bmf and clear coat

[CHEVY2MUCH]

do you bare metal foil before clear coat or after i tired before clear and tiny flakes of paint came off when peeling excess foil off.i used tamiya paint it shouldnt matter about what type of paint right?

[slusher]

Foil after clear coat. The paint will be protected...

[Tom Geiger]

I always BMF after clear coat (or final paint coat since I rarely clear). You don't want your BMF under the clear. Part of what BMF is, is that it has the unique gloss and color of actual chrome and aluminum trim. Once you clear it, it just takes on the same sheen as the paint around it.

Some guys say the seal in the BMF with clear, but BMF properly applied will never peel off. I have models older than 20 years that are still just fine.

If you have paint flaking off the model you need to look at your prep work. Do you have a primer coat under the paint? Are you prepping the body prior to primer / paint to help the paint adhere? And have you sanded between your primer and paint?

And finally, if you are lifting up bits of paint due to your cutting of the BMF on the body, then you need to think about your technique. To cut BMF you don't need to press the exacto knife at all. You just need to trace along the line like you are using a pencil. The foil is so thin that this is all you need. Some guys press hard and cut through their paint, and that will lead to some of it coming off.

Edited August 31, 2013 by Tom Geiger

[Harry P.]

I agree... foil goes on last. It looks more realistic that way than if buried under clear. There is no need to "seal" foil under clear, properly applied foil will not fall off.

[CHEVY2MUCH]

Thank you all for the tips and help.

[W-409]

Sometimes I do BMF Before clear coat. That happens when there is either much paint so that after clear coat the chrome trims could not be seen that well through foil, or then there are decals that need to be assembled over BMF, as some NASCAR Models. In those cases I have put BMF before clear coat, and it looks good that way too, or at least I can't see the difference. But then, the usual case is that I BMF after the clear coat, and it sure doesn't come off when assembled properly.

[High octane]

I always BMF after clear coat (or final paint coat since I rarely clear). You don't want your BMF under the clear. Part of what BMF is, is that it has the unique gloss and color of actual chrome and aluminum trim. Once you clear it, it just takes on the same sheen as the paint around it.

Some guys say the seal in the BMF with clear, but BMF properly applied will never peel off. I have models older than 20 years that are still just fine.

If you have paint flaking off the model you need to look at your prep work. Do you have a primer coat under the paint? Are you prepping the body prior to primer / paint to help the paint adhere? And have you sanded between your primer and paint?

And finally, if you are lifting up bits of paint due to your cutting of the BMF on the body, then you need to think about your technique. To cut BMF you don't need to press the exacto knife at all. You just need to trace along the line like you are using a pencil. The foil is so thin that this is all you need. Some guys press hard and cut through their paint, and that will lead to some of it coming off.

My first BMF job was done in the early 80's and it still looks good today. I always apply the BMF over the "final" coat of paint whether it be a color coat or clear coat.