Aluminum Paint Colour Substitute

[SpitfireAce]

I am building a Trumpeter 1:48 RCAF F-104 Starfighter. The paint scheme asks for aluminum for the body. Since I don't have that colour (I use mostly Tamiya acrylic paints), and my local model supplier is out of stock, I was wondering what colour I might substitute for the aluminum? i.e. silver, chrome silver? Any ideas would be helpful.

Thanks in advance!

Cheers for now,

Tom

 

[Deleted member 5496]

I use Vallejo Metal Color Tom. You do need to apply Vallejo Gloss Surface Primer first.

However if you use it & have to mask put on a coat of gloos or satin Varnish to strengthen.

Laurie

 

[Jakko]

Silver should do. Aluminium paints tend to be matt, whereas silver is often much the same colour but shiny, so adding a layer of matt varnish over the silver paint is likely to look fine. If in doubt, do a little test first on some scrap material, like a bit of sprue from the model.