i would like 2 try the foil technique on an a/c model
but i need some help w/ this.
does anybody have any tips on how this is done ?
like what glue 2 use, & how 2 keep the foil from wrinkling ?
i will b only doing small areas 4 contrast on this model,
hopefully that will b easier than having 2 wrap the whole thing,
but i don’t know since i’ve never done it before !
thanx in advance !
frosty
[:)]
Microscale makes an adhesive just for foil:
http://www.best1hobby.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=168&Product_Code=MY0008
(I don’t know the vendor, it’s just the first link I found.) It works pretty well, goes on like very dilute white glue, but sets very tacky; you apply a cover coat to the back of the foil (you can pick shiny or dull side for panel effects), set the foil in place, then rub it down with a soft-tip item like a q-tip, and it conforms reasonably well to surface detail. Bare metal foil is similar in approach and use, but comes as pre-adhesive foil sheets.
The trick is to work in small sections (or panels on the a/c), particularly on compound curves. If you’ve got a light touch with an Xacto knife you can trim the foil to match the panel lines once it’s down. Foil gives and stretches a bit, so wrinkles can usually be burnished out fairly easily.
It’s fun and pretty easy, particularly if you start small. (My first crack at it was a B-24, and even in 1/72 it seemed like it would go on forever, especially around all those engine cowlings.)
Good luck!
Greg
I don’t reccomend the use of house hold foil. It’s usually to thick to conform to the compound curves on an aircraft. There are special foils available to the modeler that have been specifically designed for this purpose & they come with pressure sensitive adhesive backing. The oldest & arguably the best is from Bare Metal Foil .
Regards, Rick
thanx 4 the replies, folks !
ckf, i tried the link but there was no page there…
i’ll try again…
frosty[:)]
I did it once on my B-36 just for the fact I ran out of Bare-Metal Foil (3 sheets on that beast!). I laid down a thick coat of Future and burnished it down into that. I don’t recommend it for anything other than a last resort, though. Normal foil is about 10 times thicker than Bare-Metal, and I’m sure the bond isn’t as strong. Just save yourself the trouble and buy some of the Bare-Metal right away. (Guess what? It does windows, too! ) [:D]
you had to click a link on that page…
Here’s THAT link
http://www.finescale.com/fsm/objects/pdf/foiledlightning.pdf
You could also just buy some of the chocolate bars they sell in the stores with the foil wrappers. It doesnt take much to seperate the foil from the paper its attached to. I used this to mask off a canopy I had to paint.
BTW this wasn’t my idea. Someone else posted this up here a while back. So I am not trying to take credit for anyone elses discovery.
I disagree with RJk on this one. While a bit thicker than bare metal, HH alum foil is a viable alternative as well as the alum. foil from nestle crunch bars, hershy’s chocolate or similar.
Instead of the micro mark adhesive, you can get the same (it’s called size) adhesive that people use for gold foil for much less (1 pt = $5.00) or spray mount also works as a good adhesive.
But beware, the process is tedius. You need to work with relatively small pieces (just larger than the panel. Also remember it does not “stretch” well and will tear very easily.
wow that is amazing!
thanks to ckfredrickson for the link! i might just try it.