Anyone try this instead of BMF?

[1hobby1]

Has anyone tried this instead of BMF? It's way cheaper and has a sticky back to stick to the body. I have never used BMF but saw this and thought it would do the same thing. Thanks guys!!!

[Jantrix]

It looks like its for real cars, for that all important faux-chrome look that is so in vogue these days, like those wonderful (not) stick-on portholes. I would imagine the adhesive is quite tough and it's not something I would try on a painted model body. The areas you trim off could take paint/clear with it. Also BMF is super-thin. This might not be.

[StevenGuthmiller]

My guess is it would be way too thick to use in place of BMF. It can be difficult enough to get BMF to conform to some contours. I don't think I'd even want to try this on a vent wndow! Steve

[1hobby1]

Sounds good guys!

[jwrass]

To All: Very curious about this subject, Does anyone know the thickness of BMF I checked their web site and they have no specs that I could find on their site. I do all my faux metal in silver leaf ( I'm a old school lettering artist, pinstriper, Custom Painter. I also do vinyl-- yuk) I was working on a tutorial on leafing That's 90% done before I severely broke my leg 10 weeks ago and have been pretty much confined to bed rest until this week. This will give me a opportunity to finish that tutorial and hopefully a few more on Custom Paint.

I know many have great luck with BMF and that's great! I personally never liked it and never had much success with it. I few months ago I went through my stash and found some old warped BMF and tossed it out. Now I wish I would have kept it so I could measure the thickness (as applied no backing)

The reason I'm looking for the thickness is I may have another product from the sign industry that may help others.

I don't know what the film thickness of the Metallic Stripez is. My guess is it is pretty thick because of the market for which it's produced and agree it's most likely to thick for modeling

In the 70s-80s Chrome, Gold, Prizmatic, Wizbang was very popular and used on many 1:1 racecars that I lettered. They still make a few of these films Chrome and Gold for sure as I am looking at oracals color chart, the specification on these products is 1 mil thickness which is .001 that is thin (I have seen some people use tin foil and glue and I measured tin foil with a micrometer and caliper and it was tight at 0.05 mils which is .002)

I haven't used these films in years but I do remember they were difficult to install on large areas but a breeze on small areas, they also could be manipulated easily with a light touch of a heat gun or hair dryer.

I'd be interested to know the film thickness of BMF, Maybe sign vinyl may be a viable alterative.

Respectfully, jwrass

[StevenGuthmiller]

To All: Very curious about this subject, Does anyone know the thickness of BMF I checked their web site and they have no specs that I could find on their site. I do all my faux metal in silver leaf ( I'm a old school lettering artist, pinstriper, Custom Painter. I also do vinyl-- yuk) I was working on a tutorial on leafing That's 90% done before I severely broke my leg 10 weeks ago and have been pretty much confined to bed rest until this week. This will give me a opportunity to finish that tutorial and hopefully a few more on Custom Paint.

I know many have great luck with BMF and that's great! I personally never liked it and never had much success with it. I few months ago I went through my stash and found some old warped BMF and tossed it out. Now I wish I would have kept it so I could measure the thickness (as applied no backing)

The reason I'm looking for the thickness is I may have another product from the sign industry that may help others.

I don't know what the film thickness of the Metallic Stripez is. My guess is it is pretty thick because of the market for which it's produced and agree it's most likely to thick for modeling

In the 70s-80s Chrome, Gold, Prizmatic, Wizbang was very popular and used on many 1:1 racecars that I lettered. They still make a few of these films Chrome and Gold for sure as I am looking at oracals color chart, the specification on these products is 1 mil thickness which is .001 that is thin (I have seen some people use tin foil and glue and I measured tin foil with a micrometer and caliper and it was tight at 0.05 mils which is .002)

I haven't used these films in years but I do remember they were difficult to install on large areas but a breeze on small areas, they also could be manipulated easily with a light touch of a heat gun or hair dryer.

I'd be interested to know the film thickness of BMF, Maybe sign vinyl may be a viable alterative.

Respectfully, jwrass

That's a good question James. I have no idea what the actual thickness of BMF is, but I'm pretty confident it's thinner than aluminum foil if that helps at all. BTW, I've been using BMF for many years & have always had good luck with it. That is as long as it was the good old fashioned original chrome version. As far as I'm concerned the rest of the colors are mostly useless. Steve

[jwrass]

Steve,

I guess I gave up on the BMF because I do leafing. What prompted me to do the leaf was I was messing around with BMF On a Indy Car (which was probably not a kit to use BMF) and I was about to pitch it across the room and I am a very patient man.

Then I light when on!!!!!! I got out the leaf sizing and leaf and I have been using this process for years. it's a delicate operation and takes sometime to get the hang of it ( maybe more so than BMF) but it is seamless when applied properly and can be buffed to various sheens. I don't have any of the chrome or gold in stock but next time I get to the supply house I'll have one of my guys cut me off a sample and give it a whirl.

jwrass

[Snake45]

Haven't used that product, but I use a couple other things for "foil" trim.

1. Aluminum tape from Walmart. A giant roll was about $8 IIRC. The stuff is relatively thick and won't burnish down tight like BMF or other foils, BUT I've found it's just the thing for certain rocker panel trim and things of that nature. I've also cut it into thin strips and used it for window sill trim. Cheap, fast, easy, what's not to like?

2. Common kitchen foil and Micro Metal Foil Adhesive. This combo will do about 90% or more of what BMF will do, look just as good, and all at a fraction of the cost. Plus, there are no "bad batches" and no "shelf life" issues. For the price of one sheet of BMF you can buy enough kitchen foil and MMFA to last you a lifetime. Been using the stuff for years.

[1hobby1]

Perfect! thanks guys!