Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: paul26may on 12 September 2013, 20:16:29

Title: Chrome plating of plastic parts.
Post by: paul26may on 12 September 2013, 20:16:29
I am about to get my Elite 2.5 back on the road after 3 years in dry dock and for sometime have been considering getting various pieces of trim chrome plated, such as auto gear lever gate and door mounted window switches. Anyone else had this marvelous idea also? ::)
Title: Re: Chrome plating of plastic parts.
Post by: chrisgixer on 13 September 2013, 08:17:57
Somehow, Paul, I very much doubt it. ;) ;D

I know the soft touch finish is easily damaged, but why on earth would you want a chrome finish? You'll get sun reflections and glare all round the cabin, apart from any taste issues.
Title: Re: Chrome plating of plastic parts.
Post by: paul26may on 13 September 2013, 10:27:38
The soft touch parts are not just easily damaged, at 12 years of age they are downright shabby! A £30,000 car deserved much better and other makes of that value like BMW, Jaguar etc all have bits of shiny metal in the cabin. In any event I would start off by getting the gear lever gate done (buy a spare one off ebay) and then seeing how it looked. If it did appear naff I could easily resort back to the original. :y
Title: Re: Chrome plating of plastic parts.
Post by: Cliffo B on 13 September 2013, 12:21:37
I'm considering another approach to this problem of the worn shabby interior rubber coated parts
There's an aerosol rubber finish paint now available on EGay even done in colours
Although you do need a special primer for plastic
I also am not keen on the idea of replicateing chrome as BMW's etc,have
Chrome somehow in Migsy's cabin to me would appear cheap (just my taste)
Maybe the Omega interior designers strove to give a chrome free interior
Hence the failed non durable rubber finish :'(
Title: Re: Chrome plating of plastic parts.
Post by: mantahatch on 13 September 2013, 12:31:27
How about having a go yourself ? I used this http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Brand-New-Simoniz-Chrome-Paint-500ml-For-a-Bright-Decorative-Finish-Grey-Primer-/111059688105?pt=UK_Body_Shop_Supplies_Paint&hash=item19dbac5aa9 (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Brand-New-Simoniz-Chrome-Paint-500ml-For-a-Bright-Decorative-Finish-Grey-Primer-/111059688105?pt=UK_Body_Shop_Supplies_Paint&hash=item19dbac5aa9) on a couple of plastic parts and the effect is not bad. I did no use lacquer afterwards as I read it can effect the paint. It would possibly be a cheap 'try it to see if you like it' and then maybe get it done properly.
By the way the painted bits I did are outside on the front bumper and bar a few stone chips still look good.
Title: Re: Chrome plating of plastic parts.
Post by: paul26may on 13 September 2013, 13:09:30
I think I will get an old part from a scrap yard as alluded to previously and try both methods talked about here - the rubber paint (Plasti Dip, I believe) and the chrome paint although I'm not sure about the latter. I want it to feel good as well as look the part. :D ;) ;D 8) :-\
Title: Re: Chrome plating of plastic parts.
Post by: henryd on 13 September 2013, 13:39:37
Another option is to get the parts flocked,many colours available and a mate of mine has his own flocking business if anyone is interested :y(for those that don't know flock is often found inside the glovebox,furry feel but very short fibres)
Title: Re: Chrome plating of plastic parts.
Post by: paul26may on 13 September 2013, 13:55:09
Another reason for the non-chrome was probably cost. They would have been better off sticking to good old tried and tested, but boring, plastic.
Title: Re: Chrome plating of plastic parts.
Post by: Mr.OmegaMan on 13 September 2013, 14:49:17
The chrome door handles are a nice touch on the FLs and is enough chrome for the interior IMO and not forgetting the VX badge on the steering wheel and the handbrake button  ;)
Title: Re: Chrome plating of plastic parts.
Post by: chrisgixer on 13 September 2013, 16:34:18
It will be interesting to see the results in any event Paul, if you dont mind keeping us updated...? It's something we do need a solution for, regardless. :y

Plastidip was discussed a while back btw. It's available in various colours, but I guess would need mixing to match the original colour exactly...? And I wonder if it would be a gloss finish as well :-\

