SPA Modeler

Sorry it took me a few days, but I get sidetracked easily these days. Here's the picture I took that kind of surprised me when I was reviewing it. My main purpose was to show a friend the side view after applying decals, what I got was that and a great example of how well the foil reflects. Bear in mind, I haven't buffed it. This is it's natural reflection.



Notice the reflection at the wing root. Hardly any distortion at all. The foil used is Matte Aluminum. I can't imagine how Chrome would look!

I did monograms 1/48 scale B-29 in bare metal foil, discovered several things:

1: BMF has a grain which shows up when you lay to pieces for foil side by side. (see the pic in the previous post, look down the US Air Force decal and you can see it between the letters "CE FE")
2: Tight rounded curves are a ^%*$*!!
3: Decals will come off the bare metal foil after a year or two. The foil doesn't allow a good bond for the decals adhesive. Many of the large decals began to come off my B-29 about 2 years later.
4: Looks cool as 'ell when done right!

My B-29 http://s249.photobucket.com/user/wed192 ... t=3&page=1

Warren, I just had a look at the pictures of your B-29. Matey, this is beautiful!
Is this all done using "Bare Metal Foil", or did you use standard household aluminium foil, too? Oh, I second your point #2...

How about adding a coat of clear gloss after the decals; should hold them on the model?!?

Wow! That's impressive. I have some BMF but I've never used it like that. May have to try it on the test bed.

Thomas_M wrote:Warren, I just had a look at the pictures of your B-29. Matey, this is beautiful!
Is this all done using "Bare Metal Foil", or did you use standard household aluminium foil, too? Oh, I second your point #2...

How about adding a coat of clear gloss after the decals; should hold them on the model?!?

It was all BFM. Cost me 3 times at much for the foil then it did the kit. Guess I have been sniffing to much glue fumes. Not sure on the gloss coat if it would help or not.

Very sharp looking indeed!

wedfactory wrote:I did monograms 1/48 scale B-29 in bare metal foil, discovered several things:

1: BMF has a grain which shows up when you lay to pieces for foil side by side. (see the pic in the previous post, look down the US Air Force decal and you can see it between the letters "CE FE")
2: Tight rounded curves are a ^%*$*!!
3: Decals will come off the bare metal foil after a year or two. The foil doesn't allow a good bond for the decals adhesive. Many of the large decals began to come off my B-29 about 2 years later.
4: Looks cool as 'ell when done right!

My B-29 http://s249.photobucket.com/user/wed192 ... t=3&page=1

One nice thing about the grain, is the ability to represent different panels, without buying additional sheets. Just turn the next piece, and presto! it looks like a different sheet of metal.

As for number 2, there aren't enough "colorful adjectives" to describe a tight corner, both inner or outer.

I'll be covering mine in a clear coat, so I'll see how well that helps.

and number 4 is the truth!


Btw-that B-29 is fantastic!

The Dart looks great although I still prefer the ADC Grey. The one problem I have with this kit and every F 102 and F 106 kit I've seen is the split elevons. For some reason these kit makers think 102's and 106's had flaps. If they had flaps and the flaps were lowered it would raise the trailing edge and compress the nose gear. Check walk around photos of F 102 and F 106 aircraft and you will see one piece elevons. Other than that nit pick it's a beautiful aircraft.