playing around with sticky foil on a airfix 1/72 mustang

Modeling Subjects Aircraft
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I HAVE STARTED THIS ON ANOTHER FORUM AND HAVE JUST RE POSTED MY POSTS TO BRING YOU UP TO DAT AS TO WHERE I AM NOW. . It’s a sort of trial run for a 1/32 kawasaki ki-61 that I want to foil. I have tried various metal effect paints in the past and wanted to try and get a little more of a realistic finish. I have started with the foiling straight away because it calls for a fair amount of man-handling to get it stuck and burnished. I am using cheap sticky foil tape from wickes. I have started with panels that don’t overlap onto another piece as these will be done after I have stuck various others together. From what i have read, if you can, It’s best to run a whole piece over leading edges, and joints to the next panel line on the other piece. If that makes sense? Started but cutting easily manageable pieces and applying them just over the panels I want to cover. Then trimming them carefully to fit with a very sharp scalpel. Polishing them with a piece of steel. The steel is a arm from a bulldog clip! Small, smooth and gives a really high shine. I am just experimenting at the moment as i don’t want to ruin a fifty quid plus model. If anyone can give me any tips or help I would be very grateful. Kev SECOND PROGRESS POST Tonight I have covered some more of the wings. And have been playing around with different finishes. In these pics i have rubbed the surface with a glass fibre pen. The pop up ones you see in most model shops and make you itch like crazy!!!. Still finding bits in my fingers! This to me looks a bit more natural than the smooth reflective look in the earlier pics… but i am not 100% sure. It anyone thinks either is better please post an answer. It polishes right back up again in no time so no worries about changing it. It will take a coat of future so I will be able to weather it after its done. Look forward to your thoughts. Kev

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I did this once to a 1/48 mustang. It weighs a TON when done so be sure to beef up your landing gear a touch.

Looking good so far, keep at it!

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What is this cheap sticky foil?

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I’ll have to try this someday. I’ve always admired the guys that go this route with their NMF builds. Looks great!

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[snYea], I don’t have a 'Wickes; nearby. And, that looks smaller to me than 1:32 judging from your fingers but whatever size it is it’s looking very nice and you’re doing a great job. If it’s smaller than 1:32 then even more impressive - did you mean 1/72 and a Mustang rather the KI-61. Looking forward to more posts!

Edit: just realized you said a ‘trial run’ for a KI-61. You’re KI-61 should be beautiful,

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You can also dullcote some of the panels to break things up. When you get to the Ki-61, it may also help using a fresh sheet of foil, seems the glue dries out some as the sheet ages. Looking great so far.

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Yep guys its 1/72 scale and its the cheap sticky foil from the hardware store. Thick but strong you can work it without any worries of tearing but takes a lot to get it in the detail.

Kev

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This is the latest pics, one showing the foil. It’s very cheap. I think its used to join insulation slabs together. It’s too industrial for this really but its a good learning process. The other pics is of the wings joined up and leading edges done and one tip.

Cheers for looking

Kev

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Repost of the pics Hope they post now. Kev

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Kev,

I’m thoroughly impressed!!! I have some of that foil and would not have thought to try it - and surely not on 1/72. Could you share what tools you use to burnish it to the surface and into/over small details. I’m looking forward to your KI-61 build – hope you post it here.

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The tools I have been using are a bit crude… A sharpened tooth pick to push into the detail and panel lines. A piece of stainless steel wire about 3mm in diameter to polish it . Just rubbing it across the surface. And a glass fibre pen like a POP up pencil but about 3 mm in diameter fill with glass fibre. Using that to add the sort of brushed effect. This foil can be worked the second you stick it on. So it is actually quite quick. Stick, cut, polish/burnish, next bit and so on. No glue to dry or apply. Just cut, peel, and stick.

Kev

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I have finished the wings. Not hugely happy with them but wrinkled around the cannons and tips. But for a first time practice they are not bad. The foil is definitely too thick. For 1/72 anyway. Done some more on the wing root too.

Thanks for looking

Kev

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had to repost pics again!!

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Not sure why sometimes the pics appear as links not pics. But i will keep trying Kev

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I’ll take a look-see at this stuff next time I’m around it, thanks for the idea and pics of your results.

On a large scale model I could see using this stuff to replicate thick panels and patches…[I]

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"I’ll take a look-see at this stuff next time I’m around it, thanks for the idea and pics of your results.

On a large scale model I could see using this stuff to replicate thick panels and patches…"

Mustang.

I think you are right. This is more like aluminum cladding!!! Still going to finish it to see how it looks.

Kev

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Looks amazing Kev. Gonna try it on that old Lightning kit I’ve been meaning to build

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I can just see this on a 32 scale P-38…wow that looks cool!

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Thanks guys. I AM looking forward to joining the fuse. Then I can run the pieces across the top and bottom. That should look impressive. Not looking forward to the radiator scoop though!!

Kev