Thought I would report back on the tank saga - interesting to note that in late April I decided to go the resto of my old one road and here we are with me picking the tank up from the platers on 24/12. It's OK but from reading here my advice to anyone in australia is to take the transport risk and send it to Geelong as Mark recommended. A class metal finishers in Adelaide did a barely acceptable job at $420 and after 2 goes. There are pits and linnish marks if you look closely but not bad from a distance. And I missed the bit when I said to him when dropping off the tank that did he see any problems with the tank that had been dent knocked, and not that money isnt important but I just want a good job and if it costs more thats fine but he said it will be $350 and "it will be that" I seem to recall him saying. I said i was picky, and had seen work with linish marks in it and was prepared to pay more if it meant going down to extra fine grades etc and there was absolutely no rush. Time taken was much longer than estimated and included monthly calls just to check things OK but still told him i was patient and just wanted a good job. My December call he said that they had trouble and had to do it again but still hoped to get it to me by xmas - I thanked him for taking the time to see it is right. Picked it up and it was better than some of the rubbish i have got back from other local platers but I asked him about the pits and he said there was nothing they could do about it, it was an old tank etc. Now I don't know why that isn't what he told me when I dropped it off, said i was a picky bastard and did he see any problems. I did point out to him that I had the option of getting a new indian tank and potentially getting it re worked and plated. I asked couldn't they put more copper on and work it and he looked shocked and said, "no way, this is a tank and can only be chromed straight onto steel" I said - are you sure, i'm sure ive heard of people doing that - he said yes they are doing this on a very rare tank and they had to make up special plugs etc and was going to cost megadollars. Then I read the posts on here and realise the guy is full of s***! Sounds like it is not an issue for Geelong and they charged the same sort of money to do the job right.
But sometimes you have to just have to write it off to experience and get on with life. My conclusion is there is nobody in Adelaide that can do decent chrome - is it that bigger ask? I suppose in future if I sent the tanks to Geelong in bubble wrap and then took the 16 hour round trip drive to pick it up, catch up with a mate or two, maybe line it up with something at Phillip Island........ think positive!!
And now for paint - very tempted to do it myself so I only have myself to blame but I wonder if 2 pack is a good idea for durability and fuel resistance - any opinions? Otherwise it will be acrylic with a clear coat.