The Bottom Line
Bare-Metal® Foil is a thin, adhesive backed foil which was designed to be used for metal trim on car and aircraft models, but which can be used for many miniatures. It can be applied to painted surfaces, unfinished plastic, painted resin, and paper, anywhere the low tack adhesive will stick. The foil is similar to a heavier form of metal leaf used by artists, but it comes with adhesive attached to the back, unlike leafing products where the leaf is brushed into an adhesive layer that is applied first. The foil is thicker than artist's leaf but adheres to curves well.
Pros
- Easy to use on plastic, paper and painted surfaces.
- Thin, can be burnished down into tiny details with a cotton bud, sticks well to curves.
- Decals can be applied on top of the foil and decal solvents can be used safely with the foil.
- Real Metal, takes metal finishes and patinas. Easier to work with than leaf for beginners.
- The adhesive is low tack, so the foil can be removed without ruining a paint job.
Cons
- Very thin, shows all surface imperfections beneath it, being thin it adheres well to details.
- Surface must be right or low tack adhesive will not stick.
- Need new blades or very sharp blades for a clean cut.
- No info on adhesive, not sure how long or under what conditions foil will stick to base.
Description
- Available foils include Chrome, Ultra Brite Chrome, Black Chrome, Gold, Matte Aluminium and Copper.
- Packaged in single 6 by 11.75 inch sheets.
- Heavier than artist's leaf foils so it is a bit easier for beginners to work with.
- Need very sharp knife to cut cleanly.
- No information available on the adhesive backing the foil. Not sure how much handling foil will stand without an overcoat.
Guide Review - Real Metal Finish in Miniature from a Foil
Bare Metal Foil is a form of heavy metal leaf with a low tack adhesive backing. The foil comes in sheets on a backing, where it can be cut to size, then gently removed with tweezers and applied to the object you wish to foil. To use the foil you need a clean surface which is smooth, but not slick. Surfaces must be well prepared by washing with soap and water or cleaning with alcohol. If the foil will not stick to the surface, you may need to apply an thin paint or undercoat first, in order to get the foil to stick. If you are working with very fine detail, you will need a very thin undercoat to keep from obscuring the details. All surface details and paint imperfections will show through the foil after it is applied.
A slide show demonstrating Bare Metal being used to add chrome details to plastic model cars can be see on the Bare Metal Website.
The most used foil type is probably bright chrome, due to its realism, and the lack of true chrome treatments available for modellers as paints. Not all the metals have the same handling properties. Some types (black metal) are stiffer than others. If possible avoid buying packages of foil where you can see hairline cracks or excessive amounts of wrinkling. The foil may have been stored improperly and may not lift cleanly from the backing sheet. You can order the foil directly from the manufacturer.
The manufacture suggests storing unused portions of foil in a cool, dry place, or in a plastic bag in the refrigerator, to keep the adhesive and handling properties high for as long as possible.
- Similar Products
- Metal leafing foils from art and craft stores, require the application of a glue layer before using the leaf.
- Thin aluminum foil rubbed down into a coat of spray photo mount glue. Common aluminum foil is not as thin as Bare Metal foil and only aluminum is readily available.
Price $6.50 per sheet.