So possibles;
Chromed Plastic
Flocking
Plastidip
Title: Re: Chrome plating of plastic parts.
Post by: henryd on 13 September 2013, 18:23:19
It will be interesting to see the results in any event Paul, if you dont mind keeping us updated...? It's something we do need a solution for, regardless. :y

Plastidip was discussed a while back btw. It's available in various colours, but I guess would need mixing to match the original colour exactly...? And I wonder if it would be a gloss finish as well :-\

So possibles;
Chromed Plastic
Flocking
Plastidip

This is what the flocked article looks like on a er big scale ::)

http://www.banburyflockingservices.com/resources/images/Blue-dash-1_1266000533.JPG
Title: Re: Chrome plating of plastic parts.
Post by: dbug on 13 September 2013, 18:29:18
It will be interesting to see the results in any event Paul, if you dont mind keeping us updated...? It's something we do need a solution for, regardless. :y

Plastidip was discussed a while back btw. It's available in various colours, but I guess would need mixing to match the original colour exactly...? And I wonder if it would be a gloss finish as well :-\

So possibles;
Chromed Plastic
Flocking
Plastidip

This is what the flocked article looks like on a er big scale ::)

http://www.banburyflockingservices.com/resources/images/Blue-dash-1_1266000533.JPG

Flocked finish is a nice finish - but that blue is imo a bit much for a car dashboard :o  Sunglasses required  :) ;)
Title: Re: Chrome plating of plastic parts.
Post by: henryd on 13 September 2013, 18:33:50
It will be interesting to see the results in any event Paul, if you dont mind keeping us updated...? It's something we do need a solution for, regardless. :y

Plastidip was discussed a while back btw. It's available in various colours, but I guess would need mixing to match the original colour exactly...? And I wonder if it would be a gloss finish as well :-\

So possibles;
Chromed Plastic
Flocking
Plastidip

This is what the flocked article looks like on a er big scale ::)

http://www.banburyflockingservices.com/resources/images/Blue-dash-1_1266000533.JPG

Flocked finish is a nice finish - but that blue is imo a bit much for a car dashboard :o  Sunglasses required  :) ;)

My mate flocked the door armrests on my lads mk 4 golf as they go crappy like omegas do,was done about 18 months ago and still looks like new :y :y
Title: Re: Chrome plating of plastic parts.
Post by: paul26may on 13 September 2013, 18:47:44
I wouldn't hang around your mate very long if I were you. You may end up getting flocked yourself!
Title: Re: Chrome plating of plastic parts.
Post by: chrisgixer on 13 September 2013, 20:00:33
It will be interesting to see the results in any event Paul, if you dont mind keeping us updated...? It's something we do need a solution for, regardless. :y

Plastidip was discussed a while back btw. It's available in various colours, but I guess would need mixing to match the original colour exactly...? And I wonder if it would be a gloss finish as well :-\

So possibles;
Chromed Plastic
Flocking
Plastidip

This is what the flocked article looks like on a er big scale ::)

http://www.banburyflockingservices.com/resources/images/Blue-dash-1_1266000533.JPG

Flocked finish is a nice finish - but that blue is imo a bit much for a car dashboard :o  Sunglasses required  :) ;)

My mate flocked the door armrests on my lads mk 4 golf as they go crappy like omegas do,was done about 18 months ago and still looks like new :y :y

As Billy Connolly once said, about a golfists trousers...
"they wheren't just blue, but more of a BLUE!" :o ;D
Title: Re: Chrome plating of plastic parts.
Post by: ianu on 15 September 2013, 23:47:47
It will be interesting to see the results in any event Paul, if you dont mind keeping us updated...? It's something we do need a solution for, regardless. :y

Plastidip was discussed a while back btw. It's available in various colours, but I guess would need mixing to match the original colour exactly...? And I wonder if it would be a gloss finish as well :-\

So possibles;
Chromed Plastic
Flocking
Plastidip

Chrome vinyl wrap  :P. Starvinyls do a good range.

I've only used it on fairly flat surfaces. I'm not sure how flexible it is to stretch around curved surfaces.