I'm becoming a total water-head?

[Aqua Zombie]

No media blasting on this one Hydroid... Though you could. I have used black bueaty on alunimum before. It will alter the surface of the metal a bit though. I don't know about other media out there' as I have only used black bueaty on alunimum. Wallnut shells might be softer and may have less of a "splash" when it hits the metal. I would get yourself a scrap alunimum cased something (transmission tail housing, piece of a transfer case, alternator, anything cast/scrap/cheap-free) and hit it with your media, Then shoot some paint on it to see if you like the result. Just try to find a casting that has about the same finish as the condition of your tower. I would still strip the final pieces chemically afterwards though, as alunimum is a bit porous. The media removes paint on the surface in a hurry, but if anything is left permiated in the casting such as dirt, water, oil, rust, or even paint, it may show up later, just as the judge is about to critique it.