Mirror Material

[Didymus]

My Lotus kit comes with plastic chrome "bullet" mirrors, but I want to use the Thunder Valley cast metal bullets because the real metal looks great. But even when it's polished, the metal "mirror surface" isn't flat or reflective enough to look like a mirror.

I'd use plastic chrome for the mirror glass, but everything I have is too thick. I need .020" max. Something like .5 mm, maybe?

I've made a couple of attempts with foil, including BMF, but it's not flat enough. I'd like to find something with a mirror finish that's hard and flat, like thin mirrored styrene.

I've looked online at Michaels, but I don't see anything that will work.

Ideas?

[TRBJ]

tried alclad chrome?

[Didymus]

Originally Posted by TRBJ

tried alclad chrome?

Practically the entire suspension system of this model has been Alclad'ed!

But no, I haven't tried it for the mirrors. The surfaces of the castings that are supposed to be the mirrors aren't exactly flat, which is partly why the foils aren't working very well. I supposed I could give it a thick coat of black enamel and then apply Alclad II. Then the mirrors would look just like... the suspension system!

I was hoping to find something like a real mirror.

Ddms

[blubaja]

there is mylar chrome sheets that some cheapo model companies include in kits. It is thinner than styrene. And has the mirror finish.

[guiwee]

No way you could use a piece of chrome sprue and maybe cut it thin?
I dunno just a guess!

[Didymus]

Originally Posted by blubaja

there is mylar chrome sheets that some cheapo model companies include in kits. It is thinner than styrene. And has the mirror finish.

Yeah! "Chrome" Mylar would do it, but I don't want to buy one of those cheapo kits just for the Mylar. Is there anywhere else I can get that stuff in small (tiny) quantities?

I was just reading a BMF ad, and it reminded me that they sell "Ultrachrome" sheet that's supposed to be more reflective than their regular chrome. Now, if I were to cut some little styrene disks, and "Ultrachrome " them and stick them on the mirror faces... that would solve the problem.

But I like the Mylar idea better. For one thing, it's thinner. For another, it ought to be cheaper.

Ddms

[Didymus]

Bingo! Kid's stickers!

Lots of them are Mylar (PET). They are cheap; they're not compliant enough to reveal surface flaws, and they are very, very reflective. Now I have to figure out a way to affix the material permanently.

Thanks for the idea, blubaja.

Ddms

[360spider]

Many early Tamiya kits come with mylar sheets for mirrors, if you have them.

[guiwee]

how about a $2 ballon for the mylar?

[MPWR]

I often use heavy duty alu foil applied with microscale foil adhesive, and then polish it with a polishing stick. Looks great, and has plenty of contrast with Alclad.

[Didymus]

Good ideas, Guiwee and MPWR. I tried gluing on kitchen foil, but the glue made a lumpy base for the foil. I could try thinner CA, but it's recessed into a shallow socket, so polishing it would be hard.

I did find a toy package that's made of Mylar, or something like it. It's very shiny and the right thickness. I'll let you know how it goes, or post a photo.

(I finally got a lens extension for my camera, so now I can post close-up photos!)

Ddms

[taliesen]

Get a pack of larger silver sequins from the Hobby Lobby for a few bucks, you'll never need more for as long as you build . . . .

[Didymus]

Using a scissors, I cut disks from the Mylar toy package. It was a pain to cut them, but I wanted the mirrors to look different from the rest of the shiny stuff, and it gave me the effect I wanted.

Many thanks!

Ddms

[jmesawitz]

Not long ago I bought a 1/24 scale display case, I think it was an IMEX brand. It appeared to have a mirror base that was actually a black base with a 3 x 8 sheet of that chrome mylar. Needless to say I left the base black and kept the mylar in my supply stash. The stuff is priceless.

[klutz_100]

Hmm...I wonder where I can find some Mylar packing?

I think maybe I will try Andy's tin foil idea with a polishing stick and a punch set.

EDIT: Lovely paint, decal and polishing work BTW