Question about Bare Metal Foil

[John Truby]

When do you apply the BMF?

Before or after clear coating the body?

Thanks,

John

[JamesW]

Some people apply before and some people after. It just depends on how you want to do it. Applying before clear helps seal it to the body without worrying whether it will lift after a couple years.

[LVZ2881]

I like to clear over it if at all possible....

helps seal it, keep it from tarnishing and keeps it from lifting,,

[Guest]

After clearcoating. I have never had BMF lift. I have builds from 1993, no problems, of course, I have always used the original, Bare Metal Foil brand, I cant say what will happen with other brands.

[Lyle Willits]

I've used Bare Metal Foil for over 30 years. I've never seen it lift or tarnish.

[Zoom Zoom]

I've used BMF since 1981. No lifting, no tarnishing, and it buffs out to a very realistic shine once applied over clearcoat. You can apply it before or after, but here's where I think clearcoating after foiling is a big potential mistake...you spend a long time applying your foil over a half-finished paintjob. You then apply clear. What happens if you mess up that clearcoat? I see an epidemic of modelers who give up on very easy paint repairs and choose to strip their paint. Mess up that clear, you've not only messed up your paint, but potentially hours of foil work. That alone is what would keep me from ever putting clear over the foil. I can replace a mistake on my foil...but if I drop the body or have some other potential paint disaster after foiling but during the clearcoat, I've wasted a lot more time than necessary (mistakes I make at that point are rare, but it does happen occasionally). But that will never happen to me, since my foil goes on after the clear. Just something to chew on when you contemplate how you approach your paint, and how successful you are with your paint and your clear. Look through my Fotki album...none of those models have clear over the foil. None of them have ever had foil fall off (only if the foil was bad, and that would happen at application, not years later). The facts are clear...that BMF does not require anything to seal it from the elements; sealing it from the elements may work well for some, but it might also waste a lot of extra time if you make a mistake during the clearcoat phase.

[Harry P.]

I agree, there's no need to "seal" BMF. I have never, EVER had BMF lift or tarnish, even after many years on a model. It just doesn't happen.

[samdiego]

I think the clear makes it look different, too. Only did it once.

Edited March 27, 2010 by samdiego

[Zoom Zoom]

I agree, there's no need to "seal" BMF. I have never, EVER had BMF lift or tarnish, even after many years on a model. It just doesn't happen.

So true. Those who insist on clearcoating BMF are fine to continue if that is what they prefer, and I'm pretty sure they'll continue regardless of what we say, just like we will continue to do it our way.

[John Truby]

Thank you everyone for replying to my question.

You've all been very helpful.

John