Are the top plates of the II and IIa chromed or painted?

[Pirate]

I've got a IIa coming and the top plate has a lot of flaking. From the pictures I can't tell if it was just a real bad chrome job or if it was paint.

I would love to take this apart and make it a Black Paint "Panda" IIa.

Thoughts? Comments? Suggestions?

Here's a pic of it from the ebay ad:

 

[Pirate]

That's why i want to make a Black Paint II and IIa. I think it would be unique.

I wonder if they would be worth reselling with a CLA?

 

[farlymac]

Have you thought maybe of a nice hammertone paint?

PF

 

[Pirate]

That's to gray for liking. I'm drawn more to the black paint. However, while at the hardware store today, i started looking at all the different colours on the paint isle and wondered how a little model IIa would look in Red, or Blue, or Green....