ALF18 Posted December 31, 2010 Author Share Posted December 31, 2010 It will be worth the effort. Looking great so far Dan. Thanks Charlie. I'm at that point in foiling where it seems it will never end, and I tend to focus on what's not going OK. For my next natural metal aircraft, I might try Alclad again... not sure. ALF Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Nerd Posted January 1, 2011 Share Posted January 1, 2011 You're brave to foil on such a big beast! One day I'd like to foil something much smaller, a Tutor in 1:48. Just read through the thread where you did 393 in grey, it looked great. FYI, these days 393 is intact but faded at the museum in Greenwood. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ALF18 Posted January 2, 2011 Author Share Posted January 2, 2011 You're brave to foil on such a big beast! One day I'd like to foil something much smaller, a Tutor in 1:48.Just read through the thread where you did 393 in grey, it looked great. FYI, these days 393 is intact but faded at the museum in Greenwood. Nerd Thanks for the comments. I didn't know 393 was in the Greenwood museum. It's been about 15 years since my last trip to that base - I have never seen the museum. Maybe one day soon we'll tour the Maritimes, and stop by the museum there. ALF Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Quiddy Posted January 2, 2011 Share Posted January 2, 2011 The foiling is looking good, better you than me though. I don't think I would have the patience to do the foil. If you do do a tour of the Maritimes, let Charlie or me know and we can give you a tour of the local Tim's here in Moncton. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Pedja Posted January 2, 2011 Share Posted January 2, 2011 Grat work. One question,what glue did you use for foil? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ALF18 Posted January 2, 2011 Author Share Posted January 2, 2011 The foiling is looking good, better you than me though. I don't think I would have the patience to do the foil. If you do do a tour of the Maritimes, let Charlie or me know and we can give you a tour of the local Tim's here in Moncton. Foiling is definitely demanding of patience. I am about 2/3 of the way there - there are some parts I think look good, and others that are 'not ideal' - but generally working out OK. It slows me down quite a bit! Thanks for the offer - I'll drop you a line if we drive out East. Timmy's should start a passport-stamping booklet - the challenge would be to visit as many Tim's as possible across the country. After 100 different stamps, you would get a free box of doughnuts and a 10-cup box of coffee... hopefully they're listening! ALF Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ALF18 Posted January 2, 2011 Author Share Posted January 2, 2011 Grat work. One question,what glue did you use for foil? Thanks Pedja The glue I use is called Gilding Paste, the brand name is Gedeo by a company called Pebeo. It's made in France. The paste is intended to be used for sticking gold leaf on stuff. I got it from an art supply store. If you ask at an art supply place for glue for gold leaf, they'll surely direct you to a similar product. One secret is to let it dry on the foil for at least 15 minutes before using the first time. I find it remains tacky and useable for weeks. Be extra careful not to get dust or plastic shavings onto the aircraft or the foil. ALF Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SrkiRad Posted January 2, 2011 Share Posted January 2, 2011 it's definitely slow process, but final result looks very good! cheering you to continue to the end... you're doing good job so far ALF... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Pedja Posted January 2, 2011 Share Posted January 2, 2011 Thanks PedjaThe glue I use is called Gilding Paste, the brand name is Gedeo by a company called Pebeo. It's made in France. The paste is intended to be used for sticking gold leaf on stuff. I got it from an art supply store. If you ask at an art supply place for glue for gold leaf, they'll surely direct you to a similar product. One secret is to let it dry on the foil for at least 15 minutes before using the first time. I find it remains tacky and useable for weeks. Be extra careful not to get dust or plastic shavings onto the aircraft or the foil. ALF Thanks, that`s useful information,once I did try to glue same foil, "kitchen foil", with superglue,results were poor.I heard about that art glue for gold leafs,now as I see, it`s working. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ALF18 Posted January 2, 2011 Author Share Posted January 2, 2011 it's definitely slow process, but final result looks very good!cheering you to continue to the end... you're doing good job so far ALF... Thanks! All these positive comments are definitely helping my motivation. More progress, just to show that it's eventually going to get there. I will need to do some polishing at the end with some steel wool, to smooth out some of these burnishing marks. The top is mostly done. The bottom (where I hide my mistakes) is about halfway there. Surprisingly enough, the surface texture on this foil is a bit like the T-birds were after decades of service. They were scratched and dented - here is picture taken by a friend, with me in the back seat of the other aircraft, as we climb out in formation from Comox BC, enroute to Cold Lake. If you look closely at this hero shot (Cold Lake, summer 1986), you'll see what I mean about scratched and pocked surface finish. ALF Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AX 365 Posted January 4, 2011 Share Posted January 4, 2011 Looking quite nice there buddy. You are very patient. Keep it up! Mike Quote Link to post Share on other sites
