Painting bare metal foil

[GLMFAA1]

Can you or has someone painted bare metal foil and then applied to a model?

greg

[Dpate]

Hmmm would be tough because you have to burnish it down.  Test on a small section of BMF.  Spray it, apply it to a test part, and start burnishing it down and see what happens.  

[StevenGuthmiller]

Doubtful.

I can't see paint being flexible enough to be able to withstand the rigorous handling required.

 

 

Steve

 

[stitchdup]

about the only way i can see it working is if you use pva glue and some tint but even that would be a long shot,

[jaymcminn]

Painting after application? Sure, I do it all the time. But I don't see any way paint will survive the application and burnishing process. It'll flake off. 

[NOBLNG]

They do make BMF in black, gold and copper if those were one of the colors you were thinking of painting it?

[Steve H]

I tried it once with mediocre results. I wanted all the chrome to be “smoked”. I sprayed a small section of foil in smoke, then applied VERY carefully, still there was cracking etc.  I was happy enough with the result, as this is just a curb side, but likely won’t try again.

[Perspect Scale Modelworks]

8 hours ago, NOBLNG said:

They do make BMF in black, gold and copper if those were one of the colors you were thinking of painting it?

Do the colors hold up to burnishing?

[NOBLNG]

54 minutes ago, Perspective Customs said:

Do the colors hold up to burnishing?

I have never used them. I would think they must. Maybe someone on here knows for sure?

[Steve H]

The black definitely does, and I imagine the others would too. The black that I have has very poor adhesive, and I have read elsewhere on this board that others had the same experience. That may be improved now…

[Bills72sj]

Interesting question. I would tend to think not. I am soon to attempt decals over BMF as I need a silver,chrome underlay on my Rocket 455 air cleaner decal.

[StevenGuthmiller]

2 hours ago, Perspective Customs said:

Do the colors hold up to burnishing?

Not very well.

You definitely do not want to polish it once it's applied.

The Gold is just a coating over regular BMF and will polish off very easily.

I would imagine that the copper would be the same, though I have not tried it.

 

 

 

Steve

[W Humble]

I wouldn't try painting foil and then applying it -- it's frustrating enough without complications!  However, to simulate the original 'metallic' look of early 'sixties Pontiac 'Morrokide" (vinyl) upholstery, I first use chrome or aluminum BMF on the seat-cover facings, then do a layer of translucent or 'candy' color, usually brushed.  Most PMD cars had at least three-toned seats, so this gives two -- over primer or white, then over BMF.  Catches the eye.

[Jurva]

A fellow Finnish modeler does paint to the BMF. He uses Enamel paints, as they are flexible for a while. Like wood patterns. 

[Radretireddad]

I’ve airbrushed and hand brushed Tamiya acrylic paints on to pieces of BMF and applied them as usual burnishing with a cotton swab. I used Tamiya semi gloss black on the Honda and rubber black on the F100. I did this after making the mistake of buying a sheet of BMF black chrome which, for some reason, has practically nonexistent adhesive and the color rubs off.

[peteski]

Yes, BMF foil is really the best if using their metallic color foils.   You might have had a batch which was made when they had production problems with their adhesives (around COVID pandemic time). But even if the adhesive was good, that foil has a shiny surface, not really good for representing plastic or rubber on model cars.  Yours looks more realistic with it's satin/flat finish.  I'm glad to see that the Tamiya acrylic paint adhesion to the metal foil is good enough to withstand burnishing.

There is a BMF foiling technique discussed on another thread on the forum where you first apply thin strip of masking tape to create a cutting guide around the window opening for trimming the foil. Using that method, especially if there is no molded-in gasket on the body, makes trimming the foil easier.