Bare Metal Foil overcoat?

General Discussion General Modeling Discussion
1

Hi gang!

I’m planning on finishing my next plane (a Reno racer P-51) in BMF. I’ve only done this once before on an F-84 which I used for “practice”. While working decalling the F-84 I wasn’t overly thrilled with the way the carrier film showed up on the BMF. I trimmed as closely as I could on most of the decals but you know how it is. You can’t trim out between the letters of things like stenciling, “do not push” markings, etc. On a regular warbird I can always overcoat the plane with a gloss or flat coat or whatever it needs and it sort of blends in the decals to the finish. Has anyone ever applied a topcoat to BMF and not lose the brilliant finish on it?

Thanks!

Eric

2

Top coating has never hurt it the times I have done it, but if in doubt just shoot a test panel from plastic stock. I keep a junker plane around to test things on.

3

I’m sorry but I don’t build junker planes. LOL! JUST KIDDING! I’ve got an HE-111 that I use for a hack model. I guess I’ll need to put on some BMF and shoot it with Future and see what happens. I’m hoping the topcoat serves two purposes: 1) to better blend in the decals, and 2) to seal the BMF down to the plastic beneath.

4

I have clear coated over BMF many times on car models, there has never been any ill effect to the paint or the foil. Be absolutly sure there are no hairs or dark dust particles on the surface before clear coating though, there is no going back. Maybe Future would be a good overcoat due to its ease of removal.

5

Has any one used Glosscote and Dullcote on foil to do contasting panels?

6

I’m sure it could be done, paint the whole thing with Glosscote and then mask off the ones you want shiny and paint the rest.

7

Roadkilll wrote:

I found that putting bmf down 90 degrees to each other gives a contrasting panel look:

It has a grain pattern that will look very shiny in one direction and dull in another.

I also have used the backside of wet n dry sandpaper to dull out the finish:

I’m a beginner at this BMF stuff, so I’m sure there is much more to it, and others with more experience have good tips to show!

Regards, Dan

8

Thats all I use to do a BM finish. I’ve tried the various paints, but I could never get the hang of using them and the foil is a lot easier to use. Now I’ve just got to figuire out how to apply colors on top of the foil.

9

They also make regular BMF and something Ultra Chrome BMF, the Ultra Chrome is much thinner that the regular BMF but there is a definate difference in the finishes.

10

I finally received my World Jet Reno racer (Griffon engined P-51) and I cannot WAIT to get it started. The HPM kit is done in soft blue plastic and has LOTS of flash on it but I always figured that was the least thing to worry about when it comes to models. That’s why they invented sanding sticks. I think I might post some pics of the build in progress. I really would like to cover this using something like the Ultra Chrome BMF but now I’m wondering if I should use the chrome AlClad. Oh decisions, decisions!!!

Eric