1 The Alclad series are lacquer based. I've used Halfords plastic primer under them with no problem. I would definitely test an acrylic primer before committing to your model as it goes against the usual 'rule of thumb' to use one under a lacquer. That doesn't mean that it won't work, but be careful.
2 You don't need to thin the products.
3 I haven't used the Alclad gloss black base but I have seen it first hand on a model. It gives a pretty good gloss black to my eye, certainly equivalent to the Humbrol I used. I was avoiding the Alclad because, at the time, there were issues with drying which now seem to have been solved.
Whatever you use make sure to leave plenty of time for each coat to dry and completely cure or you will end up with an imperfect finish. I used Humbrol gloss black as an undercoat on my Eastern Airlines model and left it for about a week to be on the safe side! This is highly polished aluminium rather than chrome, but the principles are the same.
I've never found Alclad to be a particularly fragile finish. I've masked it with 'de-tacked'
Tamiya tape and rarely had a problem with that. I'd say it's equivalent to most acrylic finishes in toughness. You can coat it, once dried, in a clear varnish and it doesn't have to be Alclad's. I use Klear. Any varnish will detract slightly from the highly polished finishes whilst being almost unnoticeable on the 'normal' (aluminium etc) finishes.
Cheers
Steve
