When to apply Bare Metal foil ?

General Discussion General Modeling Discussion
1

Hello; I have not built a plastic model in about 40 years. I have been involved with R/C planes but would like to get back into plastic scale model cars. Thanks to the internet and you tube I have found alot of information on the subject including building techniques and painting with an air brush. I am going to try Bare Metal foiling and was wondering if you put it on after or before you polish you car? Any information on this would be appreciated. Thanks.

2

Try posting this in the automotive threads you might get a better response

3

Calmo2 ;

He’s right about posting it in automotive . But to save you some time . I use the foil BEFORE the final two coats of clear .This way it’s been polished , the car body is clean and it also locks the foil in place permanently in place at the fiddly corners where it might come loose first .

It’s okay to put it on and just coat the foil areas with clear , then polish to your heart’s content . I have done it all the ways you can think of and that have been recommended . Tanker - Builder

4

Thanks. I am new to this site. Now I see where the automotive section is. Thanks again.

5

Thanks Tanker-Builder. I kind of thought that would be the way to do it. That way it locks it down to the model. Like I said it has been a long time since I built a plastic model. All these new techniques are some what new to me. I am glad I found this site, I know I will get alot of info from other modelers here . Thanks again.

6

I like to clear coat before I apply the foil. While it’s true that the foil gets locked down, I think it looks more like chrome trim when it’s above the paint.

Ken

7

hi Ken;

In most instances I would agree .I have found though , that some of the fiddly trim ( little tiny pieces) are best applied before paint or clearcoat .This way they cannot come off.

For instance lettering or door handles etc. T.B.

8

Thanks guys; I think I am goint to put the foil on and then clear coat it. Have any of you guys used that Pledge with Future as a clear coat. I used it on my windows but not sure about using as a clear coat but alot of guys on youtube use it. Thanks again.

9

Hi ;

I have for some reason NOT had good luck with Future or any of the product under any new names . I have had it streak and fisheye more times than I care to count .

Even applying it with an a.b. and getting a nice smooth coat there’s those darned fisheyes again . I finally gave up and used a product called GlassCote . T.B.

10

Thanks Tank-Builder. I have never tried it but I just got a dual action airbrush and I am going to experiment with it and see what happens. I have some Tamiya X-22 clear but I live up here in Canada and this morning it was 16 below celcius so I do my painting in my basement and I am trying to get away from the fumes of lacquer based acrylics for the winter time. Thanks again.

11

Another thought is to use adhesive for regular aluminum foil. Now, I wouldn’t recommend this for bumpers or details, but if you’re ‘aluminizing’ an aircraft or larger areas, it works well and is inexpensive. I used Micro Metal Foil Adhesive by Micro Scale for the entire 1/32 B-17G, then on a 1/48 scale Y1B-17 and it worked quite well. There are how-to articles in FSM.

Welcome to the forums!

Ron

12

Thanks Ron: I am mainly building car models so I will only be using the Bare Metal Foil in things like around windows a windshields and chrome seperation strips down the side of a car like the 56 Ford Victoria I am building. I have bean building RC planes for the last 15 years and now I am running out of space for all the planes and helicopters I have.[*-)] But I am retired and I have to pass my time in the winter so I thought I would get back into building model cars. Thanks again. Cal.