Chrome plating over plastic?

Aceman

Well-Known Forum User
We've split our rear lights (mr M.O.T man says we need to swap the Californian red indicator units to European orange indicators) and having split them into components, are having a think about refurbing the chromed plastic strip which runs over the middle of them:

20111211_113646.jpg


Anyone know how this is best done? Chrome paint bought in shops is pretty useless, so any thoughts on companies which chrome plate (or whatever they do) plastic would be great..

Am fearful of how much this could cost, in which case it may end up Halford's chrome painted for a short term fix!
 

SeanDezart

Well-Known Forum User
Ask Throttleton - he's talking about "chrom" paint on f/g - maybe applicable for you !

BUT this pisses me off - do they state that Mustangs, 'vettes and the like must lose THIER red lights too ?
 

Aceman

Well-Known Forum User
Thanks - I'll PM Throttleton and see. I've seen the spray on paint videos on YouTube so was guessing that may be the route to go.

As for legality, I guess a lot depends on the MOT man on the day. The law does clearly state that a car must have orange indicators, and also states where they must be located etc. I know there are some exemptions (e.g. prior to a certain date, cars do not need to have a fog light, and prior to some date in the 50s, cars do not require seatbelts) but I'm not sure when the orange colour for the indicators came in, and thus when the law applies from.

I suspect it's more a case that because a European version was made, then they did exist for the car and thus it should have them. I could perhaps try and argue the European version did not come about till later (I know you can't actually get a 1970 UK original car...) but I have the orange indicator lights now, and after the amount it cost to get them, I'm damn well going to put them on now!!!
 
Thanks - I'll PM Throttleton and see. I've seen the spray on paint videos on YouTube so was guessing that may be the route to go.

As for legality, I guess a lot depends on the MOT man on the day. The law does clearly state that a car must have orange indicators, and also states where they must be located etc. I know there are some exemptions (e.g. prior to a certain date, cars do not need to have a fog light, and prior to some date in the 50s, cars do not require seatbelts) but I'm not sure when the orange colour for the indicators came in, and thus when the law applies from.

I suspect it's more a case that because a European version was made, then they did exist for the car and thus it should have them. I could perhaps try and argue the European version did not come about till later (I know you can't actually get a 1970 UK original car...) but I have the orange indicator lights now, and after the amount it cost to get them, I'm damn well going to put them on now!!!

How much did they cost? Could you not put orange bulbs in the reverse light bit?
 

MaximG

Well-Known Forum User
Aceman

Please keep us informed with how you get on. I would dearly like to get a set re chromed if the costs were right.

Mike B
 

Aceman

Well-Known Forum User
How much did they cost? Could you not put orange bulbs in the reverse light bit?

I'll keep that to myself, but less than the $800 + postage + duty they go for on ebay that's for sure!! I'm a tight bastard in my old age!!

Aceman

Please keep us informed with how you get on. I would dearly like to get a set re chromed if the costs were right.

Mike B

Will do.. Might see if somewhere will do a few people's as a batch for less (there's a chrome spraying company not far from me "down saff" so may drop them an email). Just wondered if others had done this before! Be good if Throttleton is the man to aid being a fellow enthusiast/trader/etc!
 

Aceman

Well-Known Forum User
They sold mustangs and 'vettes in europe and in the UK !

With red indicators??

If so then I've no idea!! Just know the MOT guys in our area (Guildford) have all said pretty much point blank "no orange indicator, no MOT"..

As I say, not worried now as I have the lenses. Just want them to look better condition to match the new stainless steel bumpers (from Thailand!)..
 

260ZG

Club Member
There used to be a very thin self adhesive chrome sheet you could buy in Model shops called modelskin, metalskin or something similar that was used to replicate the polished metal finish on model aircraft kits. Sorry but memory is a bit vague as it is a few years since I made any plastic kits-even of Zs

Would obviously be ok on plastic but not sure where you would get it now. Might be worth a look in a model shop or in one of the specialist model maker mags Don't know how it would cope with the heat of bulbs and if it would curve around enough but at least it could be (carefully!) peeled off if it goes wrong.

