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NMF through The Use Of Foil
Topic Started: Oct 14 2012, 04:08 PM (629 Views)
dixieflyer
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Hero
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Title kind of says it all. SAMI is running/has run a multi-part article on achieving a NMF through the application of various types of foils. I was just curious what the experienced folks here think of that method.

- Have you tried this?

- Do you like it better than trying to achieve a NMF with paint?

- Any particular pitfalls I might encounter?

What about painting and applying decals over foil vs. paint?

I can think of quite a few WWII a/c to do this on, of course, but wanted to start off small with a fighter. I'd like to do this with a Fine Molds Ki-61.

Thanks for your time and advice!

Warren
"History is the lie we all agree upon."
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kingofmen
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Least
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Having never attempted Bare Metal Foil as a NMF (or plain foil used with an adhesive), I can only comment as an observer of others' finished products. I think that almost all of them that I've seen look rather too shiny, unnatural, and occasionally toylike. I suspect you would have much better luck with Alclad, though I have been having trouble with coverage on some bottles I've gotten in the last year or so.

BTW Bare Metal Foil works very well as a canopy masking technique.
Kevin Callahan
Auburn WA USA
Visit the re-energized 72 Land blog at http://72land.blogspot.com/
All hail 1:72!
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renscho
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Petri, one of the members, has a long-term project on a Lockheed Electra that he is painstakingly using foil on...

http://z15.invisionfree.com/72nd_Aircraft/...p?showtopic=125
Robert E. Rensch
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dixieflyer
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Well, in looking at this article, it appears you can do several things to foil to alter its reflectiveness, weather it, etc. It also shows different types of foils (household aluminum foil, foil from candy wrappers, foil from various packages, etc.) being used that have different reflectivity, etc.

Just curious if anyone's tried foil, or different types of foil to do this.

Thanks for your replies so far though!

Warren
"History is the lie we all agree upon."
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Graeme H
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Hero
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I tried foil first about 30 years ago, and was pleased with the result, one thing I can say is that being a real metal, it corrodes in the same way as a real metal, so the model looked pretty poor after about 10 years, but that was with ordinary kitchen foil, I guess any attempt to stop corrosion will negate the effect of the foil in the first place.

Since Alclad II came along I am sold on it.
Graeme
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Petri
Petri Ola
[ * ]
Hi Warren,

I'll try to answer some of your questions based on my own slow progress with foiling.

Do I like it better than paint?
Foiling takes a lot of work, but it is also less stressful than applying a NMF by paint. If - and when - you make a mistake you can just remove the piece of foil and try again. No need to to strip the paint and repaint. And one can start foiling during construction since this stuff is tough and stands well to handling.

Pitfalls?
Dust is you worst enemy. Also, if your foil develops sharp creases better to take it off and try again with a new piece. One pitfall - and this is a matter of personal taste - is to have the foil too shiny. Gives a candy like appearance. I have used Micromesh and different polishing pastes to alter the shine and tone it down.

Painting and decaling?
Hard, especially with masking one has to be real careful. Some lift off of the foil is bound to happen, but usually these can smoothed back with round wooden cocktail sticks and cotton buds.

As far as decaling goes the foil stands well to setting solutions but silvering happens really easily. This is of course true also on painted NMF. Better to leave as little carrier film as possible. Also, with foil I prefer to use a drop of Future under the decal rather than any setting solutions. Better to experiment and see what you like.

Hope this was of some help :)

Best,

Petri
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dixieflyer
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Hero
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Thanks Petri! Yes, that does help. I had in mind to build up a Fine Molds Ki-61 since the insignia would be relatively simple to paint, as are some of the other markings, etc.

Warren
"History is the lie we all agree upon."
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Flyboy72nd
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Hero
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One thing that hasn't come up yet is compound curves! I did a Mustang (Matchbox) waaaaay back in '72, I think, and I will try to get some pics, but the underside of the nose was tricky due to the curvature. Very careful cutting got a decent finish IMHO.
These days there is one company name escapes me but they have several tones of foil some a shiny bird is not the only option.
The 'Stang had rub on decals so there was not a problem with setting solution.
My $00.02
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Building something Canadian, Eh! Graham; to avoid confusion M., from Canada's Capital!!
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