hello folks.
I was wondering if anyone has tried using al foil (kitchen variety) to replicate sheet metal?
how did it take to paint?
I need to find material that is workable for field made fenders on a Jeep willys
Good question. I have never tried it but I remember reading someone used it.
I think aluminum is to fragile to be used for that. Maybe you could use aluminum from a soda can, that’s thin but not so fragile. To give the paint some "grip"on the material you can prime and/or sand it.
Thanks Remco! funny how you dont think of this stuff when you are the one trying to solve the problem.
I use aluminum pans (to cook french fries). It’s available in any grocery store and it’s huge. Simply cut down to desired shape and bend and shape as you wish. Easy to handle but still strong enough. Soda can is good too.
I have painted metal foil before. The paint took pretty well. You just have to gently rough the foil and paint. Let the paint set up a while before handling ( 2+ days). If you have curved pieces, bend first and then paint.
Andy
Do you need to prime it? What type of paint have you painted foil with?
I didn’t prime, of course it wouldn’t hurt. I used acrylics with success but I’m sure enamels would be even better.
alright guys and gals, update time.
I had an old tube of testors glue that was jelled up so I figured I would give the casing a whirl.
I emptied the rest of the bad clue, I suggest doing this outside, and then cute the tip and the tail off, slit the foil lengthwise and used the handle to my hobby knife to smoothe the foil out.
oh, skipped a step, I used an old shirt to rub all the remaining glue off the inside.
this stuff takes to primer, is easy to shape, and is a decent thickness.
Nice idea! I’ll try that someday. Thanks for the update.
I use the lead foil found on wine bottles - paints well, can be easily shaped and I get to drink the wine while I model.
I would think toothpaste tube foil would also work well and give your model that just brushed smell!
A much better material for what you’re after is the thin STEEL that makes up the containers for the pepper we find in grocery stores. I just tested the cans used by McCormick brand black pepper and an off-brand found in the local Dollar store with my pocket magnet and , yep–they’re steel. This steel is thin ( close to scale thickness for body panels ) and will definitely take paint. What’s more; you can easily rust it and, with the right tools, you can form panels with compound curves that will hold its shape through handling. These pepper cans are the LOW cost alternative to craft store sheet metal.