Lovefordgalaxie Posted March 29, 2015 Share Posted March 29, 2015 Well, I think everybody have noticed BMF is going worse and worse. The last sheets I got have a ugly and prominent texture like orange peel, and will make the model to look very unrealistic. Being kind of used to the easy to use of BMF when compared to my old technique of household aluminum foil and white glue, I decided to give a try at making my very own foil, at home, for cheap, and better than the regular BMF. Just went to my favorite craft store, and got water based "gold leaf bond" or verniz mordente in Portuguese (literal translation would be biting varnish). This is how I did it: The varnish was applied very thin with a brush on the back side (the less shiny side) of the regular household aluminum foil (the cheaper and thinner the better), and after about 10 minutes it gets tacky, just like the BMF glue. I then cut pieces of the foil, and used it just like BMF. The results put the commercial stuff to shame, to say the very least. Compare on the picture of the trim on my '57 Chevy. The hood trim was given a home made foil treatment. The fender "eyebrow" was foiled with Bare Metal Foil. Look at the difference in texture. Also used my home made foil to restore a little part of a Monogram '57 Chevy bumper, that was scratched from rolling inside the box. Again it worked like a charm. I won't be buying BMF anymore. Making my own foil. BMF never again. by Lovefordgalaxie, on Flickr Making my own foil. BMF never again. by Lovefordgalaxie, on Flickr Making my own foil. BMF never again. by Lovefordgalaxie, on Flickr Making my own foil. BMF never again. by Lovefordgalaxie, on Flickr Making my own foil. BMF never again. by Lovefordgalaxie, on Flickr Making my own foil. BMF never again. by Lovefordgalaxie, on Flickr Making my own foil. BMF never again. by Lovefordgalaxie, on Flickr Making my own foil. BMF never again. by Lovefordgalaxie, on Flickr Making my own foil. BMF never again. by Lovefordgalaxie, on Flickr Making my own foil. BMF never again. by Lovefordgalaxie, on Flickr Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovefordgalaxie Posted March 29, 2015 Author Share Posted March 29, 2015 Making my own foil. BMF never again. by Lovefordgalaxie, on Flickr Making my own foil. BMF never again. by Lovefordgalaxie, on Flickr Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angelo7 Posted March 29, 2015 Share Posted March 29, 2015 I like this. I'll be trying it myself. Thanks for sharing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roadrunner Posted March 29, 2015 Share Posted March 29, 2015 You can also soak the foil (before adding glue) in a bowl of vinegar with a penny, to add a nice patina to the foil. Some aircraft modelers do this frequently. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrObsessive Posted March 29, 2015 Share Posted March 29, 2015 Wow what a difference! And yes, BMF's quality has been suffering over the past few years sadly. I still have sheets from years ago so when my supply runs out, I'll definitely give this a shot! Thanks Túlio! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quick GMC Posted March 29, 2015 Share Posted March 29, 2015 also, you can get thicker or thinner foil. I buy the industrial foil pack at Costco. I smoke a lot of meat and stuff on the smoker, so I go through a lot, but in a pinch I'll grab stuff at the local store and it's much thinner. Either way, this seems to be much more durable than BMF Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snake45 Posted March 29, 2015 Share Posted March 29, 2015 Fabulous tutorial, thanks much! I've been doing much the same thing for years using Microscale Metal Foil Adhesive. I've long suspected the product could be bought cheaper in a craft store if I knew what to look for, so MANY thanks for that! I apply it using a finger, just smearing it on thin. No brush strokes, no loose brush hairs, nothing to clean up but my finger. I also found that the glue wanted to "bead up" on the foil, leaving holes in the coverage. I found this could be beat by roughing up the backside with a Scotchbrite pad. Doing so acts something like a primer, giving the glue something to grip onto and/or breaking up its surface tension. Solves the problem completely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atomicholiday Posted March 30, 2015 Share Posted March 30, 2015 That's a pretty convincing argument right there! Anybody have any idea what a "gold leaf bond" or verniz mordente substitute would be called here in the states? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vintagercr Posted March 30, 2015 Share Posted March 30, 2015 Tulio, that's great! Thanks for sharing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miatatom Posted March 30, 2015 Share Posted March 30, 2015 OK guys, our OP here is from Brazil. I've searched Michaels and Hobby Lobby on line using gold leaf bond and verniz mordente and got nothing. Anyone have an idea what we can substitute for it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
my66s55 Posted March 31, 2015 Share Posted March 31, 2015 I have found it at Michael's years ago, but they stopped carrying it. Hobby Lobby carries a different brand than what I have, but it should work just as well. You are looking for "metal leaf adhesive" not "gold leaf bond". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miatatom Posted March 31, 2015 Share Posted March 31, 2015 Thanks my66s55! I found this http://www.michaels.com/mona-lisa-metal-leaf-adhesive/10012964.html and this http://shop.hobbylobby.com/products/metal-leaf-brush-on-adhesive-703173/ Both appear to be water based. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy Ed Posted March 31, 2015 Share Posted March 31, 2015 Thae Adhesive for Gold/Silver Leafing is also caled Leafing Size or Adhesive Size. