do most of you guys detail with paint or use bare metal foil?

[foxbat426]

I'm just completeing one of my first models in a long time and am wondering if i should detail it with chrome or silver paint or use bare metal foil. It seems like most people use the bare metal foil for around windows and such. I have a pretty steady hand especially now with reading glasses so painting in the details doesn't really scare me off. Is anyone actually painting in the details anymore? I'm also curious about contests. In a contest do the judges prefer paint detailing or BMF? is bare metal foil considered cheating??

thx, john

[sobpinstriping]

Since I have started using bmf, I wouldn't go back to paint. It just looks so much better.

[fastbackfiero]

I think BMF is great looking and to me, its very easy to use. I use it for all kinds of details from trim to wrapping exhaust tips and turbo piping! I've never entered in a contest. so I wouldnt know, but I would think that anything that gives a car a better appearence should be ok.

Besides, I dont think it would be cheating since the hobby is ever changing in order to make models look better.

Mike.

[Chuck Most]

BMF all the way. The company says once you use it you'll never go back to sivler paint, and they're pretty much dead on as far as that goes.

[Junkman]

BMF and BMF only. Hey, I even wear a tinfoil hat...

[Jon Cole]

If you want a toy, use silver paint.

If you want a nice scale model, use BMF.

[Greg Wann]

I don't build much myself. I think most people use the chrome and not the ultra chrome. Some say the Ultra chrome is harder to work with, like it is thinner or something.

[Guest Johnny]

Used to paint all the trim. started doing that decades ago. But when I returned to building after a 10+ year hiatus I tried BMF and I would never go back. One because I don't have the eyes for painting it anymore but the facts are and main reason is BMF looks so much better!

Right now just waiting to get new glasses. I have about 10 bodies waiting to be foiled!

I'd love to redo all my painted on trim cars with it but that is just a little too much to do.

Edited November 9, 2011 by Johnny

[Jordan White]

I'm cheap so I use the chrome ductwork tape found at the local hardware store.

[george 53]

BMF, Definately! Jordan, you don't find that tape a little too thick?

[Jordan White]

Actually it's not that bad. I don't usually do chrome window frames so that's not an issue for me. For everything else, it's a fine thickness. I will grant the fact that if the surface has a lot of slight height changes, then it may not sit as well as BMF would.

[charlie8575]

I like Bare-Metal, but I will also use chrome silver paint for some details that are either very small, and the foil is either proving too difficult to apply correctly or might be too shiny relative to the size. Also, where some things weren't too bright to begin with, the paint can look better. Lock cylinders are a good example.

Charlie Larkin

[Dr. Cranky]

A little bit of both, depending on the kind of build. If it's shiny, glossy, BMF, and if it's a daily driver or junker Sharpie!

[Harry P.]

I agree with what Ken said... and if you think about it for a second or two, it's obvious. Silver paint just doesn't have the reflectivity that Bare Metal Foil has. In my opinion, Bare Metal Foil on window surrounds, side spears, etc. looks like the real thing, while silver paint immediately screams "model."

One of the biggest steps beginning modelers can take is moving up from silver paint to foil. It makes that much of a difference.

[Junkman]

Yeah, I wouldn't paint my head with silver paint either.

[RodneyBad]

Once you go BMF, you won't go back to paint.

It's addicting, a PITA, and uses a lot of X-acto Blades but looks sooo much better..

[Jordan White]

Eh I still use silver paint for scripts, door handles, door locks, all the small parts that I'd have a pain BMFing. I just say that they are silver painted rather than chrome.