Q. re: Bare metal foil as a masking agent.

I am trying to use bare metal foil on some 1/72 scale aircraft canopies with
little success. I am using a black coloured foil. Is their a difference in
the adhesive qualities of this product between the different variations?
When I peel back the trimmed portion I quite often get the rest coming with
it [8]

Here’s some tips I believe I received from Paul Boyer of FSM. Bare Metal foil does a nice job for masking if you…

  1. Do a clear coat of Future floor polish on the canopy and let dry for a good 24 hours.
  2. Apply the foil and burnish it with something like a cotton swab or rounded piece of wood. You want to make sure you get into all the corners.
  3. Scribe around the canopy frames with a no. 11 hobby knife. You want a good clean line so make sure you don’t wander away from the lines.
  4. Don’t leave the foil on too long! I made that mistake once and paid the price. If you get the foil off within the first day or so you’ll have no problems. If you leave it on for a month it becomes one with the canopy. Don’t go there!

I’ve never heard of the color or associated adhesive being an issue. That’s about all I can tell you. Perhaps somebody else has a thought.
Dave

Make sure you use a FRESH blade when cutting foil. It’s worth the 10 cents and you will not have the same troubles as using a dull knife.

M.

Can anybody tell me where I can get Bare Metal Foil? I’ve asked for it in pretty much every single hobby shop in town and nobody carries it…does it have anything different as a brand name or something???
Thanks in advance

Order it on line direct from them. Here is their link…

http://www.bare-metal.com/

While you’re there be sure to read some of their articles. They cary many fine products too.

Good luck!
Dave