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovefordgalaxie Posted March 31, 2015 Author Share Posted March 31, 2015 Ok gentlemen, I asked a friend of mine that does craft work on statues and art work in general about the glue. He is Brazilian and is making a post graduation course in the U.S. He told me the product called "Mona Lisa Metal Leaf Adhesive" is the very same product I'm using. Water base, brush on the back of the foil, and in about 10 to 15 minutes it gets tacky. The product i'm using is made by Brazilian company Acrilex, and they use the same formula, that has being around since about the 1940s... Also got some candy bar wrap foil, and the stuff is just the same gauge foil as BMF. You can buy it on rolls at food businesses supply stores. The technical name is lead foil, and although the name it has no lead on it. It's just a very thin, chrome foil to wrap chocolate bars, and other kind of candy. Did a test foiling a prepaint Edsel body with the candy bar wrap and my leaf glue, and the result was even better than with regular household aluminum foil. Light years ahead of BMF. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atomicholiday Posted March 31, 2015 Share Posted March 31, 2015 I wonder if you could also use mylar? The stuff those "chrome looking" balloons are made from. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snake45 Posted March 31, 2015 Share Posted March 31, 2015 I wonder if you could also use mylar? The stuff those "chrome looking" balloons are made from. I think it would work great for simple curves, but not for compound curves. I've been meaning to try that myself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tesla Posted March 31, 2015 Share Posted March 31, 2015 Thanks for this info. I will definitely give it a try!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miatatom Posted March 31, 2015 Share Posted March 31, 2015 Ok gentlemen, I asked a friend of mine that does craft work on statues and art work in general about the glue. He is Brazilian and is making a post graduation course in the U.S. He told me the product called "Mona Lisa Metal Leaf Adhesive" is the very same product I'm using. Water base, brush on the back of the foil, and in about 10 to 15 minutes it gets tacky. I looked for it this morning at the local Michaels. Their computer listed it as discontinued. I guess I'll try the stuff at HL. Too bad it's $5.99 vs. $3.99 at Michaels. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snake45 Posted March 31, 2015 Share Posted March 31, 2015 If you have a real hobby shop in your town, you might find Micro Metal Foil Adhesive, which is great stuff. Or they can order it for you. Or you can order it yourself from Squadron or another supplier catering to the model airplane trade. That of course would be expensive, but even a small bottle lasts a LONG time. I've been using the same bottle for 20 or more years now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MoparWoman Jamie Posted April 1, 2015 Share Posted April 1, 2015 (edited) I been using spray glue & aluminum foil trick for years for model car builds. To be honest it sure out past hobby bmf stuff I would say by a long shot an looks more real as well. Why worry about a shelf life of bmf sheets when you can make your own very easy plus when you want it or need an have the choice of dull look or shinny look just by a side of a single piece. Edited April 1, 2015 by M0par Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miatatom Posted April 1, 2015 Share Posted April 1, 2015 I been using spray glue & aluminum foil trick for years for model car builds. To be honest it sure out past hobby bmf stuff I would say by a long shot an looks more real as well. Why worry about a shelf life of bmf sheets when you can make your own very easy plus when you want it or need an have the choice of dull look or shinny look just by a side of a single piece. Jim, what brand of spray glue do you use? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BubbaJoe Posted April 1, 2015 Share Posted April 1, 2015 WOW....what a fantastic tip...heading to HL today..thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DumpyDan Posted April 1, 2015 Share Posted April 1, 2015 Just got a link to this, and like they said WOW! If the results are that good, someone better watch there bottom line, cause we are all going to make our own foil. Thanks Tulio Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovefordgalaxie Posted April 1, 2015 Author Share Posted April 1, 2015 Well guys, I went back to that food businesses supply store and was happy to find the candy wrap foil in sheets for a very low price when compared to BMF. A 100 sheets package costed about 10 Reais. That's about four Dollars!! For 100 sheets!! Each sheet is just a little smaller than a BMF sheet (there are several sizes available), and has the same capability to make compound curves or even better, as it can be smoothed with a Q-tip leaving no wrinkles behind. Used my regular glue I showed you before, and did a test foiling a AMT prepaint Edsel. It came out better than the one I foiled with BMF. Just after foiling, I put the body back on the box, as I won't assemble the kit now, but when I decide to do so, the foiling is done. The foil package. Big enough to make about any trim on a 1/25 scale car without seams. Making my own foil. BMF never again. by Lovefordgalaxie, on Flickr Making my own foil. BMF never again. by Lovefordgalaxie, on Flickr The result on my prepaint Edsel. Making my own foil. BMF never again. by Lovefordgalaxie, on Flickr Making my own foil. BMF never again. by Lovefordgalaxie, on Flickr Making my own foil. BMF never again. by Lovefordgalaxie, on Flickr After foiling, if you want more shine, just polish the trim with car wax. The trim won't come off like BMF sometimes does, especially when it's a little on the old side. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foxer Posted April 1, 2015 Share Posted April 1, 2015 This is a great subject ... feels like the '70s discussing this! So, what's wrong with BMF ... are they just cheapening materials to increase profits like everyone else is doing? They certainly don't have a customer relations department as they never seem respond to anything happening to their product. I have old sheets from 20 years ago so I'm good for some time but it's hard to believe anyone could let their product degrade as you guys describe .. so sad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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