Burnishing Bare Metal Foil?

I am admitedly a novice, but I'm currently using FLAT toothpicks. If the burnishing is done carefully & evenly it will add a little luster to the foil (at least it did on my 1:144 B-29). BE CAREFUL! Using the flat toothpicks can easily rip the foil when burnishing, and if not done evenly will look like metal has been "scraped". Hope this helps, I had a helluva time with Bare Metal Foil, but it really does look good when done properly.

Bill Howe,
www.444thbg.org

Art stores sell a soft wood Burnishing Tool. This tool has a flat side, round side, and has a geometric shape at the opposite end. It is designed for many types of foils and acrylics. I use mine to death since I'm a Rub -n-Buff fanatic and use a lot of gold and copper foils that I rub out to change the hue. These tools are easy to make out of Basewood.

I also still use toothpaste as a polishing agent. Kinda old remedy but is cheap and plentyful.

QUOTE: Originally posted by scottrc Art stores sell a soft wood Burnishing Tool. This tool has a flat side, round side, and has a geometric shape at the opposite end. It is designed for many types of foils and acrylics. I use mine to death since I'm a Rub -n-Buff fanatic and use a lot of gold and copper foils that I rub out to change the hue. These tools are easy to make out of Basewood. I also still use toothpaste as a polishing agent. Kinda old remedy but is cheap and plentyful.

Do you have a link to what one of these things looks like? I'm about to start an F-86F that i'm going to apply bare metal foil to...

Toothpaste will polish bare metal foil? how do you get it to shine? is this something i want to do on an airplane?
Sorry about all the questions.