fan. Someday I'd to make a dio of the "Change my tires" incident.
Will have a build log online?

Are these oven cleaners fumey?
Kevlar06
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Washington, United States
Joined: March 15, 2009
KitMaker: 3,670 posts
Auto Modeler: 46 posts
Posted: Monday, May 23, 2016 - 01:15 AM UTC
I use both brake fluid and oven cleaner to remove chrome. I've used the plastic bag technique mentioned above, which negates the smell somewhat. For the brake fluid I use a tin pie plate. Since my workshop is in the garage, smell is not a large problem for me-- the oven cleaner might be an issue in the house, but then again, you don't want to spill brake fluid in the house either. Both rinse well in water as mentioned above. Also as mentioned above, the clear varnish remaining on the plastic is the real problem-- the chrome finish is usually pretty thin, it's the varnish used to provide a base for the chrome on the part that's usually the culprit. You may need to do another soak for that. Industrial strength foam grill cleaner usually does a good job on the heavier varnish. I recommend you use an old toothbrush while wearing rubber gloves to get the finish off, and you may need to wait several hours for the remover(s) to work. My paint of choice for replacing chrome finishes is Alclad Chrome over their gloss balck primer and pore filler. This really makes it look like chrome.
VR, Russ


Northwestern
#195
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Texas, United States
Joined: May 03, 2007
KitMaker: 349 posts
Auto Modeler: 7 posts
Posted: Monday, May 23, 2016 - 03:33 AM UTC
I find it weird how they chromed some parts that are not even chrome on the finished kit

The wheels should be either semi-gloss black or stainless steel depending on the scene in the movie

The rear spoiler is also chrome and it should be the body color

Yes, I am going to do a build log, plus I just ordered the after market decals to make the kit more "Movie Accurate"
tinbanger
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Ontario, Canada
Joined: February 04, 2008
KitMaker: 2,507 posts
Auto Modeler: 409 posts
Posted: Monday, May 30, 2016 - 02:26 AM UTC
I use Oven cleaner and a stiff brush , the cleaner removes the chrome fast and does no attack the plastic.
I will be doing this to the Tyrrell 003 I am doing a build blog on.
Too often kit manufacturers plate things that are not true to life and look out of place and ugly
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