Jump to content
Happy Holidays ×
Model Cars Magazine Forum

Flocking and chrome tape


Recommended Posts

Hi, oldboychas here. What is flocking? Isaw it in a interior pic and like the look. Can anyone direct me to a tutoral and let me know where to get some......Back in the 60's hobby shops sold chrome tape (about 1/16 in. wide) Is it still around and if so, where can I get some? Thanks for any help or direction you guys can give me!

This is getting better and better,

oldboychas (Charlie Bower)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I get flocking from Rick at Scale Dreams. There's about 40 colors to choosed from. I paint the area to be flocked after it dries I brush on Elmers glue (the white stuff) over the area. While the glue is still wet, I sprinkle on the flocking. I put the flocking in a strainer and push it through with a finger. Seems to work better that way. After a coat is down, I tamp it lightly with a finger. Let it dry. Oh yeah - put whatever you're going to flock on a clean sheet of paper. After drying, shake the excess onto the paper, kinda fold the paper to make a chute and put the excess back into the container.

Rick (Scale Dreams) sells Ken's Fuzzi Fur. It comes in small plastic containers (tubes). I like that better than Model Car Garage that sells it in little baggies.

Search for flocking on this forum. I'm sure somebody has done something with pictures.

Auto World used to sell the chrome tape as well as other colors. I found some somewhere recently, but usually use Bare Metal Foil (BMF). There's probably a post somewhere here about BMF too.

I'll get the source for the tape when I go out to the shop Later.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest Gramps-xrds

Most ppl use foil now instead of tape. I never had much luck with it. I think it was a mylar and didn't bend well and usually came back off soon after you did it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Most ppl use foil now instead of tape. I never had much luck with it. I think it was a mylar and didn't bend well and usually came back off soon after you did it.

Thanks for the respons Bill. J was going to use the tape for radiator clamps and such. I remember the tape not holding well but hoped a small dab of glue on the seam might hold it.....?

Later,

oldboychas (Charlie Bower)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I dont know anything about the chrome, I havent tried it, but as far as the flocking goes, I was taught to do it in 2 steps, and from What I like the results much better.

First brush on the white elmers glue and sprinkle on the flocking. Let that dry and do it one more time, put the elmers glue on right over the first covering of flocking and sprinkle it on again. Im not a pro by any means but Ive been much more satisfied with this method.

Also, unrelated, this is the first time Ive posted a tip on here, for anything, so please, let me know what if you guys think it helped.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I dont know anything about the chrome, I havent tried it, but as far as the flocking goes, I was taught to do it in 2 steps, and from What I like the results much better.

First brush on the white elmers glue and sprinkle on the flocking. Let that dry and do it one more time, put the elmers glue on right over the first covering of flocking and sprinkle it on again. Im not a pro by any means but Ive been much more satisfied with this method.

Also, unrelated, this is the first time Ive posted a tip on here, for anything, so please, let me know what if you guys think it helped.

Will,

Thanks for the tip. I will try it. As far as it being your first tip goes,know that it is appreciated!! It's been almost 45 years since I built a model.I should be in a cave with a big rock and a chisel working on it.LOL

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Charlie,

I can provide you with an actual color chart if you want. just send me a large SASE - one the size that an 8 1/2 x 11 sheet of paper will fit without folding it. Same for anybody that might want one. I print on photo paper and glue a little of each flocking color sample to the sheet.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

You can use metal repair tape to do chrome- IF - it's a relatively flat surface with no detail on the section you actually want chromed. It's too thick to use for window moldings and the like. Mylar tape is best suited to flat areas, or areas with only a slight, gentle bend to them. I'd say just stick with the BMF!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Charlie,

I can provide you with an actual color chart if you want. just send me a large SASE - one the size that an 8 1/2 x 11 sheet of paper will fit without folding it. Same for anybody that might want one. I print on photo paper and glue a little of each flocking color sample to the sheet.

Jim,

Thanks for the offer. the chart you sent me did the trick! I know exactly what I need....Just a thought, did you ever try mixing the ddiferent color flocking to get custom effects?

oldboychas (charlie Bower)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

You can use metal repair tape to do chrome- IF - it's a relatively flat surface with no detail on the section you actually want chromed. It's too thick to use for window moldings and the like. Mylar tape is best suited to flat areas, or areas with only a slight, gentle bend to them. I'd say just stick with the BMF!

