First Surface Mirrors - No Ghost or Gap

[Fluesheet]

For those of you who receive the NMRA magazine, there is an article called "Glass Mirror Alternatives" by Joe Brann in the September 2012 NMRA magazine about first surface mirrors.

First surface mirrors are mirrors that have their reflective coating on the front of the glass (or other material) as opposed to ordinary household mirrors that have the reflective coating on the backside of the glass.

Rigid first surface mirrors are more expensive than second surface mirrors. However, when compared to second surface mirrors, first surface mirrors have the advantage of not having a "ghost" secondary reflection (noticeable in some of my I-Car videos) and, for the author's purposes, leave no visible gap when a building (for example) is mounted directly against it.

Very interesting, and a topic I'd never before seen in print.

Websites mentioned in the article are:

Rigid First Surface mirror products:
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.firstsurfacemirror.com/">http://www.firstsurfacemirror.com/</a><!-- m -->
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.sciplus.com">http://www.sciplus.com</a><!-- m --> (search "first surface mirror)

Polished stainless steel is also mentioned as an option.

Non-Rigid first surface mirror products are generically called "metalized polyester film". The most recognized trade name for this film is Mylar. It can be found in huge rolls (4' x 25 or 50') and is relatively cheap, at the cost of being harder to apply. The author recommended 5mil thick (.005") as being easier to handle than thinner films, and is what he ultimately used for a background mirror. Hydroponics places are a good source - example:
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.hydroponics.net/c/54">http://www.hydroponics.net/c/54</a><!-- m -->

It's also available in more manageble sizes - I found it under the trade name "Duralar" in copier paper sized sheets here:
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.grafixarts.com/product/DuraLar-2">http://www.grafixarts.com/product/DuraLar-2</a><!-- m -->

This company also has an industrial division that can provide larger quantities:
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.grafixplastics.com/">http://www.grafixplastics.com/</a><!-- m -->

Quick background - Mylar is the trade name for Dupont's polyester film. Duralar appears to be the same product from a different vendor. However, like "Band-aid", Mylar has become a shorthand name for these films in general.

[Dave Harris sctchbld]

Another great source for the type of mirror you are talking about are inside old polaroid swinger type cameras , these can often be found at thrift stores , yard sales etc for next to nothing , :hey: no film is made for them anymore . They have a trapazoid shaped mirror in them that is 3 or 4 inches in size --not big but sometimes in what we want a mirror for they will work perfect .

[Fluesheet]

Another great source for the type of mirror you are talking about are inside old polaroid swinger type cameras

Thanks Dave! I'd never heard of these (I was around, but young at the time), so had to ask The Google. I found a couple of high level links:
Description:
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polaroid_Swinger">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polaroid_Swinger</a><!-- m -->

Television ad referred to in the above:
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7k2uwJmwxo">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7k2uwJmwxo</a><!-- m -->

and current value:
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.krphoto.com/polaroid_swinger.html">http://www.krphoto.com/polaroid_swinger.html</a><!-- m -->

Nothing about the mirrors though!