Silver paint looks as much like real aluminum as, well, silver paint.
I posted a previous entry about silver-leafing, but as I have started to do this with my model of 44-8846, I thought I would share my techniques.
First, you need a special glue "Micro Metal" foil adhesive is what I recommend for this - as it is especially designed to glue aluminum to plastic.
You will also need a *very* sharp knife, a q-tip, and a tooth-pick, oh yeah and a brush:
Then, "paint" the dull side of the aluminum with the glue, and let it dry until it is sticky. You may need 2 coats. Be very careful to not allow brushmarks, as these will show:
Then, carefully place the aluminim foil (I use reglar kitchen foil that I find at the supermarket (Champion) where you want it, preferably cut out in the same shape as the aluminim skin of the aircraft:
And then, trim off any excess and use a toothpick to make sure all the details are all visible. Then you are done, and can do the next bit!
I currently have the whole bottom of 44-8846 in aluminim, but I will wait until she is done before I post the final product.
One last thing: it is hard to paint over aluminum, so any olive drab parts (over engines, etc) should be painted first, and then simply *do not* put the aluminm over the painted bits. Decals stick just fine, however.
Also, you will want to change the angle of the aluminim on the panels, ou use different types of aluminim foil, because when the light hits the surface, each difference in aluminum shows - as on a real aircraft - thus giving the appearance of an authentic aluminum surface, rather than one homogenous aluminum surface.
Sujet: Unpainted aluminum 