Chuck,

A lot of people recomend BMF,I guess I'm going to have to learn how to apply it!!!

Thanks,

oldboychas (Charlie Bower)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

:) Just remember to use a piece of BMF about twice as big as the area you are trying to foil. I know it's a lot of waste, but it's much easier to handle the placement of larger pieces and then trim it up on the bodies. I struggled with BMF for a long time trying to get small pieces to fit and stay in place. Someone on a forum (not sure which one) clued me in. Also make sure your blade is really sharp and practice on a scrap body.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

If you're new to BMF and you're having a hard time foiling areas which are rather faint-------such as chrome trim around tailfins, windows, etc.............It's a good idea to lightly scribe those areas first with the back edge of your Exacto blade to give you a more positive location for your blade to guide when applying.

You'll want to do this BEFORE you do any painting or primering, so good prep work is paramount here.

Also, if you're having trouble seeing the blade and where it's going, take a black magic marker and outline the blade with it. It makes a nice difference in seeing where you're going. :D

One more thing to add to what Jody said------yes, you definitely want a new blade for BMF work, but you also should not need excess pressure to cut the excess BMF. You want just the weight of the blade to do the work. Putting too much pressure on the blade is a sure fire way to getting a nice deep gouge in that nice new paint job!

Patience is the key here! :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If you're new to BMF and you're having a hard time foiling areas which are rather faint-------such as chrome trim around tailfins, windows, etc.............It's a good idea to lightly scribe those areas first with the back edge of your Exacto blade to give you a more positive location for your blade to guide when applying.

You'll want to do this BEFORE you do any painting or primering, so good prep work is paramount here.

Also, if you're having trouble seeing the blade and where it's going, take a black magic marker and outline the blade with it. It makes a nice difference in seeing where you're going. :D

One more thing to add to what Jody said------yes, you definitely want a new blade for BMF work, but you also should not need excess pressure to cut the excess BMF. You want just the weight of the blade to do the work. Putting too much pressure on the blade is a sure fire way to getting a nice deep gouge in that nice new paint job!

Patience is the key here! :)

Jody and Bill,

Thanks for the info, I'm going to order some BMF later today and try it!

Bill, where is Steelton? I live in Johnstown ( The closest thing to a hobby shop around here is Michael's....What a bummer)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 months later...
Guest JamesDE
No, never tried mixing different flocking colors together. I suppose it would work, but how would you how much to mix and not waste a bunch?

I have had sucessful results in mixing flocking colors together.

Charcoal gray and white resulted in almost a perfect match to the interior color of this 62 Bel Air lowrod.

269.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've been away from building for a while, and I'm just now learning to use both flocking and foil tape. Patience and practice are indeed the operative terms when learning to use them.

On my current project, I've flocked the floor twice so far and I'm trying to decide if I want a third go at it. The flocking went on well enough but, shortly after applying it, I started painting the gas pedal with some Testors flat black and the flocking picked up the paint. All I could do was sit back and appreciate the beauty of hydro-dynamics as the black paint wicked up into the gray flocking. I blotted much of the paint with cotton swabs and removed the tainted area before the white glue had time to completely set. The whole event is kind of funny now that I see it from today's vantage point; an example of patience and practice at odds with me.

I'll patch the flocking today and see how it looks, and remember to do any spot painting before gluing the flocking in place. :P

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

i've messed with flocking as well. i usually watered the glue down a tad prior to flocking.

there was a point where i would be able to customize how i wanted it to look. for example, you could do your first coat and cover the floor, then shake it as much as you can to get the excess out. once it's dry, apply another coat of the glue where i want it to look like floor mats (the glue will sit on top of the first coat, which gives it the raised up effect) and apply a different color flocking on top of that, and shake it out as much as possible. Once dry i'd shoot some compressed air from a safe distance to blow out any excess flocking that the shaking didn't take care of. The end result looks like i had the regular carpet, and on top of that, different colored floor mats.

it's pretty easy to use, and with enough imagination can turn out a positive result!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...