Edit
And the memory wasn't playing tricks on me a quick search and found this http://www.bare-metal.com/bare-metal-foil.html
so it looks as though it is still available
 
Last edited by a moderator:

Aceman

Well-Known Forum User
There used to be a very thin self adhesive chrome sheet you could buy in Model shops called modelskin, metalskin or something similar that was used to replicate the polished metal finish on model aircraft kits. Sorry but memory is a bit vague as it is a few years since I made any plastic kits-even of Zs

Would obviously be ok on plastic but not sure where you would get it now. Might be worth a look in a model shop or in one of the specialist model maker mags Don't know how it would cope with the heat of bulbs and if it would curve around enough but at least it could be (carefully!) peeled off if it goes wrong.

Edit
And the memory wasn't playing tricks on me a quick search and found this Bare-Metal® is Used for Detailing Model Cars, and Aircraft - Bare-Metal Foil Co.
so it looks as though it is still available


That looks like it could be of use! Comes in A4 sheets approx it looks, so probably won't help on our interior door strip, but would be just the right size to do some rear lights! And for $2.50 a sheet I'm game for a go!!

Going to see what Throttleton gets back with, but may order some anyhow to just see what it's like!

Thanks a lot for that info!!! :thumbs:
 

Throttleton

Well-Known Forum User
Liquid Chrome? - UK's Premier Supplier Of Chrome Paint - Chrome Paint

Got your pm Aceman.
I don't want to throw work away but this is something you can do yourselves easy!!
Check the link above. The co. will supply rattle cans for small jobs.
I 'think' it is a silver nitrate affair rather than shiny silver paint.
The results are pleasing but you would need to overcoat with laquer. Again a rattle can of 1k or 2k laquer will do the job.
Picture below is of some figures we made for the Metro Centre with the same stuff, I would not say it is exactly like chrome but the finish is very good.

chrome.jpg
 

Aceman

Well-Known Forum User
Cheers Throttleton!

Do you need all the base coats etc? Just seen the price of the kit and for £89.99 + P&P nearly had a heart attack!!!

E.g. would the aerosol and a laquer work well enough do you think?
 

Throttleton

Well-Known Forum User
The aerosol and laquer will work just the same Aceman.
The part you are spraying the chrome onto needs to be gloss black, again a rattle can will be fine.
Don't bother buying tins of the chrome for what your doing the aerosols will be fine and the cans remainder will keep for further jobs.
If you want large quantities of the chrome paint check ebay as the same co. has offers on,
I got a litre for 30 odd quid.....
 

Aceman

Well-Known Forum User
The aerosol and laquer will work just the same Aceman.
The part you are spraying the chrome onto needs to be gloss black, again a rattle can will be fine.
Don't bother buying tins of the chrome for what your doing the aerosols will be fine and the cans remainder will keep for further jobs.
If you want large quantities of the chrome paint check ebay as the same co. has offers on,
I got a litre for 30 odd quid.....


Ok thanks!

I'll probably just get a small can (the chrome strips aren't huge!) and possibly buy the sheets mentioned above ($2.50 a sheet so worth a pop!) and will have a trial run with both on a test piece of plastic to see what looks best.

Thanks again!
 

highway star

Well-Known Forum User
halfords do rolls of curved chrome strips with a rubber backing & comes with double sided tape. with careful trimming of the rubber ive used these on my door cards. they look ok. don't know if they would work for outside use but could be worth checking out
 

status

Well-Known Forum User
Vacum plating is wot the process is called if you want it done properly,lots of money if you can find anyone interested in doing such a small job over here,try troy at too intense restoration in the states,it depends how fussy you r and you want it to look right
 

datsun dave

Club Member
I have used a chrome vinyl self adhisive sheet from work for the door cards applied over the existing door strip looks great PM me if you want some.
 

moonraker_tom

Well-Known Forum User
Has anybody come across;
Caswell Europe

They do home chroming kits, I am planning to give them a call in the New Year (when I have a few bucks) to talk through my requirements - currently restoring a GS750 and I thoght these guys looked pretty good. :thumbs:
 
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