professional chrome spraying on rc wheels

[kaszal]

Hello, I wonder is it possible to paint a chrome effect onto plastic rc wheels?

I mean a professional finish a bit like the old Cat XLS wheels (below)

I also wonder is the finished durable enough for racing i.e. will the paint crack?

Presumably there must be special formulations for rc?

[jonmiller]

If they are solid disc type wheels you are wanting to do, just use a chrome vinyl perhaps..
then when bashed, peel off n apply some more.

[mattr]

It'll be a bu99er to do, its hard enough to get a good chrome finish on brand new, from the factory, plastic automotive parts..........

[DCM]

There is a machine that can do it, but it is stupid money, we are talking £10,000 for the kit to do it, plus the schumacher wheels I think were plated.

[kaszal]

Thanks for your replies.

I saw this on YouTube...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2Ver...feature=g-hist

And what about on new wheels?

[mattr]

Give em a call and see if they'll do you a set.........

might need to get them all masked off, but its got to be worth a try. 10 quid for a set of wheels and whatever they charge for a sample.........

And their heat sensitive paint looks interesting.

[eyeayen]

I used to get crash helmets "Chromed" at Shepperton film Studio's. It wasn't cheap, had no adhesion and would regularly go wrong. They wouldn't put a clear coat on it either so I had to coat it with 2 pack clear, usually this was okay but sometimes it would bloom like chocolates do in the heat. It was a nightmare.

The Youtube video looks good though. Never seen anything like that before ?

If you approach a metal coaters / finishers they might be able to point you in the direction of someone doing the same thing to plastic ?