Acrylic silver and gold just not as good as testors enamel

[EClem]

I would REALLY like to start using acrylic paints to crest my arrows, as it would make life so much easier with compatibility issues involving the spar urethane topcoat.  I've been using water based spar urethane as a topcoat and it just doesn't seem to do much.  That being said, I like to use silver and gold pin stripes and I simply cannot find an acrylic silver or gold that matches the quality of testors enamel silver and gold.  Anyone else found one that matches the enamels metallic shine and cover?

[monterey]

Interesting timing!  Just went thru all my acrylics on the back patio and have two sets of arrows ready for some gold and or silver pin stripes.  Tested the silver metalic I just picked up and it just does not pop like the testors.

Really more gray than silver.

On these two sets I'm working on there is several coats of wipe on poly gloss oil base and then acrylic cresting.  Plan to use minwax gloss water pased poly for several top coats.  Maybe that would help it pop but not sure.  Am tempted to go ahead and use the testors over the acrylic but could be a tragic experiment.

I'll go ahead with the acrylic metallic silver and gloss water based top coat and see what it looks like.  Will put a pic up for you but it will take a day or so to get well dried before top coating.

[EClem]

Thanks Monterey.  Looking forward to the update.

[WESTBROOK]

I use Whispering Wind acrylic silver & gold with good results.

 

[Bud B.]

I use the Testors and then coat with a thin layer of acrylic Delta Ceramcoat High Gloss Varnish. Then dip once or twice more in oil based poly thinned with mineral spirits.

Gonna have to look up those Whispering Wind paints    Are the rest of the colors the same maker as the silver WESTBROOK?

[bigbadjon]

Whispering Wind is the only water base metallic that gives me close to the same results as Fletch Lac. I have pretty much gone to that paint for my cresting all together although I still use Bohning to seal and crown dip.

[WESTBROOK]

Bud, the rest of the paint is Testors model master enamel, I just use the acrylic silver so the Profin finish dont make it run.

Eric

[monterey]

Here is a before and after with no metalic silver acrylic and with.  No gloss top coat yet.

Kinda embarassing to display my work in the same thread with WESTBROOK      Hope to eventually get to that level.

I'll post again after gloss overcoat.

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[WESTBROOK]

Monterey, nothing to be ashamed of,,,your doing well...there's a few tricks to learn...we all started in the same place.

1 tip...if ya wanna make nice lookin arrows...start dipping your finish, wipe on will never look as good. Its worth it if your gonna spend time painting them up pretty..top it off with a nice finish.    

[jackdaw]

Good thread......quality paints for arrow cresting frustrates me....!!!

[wooddamon1]

WESTBROOK is a straight gangsta when it comes to cresting. Haha, nice job! Nothing to add here, just cracked my third beer.

BTW, ever tried the marble dip yet, sir? Please do!  Be cool to see your talent displayed...

[EClem]

Westbrook, very very helpful--thank you.  I think I'll try the Whispering Winds silver and gold.
Monterey, those look great!  When the silver lines are a bit thicker like that, it actually makes the color pop quite a bit.

[jrchambers]

I discovered those paint pens a few years ago the tip is a 1/4 inch chisel.  you can make pinstripes to fat with extreme consistency,  and the paint is runny enough that you can even get some on a brush and use it.  it comes in all colors and metalics. its all I use anymore

[WESTBROOK]

Damon, no I haven't...but I got 2 dozen tapered spruce sitting here with crowns sprayed on them...thanks for he reminder.

Eric

[WESTBROOK]

EClem, your welcome...all my paint and finish are oil based enamel and poly. For some reason Oil based poly will make the oil based metalics run but wont bother the non-metalics so I went to the acrylic metalics and life is good.