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 Rank: Super-Elite        Groups: Registered
Joined: 30/01/2013 Posts: 4,604 Points: 13,607 Location: Monmouthshire UK
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For all you SOTS builders, has anyone yet seen or considered sending all the castings off to be gold plated - http://www.goldplating1.co.uk/prices.phpIm sure it would look amazing and if built well would be a real investment  The prices dont look too bad either, just wondering if anyones seen it done? Steve
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 Rank: Master  Groups: Registered
Joined: 05/09/2012 Posts: 1,400 Points: 4,690 Location: Beaminster, Dorset
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Hi Steve, I presume that's for Electroplating, so I assume they would charge per item. There are dozens of casting pieces already so the cost would soon mount up. Alternatively you could bond the separate items together, but I guess they calculate prices on surface area, as that would determine how quickly the plating solution became exhausted and that's where the cost would be. You would also need to bond them conductively, but there are conductive epoxies available. Interesting idea though, as I'm still working on the best solution for the gold, as it will make or break the model. We used vacuum deposition of gold at work, but it was very wasteful of gold as everything in sight got coated and we went through miles of gold wire. If I was still there I could have bunged a few of my castings in each run 
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Rank: Super-Elite Groups: Registered
Joined: 30/01/2013 Posts: 4,604 Points: 13,607 Location: Monmouthshire UK
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Hi Andy Yes, they may charge per item but if not and they do in fact charge for surface area then its not a bad price when you look at the price of the large items listed, when you look at the stuff they have in the gallery it just makes you realize how nice the castings would look on a model.
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 Rank: Pro Groups: Joined: 24/08/2009 Posts: 48,827 Points: -13,348
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Hi Steve and Andy
I have a feeling they will weigh the items before and after plating and this will give them the net weight of the plating.I am sure all the castings will have to be plated with another metal first,probably copper.The castings will also need to be polished I assume between each step so in view of their shape I can't see it being practical.If there are any minute surface defects or inclusions these will stand out like a sore thumb,where as painting tends to disguise these.
Kind Regards Nigel
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Also you have to bring into the equation the quality and depth of the plating, for example when any metal is plated the depth on the metal place on the host casting can be measured in microns, anything over 3 microns thick is considered a good coating but to get this is expensive. Anything around 1 micron or less will show a good finish but will rapidly fade or disappear over a year or so like those fake Tag-Heur watches everyone brings back from Thialand that turn your wrist green after 6 months regards Andy  Current builds:-C57,Zero, Lamborghini Countach, Caldercraft HMS Agamemnon,Robi,R2-D2, MFH Cobra .
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