F-16 exhaust nozzle color

[Coreyeagle48]

Greetings

Thinking of painting the nozzle on my T-Birds F-16 to look like the ones the actual Thunderbirds use (meaning the polished look) and was wondering what would be a good color to use. It's probably easiest if I just paint it as I think that would be my least risky way to do it given my model experience.

The color I was thinking of was Model Master Aluminum, which looked pretty good in terms of the shade. I had also looked at the color Steel but that looked a little too copper tinted to be correct.

Anyone have a good suggestion on a color?

Corey

[ostketten]

I've never used it myself, but I would think Model Master Chrome might be a good choice for a polished look.

[Black Lion VF-213]

Model Master Chrome? Oooh be careful with that paint. Ironically once you paint it that's as bright and shiny as it gets. You cannot polish that paint as you will actually dull it.

The actual exhaust nozzle vanes are made of titanium. After looking at close up pics I would recommend Testors metallizing model master either titanium or magnesium. Make sure to get the buffing type since after painting it you will definitely want to buff it to get that sheen. There's a little difference in shade between titanium and magnesium so I would get both and test them to compare.

Also some people will recommend spraying the metallizer lacquer clear coat sealer to protect the buffed paint. Non sense. This clear coat will actually dull you finish and make it look plasticy and fake. After buffing, leave it bare. it will truly look "metal"

If you don't have an airbrush, since they most commonly come in bottles, they now offer it in spray can!! Just as effective and no mess!! yeah!!

Good luck!

[wolf8564]

Model Masters has a line of paint called Laquer Metalizer it is a buffing metalizer. You use an airbrush to put it on then after it has dried you buff it with a soft cloth and it shines up to a mirror like finsh. They have several differant colors such as burnt metal, stainless steel, jet exhaust etc. then you can spray a clear coat if you want but it is not a must.
Good Luck

[wolf8564]

Definately The Model Masters Laquer Metalizier Titanium

[stv9000]

I've been using the metalizer paints for years Black Lion is absolutely correct. Do not top coat them!
You can polish the aluminum matalizer almost to a chrome-like appearance and ruin it with the top coat.
The real trick to this stuff is to start with a very smooth polished surface. That being said I've done the nozzles on the F16 and th F/A 18. For the F16 I believe I used titanium polished it Then masked off the area where the vain would overlap and used something darker , maybe jet exhaust or gun metal, and did not polish it. The Hornet has a soft plastic nozzle. You can expect a 6 month plus dry time! Burnt Metal is a geat color as well. I compared the metalizer Titanium and the Burnt metal colors to some real titanium race parts I have in the machine shop.
I found the burnt metal metalizer much closer to the real thing!