Search the Community

For more than 30 years , I've been reading about and seeing results of aluminium foil ( Reynolds Wrap , et al. ) emblem transfers , and I'm yet to have any success in making my own ! What am I doing wrong ? I make the impression , fill its backside with epoxy ( mixed "hot" and "cold" --- doesn't seem to matter ) , and wait ... ... and end up with trash ! What's the secret ? Is there a specific epoxy ? Super Glue ?

Pet peeve of mine, why couldn't they make the back of the headlight concave, like the real thing? This is AMT's '50 Chevy pickup, nice kit, but the flat headlight reflector is almost as lame as molded on chrome headlights. This technique could work for those lenses with the locating pin too, after sanding off the pin (Revell 240Z for example). 1. Remove the center of the bezel. In this case, used the Dremel; you could drill a small hole and ream out with a blade. I kept the bezel on the tree for easier handling. 2. I used a round file to work to the bezel, leaving what I hope is enough ledge for the lens. I also removed the remaining back locating "pin", making the edge thin as possible. 3. I scavenge things like thick shiny foil, this may have come from Christmas decorations. Wine bottle foil could work, not the stuff with plastic on it, but real foil on more expensive wine, and that needs to be polished first. Reynolds foil is too thin. 4. I used the drill press to make a hole the same size as the bezel, in a scrap piece of Corian. I'm not thrilled with the rough edge, but it will not be seen. I think using wood would be worse. 5. I put a paper towel over the foil, then pressed down with a finger and rotated back and forth. Go just enough to create the dish, too much and foil will crease or rip. 6. Cut with scissors, very carefully to not bend the rim. I left about a 30° tab, and folded so I could use to position using tweezers. 7. Good idea to paint silver first, on the cut bezel edge. 8. I dabbed tiny drops of superglue at 4 spots, 2 would be bare minimum. Then I placed the foil and made sure it was centered. After a couple of minutes, I applied more glue so it would capillary around about half that is opposite the tab. After that was set, cut off the tab with the knife, then finished gluing. 9. I plan to use JB Weld on the back after getting the second one done, so I won't accidentally dent the foil. 10. I expect to taper the hole on the fender so they sit flush. Just a little trick I've developed, hope this helps!

so i cant get the stuff at my local hobby lobby they wont carry it and im looking for alternatives that could maybe found local hobby lobby home depot michael and one other craft store i foget the name i need something that will work for window trim and wheel well ect i found it on ebay but its rather expensive when you incude shipping for just one sheet is there anything i can use or other brands of this stuff that may be cheaper i was thinking checking home depot for metal duct taping used in ac but i think that will be way to thick i have my trim painted silver but they just dont stand out and need the bare metal foil look am i just going to have to buy from them do they corner the market ?? thank you for any help -rob

Hello professionals! I'm a new here and to car collecting. I had experience on collecting airplanes but it was a long time ago.. in childhood. Now I do more serious stuff. I love Cadillac classics and my first project is 1959 Cadillac Biarritz Convertible. I want to make it perfectly done. I bought lots of tools, paints, etc. So far this is my first project and I don't know a lot of stuff. Actually chrome parts, trim, etc. And my first question is.. how to hide white pieces of plastic after filing? I made shape very smooth but I don't know how to mask. What do you do? Is it possible to match the manufacturer chrome? Thank you for all answers! Here's my situation: