Mr Modeller Posted December 29, 2015 Share Posted December 29, 2015 Hello all, I've been a member of Britmodeller for a while but haven't been very active, just an odd comment here and there, so I thought it was time I changed that and stepped things up a gear by offering up my first RFI for your perusal and comments?! I have been modelling for most of my 56 years and often thought of trying the now quite old method for achieving a more realistic NMF finish which is to use ordinary kitchen foil and adhesive as opposed to the more modern method of using Alclad type metallic paints? What you see below is my first attempt at the method and I found it great fun though very time consuming. I am not going to say too much about the finished model here, as I prefer to let the pictures do the talking except to say that it was built out of the box except for the use of a ‘Quickboost’ resin replacement seat and a few small scratchbuilt details. The following photo shoot is picture heavy and includes some black and white photos at the end just for a bit of nostalgic fun. In some of the photos you can see a few brushmarks beneath the foil where the glue was applied, and which makes it look a little rough but that is just the macro lens on my camera being a bit over zealous - please remember this is just 1:72 scale and in reality it looks much better and smoother using the human Mk.1 eyeball! Airfix 1:72 North American P-51D Mustang - Tuskegee Red Tails (Kit # A01004) Thanks for looking, all comments and criticisms welcomed. Kev 56 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ANovaScotian Posted December 29, 2015 Share Posted December 29, 2015 Damn! That's one fine looking foiled fighter you've got there! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knight_Flyer Posted December 29, 2015 Share Posted December 29, 2015 Turned out quite well. I have heard about using foil for an nmf and this is the first time I've seen it on a 1/72. Previously it has been on 1/32 models. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foghorn Leghorn Posted December 29, 2015 Share Posted December 29, 2015 That's one of the best metal foil finishes I've ever seen ... and ... it's kitchen foil at that! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Finchley Bantam Posted December 29, 2015 Share Posted December 29, 2015 That looks amazing! Tempted to give the foil technique a go myself - test my patience! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cookenbacher Posted December 29, 2015 Share Posted December 29, 2015 Fantastic result with the foil! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darby Posted December 29, 2015 Share Posted December 29, 2015 Praise the Lord and pass the Bacofoil. Very realistic indeed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buzby061 Posted December 29, 2015 Share Posted December 29, 2015 Outstanding. Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doozer1974 Posted December 29, 2015 Share Posted December 29, 2015 The foil finish looks fantastic! As someone who's had mixed results trying natural metal finishes, I'd be interested to find out a bit more about how you went about it. thanks for sharing this little beauty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cocky05d Posted December 29, 2015 Share Posted December 29, 2015 Stunning . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Modeller Posted December 29, 2015 Author Share Posted December 29, 2015 (edited) Thanks for all of the nice comments chaps, I am very pleased that you like it!! :) I deliberately chose a small 1:72 aircraft with lots of compound curves - and the Mustang P-51D has plenty of those - as my first foray into the technique with the thought that if I could pull that one off then anything in a bigger scale would just be a whole lot easier as the curves would likely be less tight than those I've already conquered?! I did this as a test piece in preparation for a couple of 1:48 NMF aircraft that I want to do in the not too distant future, so for those who are interested in how it was done I can only say keep an eye out for a WIP sometime in 2016? Thanks again chaps, very much appreciated!! Kev Edited December 29, 2015 by Mr Modeller 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bordfunker Posted December 29, 2015 Share Posted December 29, 2015 Great looking 'stang! The foil work is excellent. Karl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woody37 Posted December 29, 2015 Share Posted December 29, 2015 I'd never of thought BMF would work on such a small model, but you've proved me wrong in a big way. Stunning finish, you make it look easy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JWM Posted December 29, 2015 Share Posted December 29, 2015 Excellent result! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mitch K Posted December 29, 2015 Share Posted December 29, 2015 Very nice indeed! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spitfire31 Posted December 29, 2015 Share Posted December 29, 2015 Excellent effect of that first foray in the kitchen drawer! Really, much better than I thought it'd look; obviously thanks to patience and a drive for perfection. Inspiring! Of course you know about the wings in reality not being NMF but puttied, sanded and painted with silver paint, all to get an extra smooth surface for the laminar flow to do its job… Magnificent work! Kind regards, Joachim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevej60 Posted December 29, 2015 Share Posted December 29, 2015 Superb build and finish! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Modeller Posted December 29, 2015 Author Share Posted December 29, 2015 (edited) Many thanks for your comments people, they mean a great deal and I appreciate the feedback very much!! Excellent effect of that first foray in the kitchen drawer! Really, much better than I thought it'd look; obviously thanks to patience and a drive for perfection. Inspiring! Of course you know about the wings in reality not being NMF but puttied, sanded and painted with silver paint, all to get an extra smooth surface for the laminar flow to do its job… Magnificent work! Kind regards, Joachim Hello Joachim, Yes, I was aware of the laminar flow requirements on real Mustang wings but I don't think it really matters - I'm more interested in modelling as an art form and achieving a certain look than absolute precision? Thanks for your comments though, they are appreciated. Kev Edited December 29, 2015 by Mr Modeller 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
batcode Posted December 29, 2015 Share Posted December 29, 2015 great looking mustang, very nice job on the metal foil looks great.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blastvader Posted December 30, 2015 Share Posted December 30, 2015 Yes, I was aware of the laminar flow requirements on real Mustang wings but I don't think it really matters - I'm more interested in modelling as an art form and achieving a certain look than absolute precision? Hear, hear. Looking forward to your WiP. Have you considered using the foil from Kit Kats? It's thinner and you also get to eat Kit Kats...or send them to me. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Modeller Posted December 30, 2015 Author Share Posted December 30, 2015 (edited) Hello Blastvader and many thanks for your comments, much appreciated!! I have heard of the use of the foil that covers certain chocolate confectionery and in particular that the foil around Kit-Kat bars is nice and thin, though I've no need for it as the foil I use comes on a roll of several metres in length, costs less than a pound a roll from a well known supermarket and is also beautifully thin, I would say as thin as the Kit-Kat foil but a heck of a lot more for your money? Plus I don't like chocolate so I'm unlikely to buy the stuff anyway!! Yes, I know .... I must be part a very small minority in a very rare breed that can't stand the taste or smell of the stuff?! Kev Edited December 30, 2015 by Mr Modeller 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GAF Posted December 31, 2015 Share Posted December 31, 2015 I second the foil that comes in rolls, as you can get very thin, cheap stuff at the local "dollar" store (places Americans will be familiar with). Not only is it good for what Kev has used it for, but comes in handy for masking as you can fold it around a part and it stays folded. Anyway, nice work on the 'Stang! And about the laminated wings, I have heard that this was a factory application and once out in the field the putty and lamination was hard to maintain, so wings didn't always have that "smooth, laminated" appearance we all know and love. Gary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Modeller Posted December 31, 2015 Author Share Posted December 31, 2015 Thanks for your nice comments Gary, much appreciated and yes, it does sometimes happen that the cheap rubbish that most people other than the poorest always avoid can turn out to be a real blessing in disguise!? As with most things in life if you pay very little money for it, you will get very little in return and because of that, what you get with the cheap stuff is a foil that is SO thin it is barely suitable for its' intended purpose? But ... it is an absolute gift for us modellers and an absolute bargain too?! I bought five rolls of the el cheapo foil from my local supermarket for less than £4GBP and that's enough to last me for the rest of my modelling life and beyond!! Kev Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denford Posted December 31, 2015 Share Posted December 31, 2015 I bought five rolls of the el cheapo foil from my local supermarket for less than £4GBP and that's enough to last me for the rest of my modelling life and beyond!! Kev Could I ask you to name the Supermarket concerned, of if not, then give a hint: eg 'Every little helps'. Somewhat doubting my skills and wishing to limit my chocolate consumption, I feel a roll might be better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Modeller Posted December 31, 2015 Author Share Posted December 31, 2015 (edited) Could I ask you to name the Supermarket concerned, of if not, then give a hint: eg 'Every little helps'. Somewhat doubting my skills and wishing to limit my chocolate consumption, I feel a roll might be better. Hello Denford, All I will say is that if you asked me what I thought of the foil when I first discovered it, I would simply say it was value ... but I won't say any more than that. It's a hard won secret, so I hope you won't mind my being a little clandestine? There is a little clue in there though! Kev Edited December 31, 2015 by Mr Modeller Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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