SPA Modeler

Earlier this past summer, I picked up some Alclad black gloss base at a LHS in the Syracuse area. Having read a thread in another forum, some folks say to stay away from it due to problems with it. They say it takes too long to dry, stays tacky, etc...
Others say to use Tamiya, Model Master, or Humbrol gloss black enamels instead.
Has anyone had problems using Alclad black gloss base?

I cant speak to Alclad Gloss Black Base, but as you I've also read where people have said to stay away from it, or that for the cost, it's not actually worth the price. I, myself, use MM gloss black enamel when going for the shiny metal look. (The gloss black is only needed for the high shine colors) When I am just trying to get the metal finish, I've used MM flat black enamel and Krylon grey primer and they turned out great. Just my $.02.

Alclad gloss black base needs indeed a good deal of time to cure thoroughly, and depending on the environmental conditions it will keep its tacky state for a couple of hours. But that's not too unusual when dealing with gloss coats in general.

However, a gloss base color (basically any other acrylic or enamel gloss coat) isn't necessarily required unless you're up for a really glossy, high-polished finish. As to Alclads, the gloss level results from the basecoat. Matt base - matt finish, semi-gloss base - semi-gloss finish, etc.

If you're out for a natural metal finish, applying a semi-gloss base will result in a more authentic NMF.

I did use Alclad´s Gloss Black Base on my egg-craft P-51D kit. My paint was taken from the tin can they started to sell it back then. Stunning high-gloss finish, no problems at all!

For I cannot stand to ope those crappy tin cans I acquired some new in the now familiar plastic bottles, but so far haven´t used it. Working on the Horten on a deadline I used Tamiya Gloss Black to be followed by Alclad metallics. Worked fine, too.

Ive used the allclad black gloss once. No issue, just a pain to clean out of my airbrush since its a lacquer and im used to working with alcohol based acrylics. Its surprisingly hard to find lacquer thinner in small amounts at the hardware stores around here.

I'm taking notes here.

scorpiomikey wrote:Ive used the allclad black gloss once. No issue, just a pain to clean out of my airbrush since its a lacquer and im used to working with alcohol based acrylics. Its surprisingly hard to find lacquer thinner in small amounts at the hardware stores around here.

That's why I buy the big containers and then fill some of my empty Testor's Airbrush Thinner bottles and label them. That way I have plenty of 'small' bottles around to tap into while having a larger container as a backup.