Lee, some people prefer using foils for bare metal finishes, and they can look quite good. There is a company called 'The Bare Metal Foil Company' (honest!!), who supply various colours and tones, from chrome down to dull ally, self-adhesive, designed for modelling use. Personally, I find it a bind to do a whole model in this stuff, although the odd panel, for contast, can be ok, especially if replicating a highly polished surface. I'll probably use a wee bit when I do some of the panels on my 56 Sqn Lightning, which will be the first time I'll have used it in over 30 years!
But, if you're looking to do a whole aircraft in bare metals (NMF - Natural Metal Finish), have a look at my PDF 'Bare Metal Made Easy', somewhere here in the modelling threads. It works for large or small areas, and is especially good if brush painting, for those without an airbrush. It's a bit messy, but not overly so, and, unlike some NMF techniques, holds up well with time.
BTW, you've probably realised, but the wine-bottle foil I refered to is the lead/alloy type, not this platicky rubbish on some bottles nowadays!