metallic glow

[ultra]

hi all (after 5 hours a day of studying i could at last paper model)

iam making a helmet and iam painting it with oil based colors

but i need to give a metallic glow so i know it will probably be silly but will shoe varnish work iam planning on painting it black so will it work and if there is something else please do tell and please i don't need anyone to say go to the hobby shop cuz there is nothing called hobby shop in cairo really i've torn cairo apart for it

ps if there anything which could be a make at home thing please do tell

thnx in advance

ultra stone

[SCEtoAUX]

Try some:
Gloss polyurethane like what can be found at a paint store or hardware store.
Liquid acrylic high gloss floor wax might work.

Do a test with the shoe varnish you mentioned to see if it works. Paint a small piece of the material you are using for the helmet with the paint you are using, treat it with the shoe varnish, and see if it gives the effect you are looking for.

[shawnr5]

You might try the graphite from a pencil or from a hardware store for lubricating locks. The graphite can be burnished into the surface. Try it on a scrap before you try it on your project.

[cdavenport]

I've been to Cairo, Egypt....I know what you mean. Can you purchase products on the Internet? I imagine shipping to Egypt is a concern, but if you want the helmet to ACTUALLY glow, you want to purchase Glow in the Dark paint. Google it.

[ashevilleangler]

The liquid acrylic floor wax that Doug mentioned is really the gold standard when it comes to making models shine if that is indeed what you want. Here is a link which has the best description of the product and it's uses:

The Complete Future

Hope this helps.

Curt

[dell_zantoz]

How about printing it on glossy photo paper. That might give you the effect you are looking for.