I'm getting a Ryan PT20 from Nitromodels up and running and would like to make it look more scale. The fuselage is a flat grey, but most of the pics I see of the real thing have a shiny aluminum fuselage. Anybody got a recommendation of a paint that will shine like the bare aluminum and also be fuel proof? I'd also like to add in some seam lines while I'm at it, so any tips on that would be helpful too.

Try alsa.com

"Flitemetal" would be a good option or solution.

A bit of work, but the results are great. Talk to those that have used it. Search for the Threads.

You'll like what you see!

I have a Ryan also I may do in aluminum. Fuse anyway.

Charles

I checked out the Flitemetal. It looks really good, but pricey. I found some threads on using the regular aluminum tape also which sounds promising. I just wonder if it will stand up to the castor oil?

krylon and duplicolor make mettalic finishes that i think you are after. try a test (after the paint cures) or put a coat of clear dope over it. we all know that is fuel proof. I used clear dupicolor over latex and so far its fuel proof. I only run 5% though.

My Ryan PT20 1/6th scale scratch build is covered in chrome Oracover. After covering I used steel wool to take the "toy" shine off the chrome, and leave it looking like buffed bare aluminum. By using masking tape to tape off panel sizes, and alternating up and down strokes with forward and aft, I could create the effect of different panels. After this I used a sewing wheel used to mark material to create dimples on the panel lines, which look like rivets from about 3 feet away.