Hi all,
I want to try the Bare-metal foil mask on my canopies, but would like to know how easy it it to remove, including the adhesive that might be left behind without ruining the clear canopy. Any help would be much appreciated.
If Gerald is reading this, I’ve just given your Talon silver paint a test run and although it took a little while to get it right through my airbrush, the results have been great-Thanks.
Leo
I’ve done a few bmf masks - I think the most important thing from my experience is to make sure you coat your canopy well with future to help release the foil. I’m not sure what type of foil you are going to use - i.e. ready made or homemade, I have only used homemade as I can regulate how much adhesive goes on, and so far I have had pretty good results.
edikiz is dead on … make sure that if you’re going to use BMF to first coat your clear pieces in Future. Next, make sure that you burnish the edges down really well to keep paint from flowing under the foil. I am BY FAR an expert at using BMF … I’ve failed many times trying to cover a model with it, but as far as using it for a mask … its great. Its also a great way to learn and practice using the stuff, IMO.
Just practice, practice, practice … that’s really the only other thing that I can tell you.
Glad to hear that Leo.
BMF as a mask can be a labor intesive process. I am back to using tape and now something new that I picked up from Sprue Brothers…a liquid mask. I am very pleased with how well this stuff works. I just slopped it on the canopy and let it cure. Once cured I used a very sharp blade to score along the frame lines and pull away to expose what I want to paint. After painting the masked area removed easily and effortlessly. No residue and it can be used with Future with no ill effects.
edikiz & modelchasm-I’ve never heard of using anything other than BMF, are you guys talking about kitchen foil, if so what adhesive do you use. Also I always future my canopies regardless.
Gerald-Does this mask dry the same as the Humbrol product? Because I’ve tried the Humbrol and have found that it dries a bit rubbery if you know what I mean, and find it hard to cut even with a new sharp blade.
Cheers Leo
Not as bad…all masking has to have some elasticity to it to do what it does. You might try using a rounded edge blade and use the press and roll method of slicing…you can do this with a straight edge too but the rounded blade makes it a bit easier.
Thanks Gerald, I will give it a try on my current F-104.
Leo
Just like the guys here said, first dip the canopy in Future and let it cure. Next, burnish the bare metal foil down over the canopy and, with a SHARP Xacto knife, trim away those areas to receive the paint.
After painting, I maily use a toothpick to lift up the corner of the foil. Then I typically use a pair of tweezers to pull up the rest of the foil. I’m always left with the BMF adhesive residue so I always use a Q-tip with some “Goo-Gone” on it and it works like a charm! Takes the adhesive right off and doesn’t mar the clear canopy! I’m left with a crystal clear canopy with sharply painted framework!
Eric
You can also paint the BMF then slice it into the appropriate width strips and apply the framing that way. Seen some guys use thin paper tape to do this as well.