How To: Candy Finish (Part 1: The Basics)

Candy finishes are one of the most popular types of finishes amongst Gunpla builders.  To the uninitiated, think Iron Man or a metallic Sinanju Red. In this tutorial, learn the basic steps to perfecting this vivid, glossy finish using E7 Paints.

Step 1: Apply a glossy base

Paint used: E7 XL-05 Gloss Black

An extremely glossy base is an essential foundation to a luminous candy finish. To achieve maximum gloss, the base coat must be given ample time to properly set and cure. Hence, we recommend allowing XL-05 Gloss Black to dry for up to 2 days if possible, although the paint will be dry to the touch within minutes. Remember, patience is a virtue!

Step 2: Apply a chrome coat

Paint used: E7 S-09 Shine Chrome

The reflectiveness of your chrome coat determines how brilliant your candy finish will be, so it’s important to get it right. In this example, we use S-09 Shine Chrome, which is the highest grade in our Chrome series. Notice how clearly you can make out the letters in the reflection! You can also use other Chrome paints like S-01 Silver Plating, or even Metallic paints like M-02 Bright Silver, but each will have a slightly different effect. We will compare different chrome/metallic paints in Part 2 of this tutorial.

Step 3: Apply the clear coat

Paint used: E7 CL-01 Clear Red

The clear coat provides the final touch to your candy finish, in this case a lustrous Iron Man red. Remember to apply with a light hand, so your shiny chrome coat isn’t overly dulled. Looking for something more unusual? Check out our full range of Clear colors here, including CL-04 Clear Purple, CL-05 Clear Green and CL-08 Clear Cherry Red:

Top to bottom:
XL-05 Gloss Black > M-02 Bright Silver > CL-01 Clear Red
XL-05 Gloss Black > M-02 Bright Silver > CL-04 Clear Purple
XL-05 Gloss Black > M-02 Bright Silver > CL-05 Clear Green
XL-05 Gloss Black > M-02 Bright Silver > CL-08 Clear Cherry Red

And that’s it!

Now that you’ve read through the steps, just remember this simple rule: A good chrome coat is the key to good candy finish.

So a good gloss coat enables a good chrome coat, and a good clear coat means your chrome coat stays bright.

In the next part of this tutorial, we’ll learn what happens if you use a different colored base, and compare chrome paints for your candy finish.

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