Dear manufacturers of auto kits,
PLEASE STOP MAKING SILVER (CHROME) PLATED PARTS
They are a pain in the arse. I have an airbrush, I have metallic paints, I can do it myself.
“Chrome” plated parts are a throwback to the auto kits of the 1960’s, in particular those old AMT kits that are still in production today. And in more recent times from the likes of Hasegawa. Back in the 60’s, model builders were kids. No one had an airbrush. Sometimes modellers didn’t have paint. So moulding kits in colour made more sense.
But it is now 60 years on, we are grown up, we all have airbrushes and excellent metallic paints.
Chrome plated parts are a pain right from the get go. You have to cut them away from the sprue, and that nearly always leaves a bur that has to be touched up. It is difficult to match paint up with the chrome part, and sanding will necessitate a touch up too. The parts often have seams on them, sink-holes or flash. What are you supposed to do about that? More work.
Chrome parts are almost impossible to weather. If you’re wanting to do anything other than a showroom finish they present a barrier. Nothing wants to stick to them. Paint won’t stick to them well either. What if you want a bumper that is white, rather than silver? The alternative is to painstakingly sand the parts back.
More modern kits by the likes of Mini Art, Takom etc provide autos without any chrome parts at all, figuring (correctly) that the modeller can paint them themselves. I understand why MPC, Hasegawa, Revell etc continue issue kits with the stupid chrome parts – they don’t want to have to pay for a re-issue. BUT, please, could you just provide a copy of the chromed sprue without the chrome finish? Please? I will happily pay an extra $5 for that duplicate piece of plastic.
tim
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