wmburns Posted January 4, 2011 Share Posted January 4, 2011 (edited) You're brave to foil on such a big beast! One day I'd like to foil something much smaller, a Tutor in 1:48. I foiled a P-51 Mustang a long time ago . . . in 1:144 scale . . . Nice work ALF!! Edited January 4, 2011 by wmburns Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ALF18 Posted January 4, 2011 Author Share Posted January 4, 2011 I foiled a P-51 Mustang a long time ago . . . in 1:144 scale . . . Nice work ALF!! Bill What a cute little Mustang! Thanks for the comments. Soon the fun part - when I start using your decals... Stay tuned! ALF Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Prop Duster Posted January 5, 2011 Share Posted January 5, 2011 Alf that is amazing, it is starting to realy look like a T-bird. makes the advertisment on the latest Squadron cataloge a bit tempting-now that I know all the pitfalls :P Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ALF18 Posted January 6, 2011 Author Share Posted January 6, 2011 Alfthat is amazing, it is starting to realy look like a T-bird. makes the advertisment on the latest Squadron cataloge a bit tempting-now that I know all the pitfalls Thanks! Despite its drawbacks, this kit is still pretty decent. In the hands of a skilled modeller, it can be made to look very nice. Regardless of the fact it's the only game in town for a big T-bird, it's still worth buying and building. I have a second one to do, which I promise to do better on - just not soon, because I need to rebuild my patience! ALF Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Charlie Cheetah Posted January 7, 2011 Share Posted January 7, 2011 The foiling is looking good, better you than me though. I don't think I would have the patience to do the foil. If you do do a tour of the Maritimes, let Charlie or me know and we can give you a tour of the local Tim's here in Moncton. Thanks for the offer - I'll drop you a line if we drive out East. Timmy's should start a passport-stamping booklet - the challenge would be to visit as many Tim's as possible across the country. After 100 different stamps, you would get a free box of doughnuts and a 10-cup box of coffee... hopefully they're listening!ALF Great idea Dan, if they did have the passport, you could easily get about 20 different stamps here in Moncton alone. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ALF18 Posted January 9, 2011 Author Share Posted January 9, 2011 Major progress made in the foiling. Here you can see the tail, with its complex shapes and curves. Note the headline in the background about the World Junior Hockey championship game. In a way, I chose this front page from the Gazette to use underneath as an inspriation. I didn't want to be like our hockey players, and choke when the job was almost done... Here is a short detailed view of how I am doing the panels, for those of you who are interested. For those who don't care, you can skip to the next entry or two, where you see the overall view of the aircraft, foiling done. I cut a piece that will be larger than the panel to be done. I also don't make pieces too large, because when they curve around a tapering fuselage like this, they tend to wrinkle up and become impossible to sit with no creases. I use the aircraft panel lines, and check the opposite side to see where the panels should end as I go. The piece of foil is pressed into place with a finger, along one edge. I try not to glue the excess down, so it's easier to get rid of afterward. This view of the opposite side shows you the size and shape of the area I am covering on the other side. Here is where it has to wrap around to. I have cut a slit in the foil near the wing root, to allow it to bend around without creasing. The slit is more obvious here. As I press it down with my finger, creases start to form. ALF Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ALF18 Posted January 9, 2011 Author Share Posted January 9, 2011 I use the rounded end of a flat toothpick to burnish it down, working from the centre toward the outsides, and from one edge toward the other of the panel. Rubbing hard, it takes the creases out. A combination of finger pressure and toothpick are used as I progress slowly along the panel. At the edges of the panel, I use the edge of the toothpick to seat the foil into the panel line. When the whole panel is burnished down, I cut carefully with a very sharp knife along each edge. Sometimes I will leave a little overlap beyond where the previously-done panel ends. Here is a view of a tiny segment that I used a scrap from the previous panel to cover. It has been burnished into place. I cut along the edges. A trick to lift up the excess to make it easier to grab is to use the knife blade. I am careful not to slice the foil underneath on the already-done neighbouring panel. Tweezers to lift it up... And finish the job with fingers, taking care to get it all and not rip the foil. Changing angles of pulling as I go is required. Panel done! ALF Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Neo Posted January 9, 2011 Share Posted January 9, 2011 Looking good Alf Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Spit1A Posted January 9, 2011 Share Posted January 9, 2011 The foil covering is looking great! Thanks for the little tutorial for applying the foil as well. I'd like to try using this stuff at some point and this will definitely help! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tilt Posted January 9, 2011 Share Posted January 9, 2011 Great prgress Alf!! Super job in showing the process too. It's looking very life-like. Nice helmet-less shot of you in the Bx up there as well - lol!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ALF18 Posted January 9, 2011 Author Share Posted January 9, 2011 Looking good Alf Merci, mon copain! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ALF18 Posted January 9, 2011 Author Share Posted January 9, 2011 Thanks for the little tutorial for applying the foil as well. I'd like to try using this stuff at some point and this will definitely help! No prob, Spit 1A. I hesitated, not wanting to appear to be telling people how to suck eggs, but I realized as I went along that I was learning a few little things each panel - even though this is about the 4th model I do with foil lately. Thanks for the comments. Great prgress Alf!! Super job in showing the process too. It's looking very life-like.Nice helmet-less shot of you in the Bx up there as well - lol!! Thanks for the comments, Tilt. And don't you be tellin' anyone about my flagrant disregard of flying orders... Is it ever loud in the T-bird without a helmet!!! ALF Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ALF18 Posted January 9, 2011 Author Share Posted January 9, 2011 Here's what I do sometimes to cover up little mistakes - like a slim line along a panel join, or in this case the little red spots where the complex curves made it tough to get proper coverage or I trimmed too much off. Here are the red spots (around the horizontal stab): Rather than redo the entire panel, or add a little patch (which can look terrible sometimes), I often colour them in with a pen - a silver leaf pen. The end result. Now the foiling is finally done! Next are touchups to the black and red patches, painting the tip tanks, and installing the landing gear. ALF Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tilt Posted January 9, 2011 Share Posted January 9, 2011 And don't you be tellin' anyone about my flagrant disregard of flying orders... Is it ever loud in the T-bird without a helmet!!! ALF (in my best Sgt. Schultz voice) "I see nothing........NOTHING!!!!" Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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