Hi everyone

DIY-store aluminium tape has a number of modelling uses. I bought the the roll shown here in B&Q (a UK store), but I'm sure it's available elsewhere. I think it's known as "plumbers' tape".



It comes on a wide roll and is self-adhesive. It can be cut into strips:



or used for panels:



and, as shown on this dummy panel - complete with wavy rivetting (use a straight edge for real ones), can be embossed:



It's a little thicker and more robust than Bare Metal foil, but you still have to be careful cutting it out, or it will peel away from its backing paper before you're ready. It's easy to position and, once you're happy, can be burnished down. It sticks firmly enough but the beauty of it is - if you've messed up, you can peel it off again!

Hope this is useful, cheers everyone

Rowan

Interesting stuff Porky!!! I've never seen it here in Italy, but I'm going around and ask if it's available, otherwise the next time I'll come to UK I'll buy some. Where did you buy it?
Ciao

Hello again Scoccia

I found this tape at a DIY-centre called B&Q. Most UK towns have one nearby, as it's one of our major chains. You can find this stuff near the masking tape etc. Actually B&Q also do an excellent low-tack masking tape - maybe I'll do a thread on that...

Cheers

Rowan

Thanks for the tip Porky. Just one word of warning,it is just a short step from B &Q to IKEA....you have been warned. Thank god we don't have either of them here....Jim

Thanks a lot Porky next time I'll be there I'll have a look for both products.
Jimbrae I'm surrounded by Ikeas!!! Today my wife went out with my daughter and my 3yo son wanted to go there for lunch... Unfortunately no B&Qs around here.
Ciao

I've never seen that tape before here either - but now you've got me curious!

Gunnie

You can find it at most home centers here in North America. I've seen it in the roofing section, and the heating section. It also comes as part of the aluminum shed kits. I have some left over from my last shed that I am now going to put into my modeling kit.

It's also available in Auto Stores as exhaust repair tape. Here in the States any well stocked hardware store (ACE) should have it.

We have several rolls of it at the foundry, use it to shim patterns (don't tell anyone) It is almost exactly 1/64 of an inch thick and good stuff. I even used it as to mask some stuff once. Poor man's bare metal foil...

Thanks for the great tips...

Shaun

I have a roll of that too, had it for years and forgot where I got it. Anyways,I like to put it behind the clear head light inserts you would find in like a Hummvee kit, makes the "shine"
Also I have/had? a artical in FSM on how to core a whole plane with this tape (it was years ago forget which issue)
Vince

:-) Wow Rowan, you get about a bit, I missed this one as well :-) I've been looking for exactly this type of thing for ages and B&Q were hiding it all the time Doh :-)
Thanks, another great tip
Mal