Aluminium Foil

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smudger1960

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Jun 21, 2009
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Northampton
Can anyone help me!,i would like to know if aluminium foil can be painted,i'm talking about the foil you buy in your local supermarket,if it can be painted what sort of medium is best and what sort of primer will i need as a good undercoat ?

Brian
 
I'd say you'd probably need what they call an etch primer to get a good surface to paint on not sure though.

Steve
 
Are you looking to do flags, or something similar. or Belts, straps etc?

Mark
Hi mark,i wanted to do a large flag,i dont have any lead foil large enough,what i do have is a sheet of mesh and i was going to apply the foil onto this and shape accordigly,its the paint i'm not sure of,this aluminium foil is very thin and shiny and i'm concerned it wont take the paint ?
 
Its a car primer they use on aluminium panels etc it etches into the metal to make sure it bonds to the ali so as to provide a key for the paint.

Steve
 
Brian don't know what your plans are but I've tried using cooking foil a few times with generally very poor results. A good alternative if you're looking for something more 'structural' but still flexible is to use the foil lids from Pot Poison....sorry Noodles. They are easily cut to shape and tend to hold the shape well.
What I do is to rub it with the back of a teaspoon to flatten the pimples then 'paint' it with thick superglue. When this dries it holds shape well, then simply spray with bog standard primer as usual.
Cheers
Derek
 
Brian don't know what your plans are but I've tried using cooking foil a few times with generally very poor results. A good alternative if you're looking for something more 'structural' but still flexible is to use the foil lids from Pot Poison....sorry Noodles. They are easily cut to shape and tend to hold the shape well.
What I do is to rub it with the back of a teaspoon to flatten the pimples then 'paint' it with thick superglue. When this dries it holds shape well, then simply spray with bog standard primer as usual.
Cheers
Derek
I know what you mean del,i had a feeling it was'nt suitable for painting,i wanted to make a battle flag about 100mm x 100mm,not sure if the pot noodle foil will cover this,back to the drawing board :mad:

Brian
 
I know what you mean del,i had a feeling it was'nt suitable for painting,i wanted to make a battle flag about 100mm x 100mm,not sure if the pot noodle foil will cover this,back to the drawing board :mad:

Brian
Brian at this size this will definitely work, it's the same stuff I use for the backing to the nameplates.
Use Marks and Spencer foil cartons from their ready meals (theirs are quite a bit thicker than others) like Chicken Kiev.
Takes folds well and you don't need the superglue step, also takes indentations for the likes of nails etc.
Derek
 
Smudger,...Similar to Dereks idea, of the, 'Potted-Poodles',... Look at the foil take away trays, from your local chinese 'Take-Away', or Indian!.. they are thicker, and very malleable. Flatten, but the bottom is already flat!.. and away you go! prime and paint.

Mark
 
Brian at this size this will definitely work, it's the same stuff I use for the backing to the nameplates.
Use Marks and Spencer foil cartons from their ready meals (theirs are quite a bit thicker than others) like Chicken Kiev.
Takes folds well and you don't need the superglue step, also takes indentations for the likes of nails etc.
Derek
Thanks del,I do shop in M&S sometimes and I've had ready meals from there,I just never thought about the containers,great idea,I will be on the look out now,I've used lead sheet alot in my modeling career but always purchased it,now I have a few options to go with :)

Brian
 
Hi Brian, I can offer you an alternative in the shape of thin aluminium sheet, (printing plates) so if you get stuck give me a shout and I will post some to you.

Ron
 
Hi, Steve, I use aluminum foil to make flags, laminating several sheets with CA glue, then priming and painting. But I work in a slightly different style from the rest of the community. Here are some samples from my collection of the Prussian army of the Seven Years' War, in 54mm:

A Hauptmann of the Regiment "Itzenplitz" (IR 13) (Stadden):

HauptmannRegimentItzenplitz2.jpg


A Faehnrich of the Regiment "Kleist" (IR 9) (Puchala conversion):

DSCN0104.jpg


And a Faehnrich of the Regiment "Prinz von Preussen" (IR 18) (Also Puchala):

DSCN0106.jpg


As you can see, I like the glossy style of the traditional toy soldier, though I do strive for as much detail as I can. But I hit on using foil to make flags years ago, they're lighter than lead or tin sheet; more substantial than paper, which I never really considered; and compared to the cast flags included with some figures, a couple of pieces of foil laminated have more of an accurate thickness, in scale.

I also use foil candy wrappers. The foil used to wrap the smaller Reese's peanut butter cups and Hershey's Kisses, when folded in quarters, is a pretty good match for the dimensions of the Prussians' infantry flags.

Hope that helps, and good luck with whatever you decide, prosit!
Brad
 
And I apologize, I failed to respond to the other part of your question, at least, to respond more specifically. I prepare my flags by priming with my favorite, automotive primer, then I lay down the basic colors, the field, the Spiegel or central disc and the darts or flames. I use enamels and acrylics, and some oils as well, all adhere very well to the surface, though I do seal everything with a gloss coat when finished.

Prost!
Brad
 
And I apologize, I failed to respond to the other part of your question, at least, to respond more specifically. I prepare my flags by priming with my favorite, automotive primer, then I lay down the basic colors, the field, the Spiegel or central disc and the darts or flames. I use enamels and acrylics, and some oils as well, all adhere very well to the surface, though I do seal everything with a gloss coat when finished.

Prost!
Brad
That's an interesting approach brad,I'll take some of your points on board :)

Brian
 


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