Modeling Tips

Details
Written by Tom Norrbohm
  • Use clothes pins to hold small parts for painting. Cut ends at 45 degree angle ( /\ ) to better hold smaller parts.
  • Using a discarded small spray paint can (preferably with a flat metal cap) attach a 1" square of double-faced foam tape to the top of the cap and attach your model, minus spinner & prop to the tape, nose down. Let model sit awhile and then by grabbing the spray can body itself, you can airbrush your model more easily without touching it with your hands. Note: this only works on single-engine a/c and a/c with in line engines. If your model has a locating pin on the nose end for the spinner, drill a hole in top of cap, and put tape over the hole and puncture the tape through the hole to accept the pin when you attach the model.
  • Put some small trips of double-faced foam tape on some strips of scrap wood or plastic, and attach small parts to tape for airbrushing.
  • Use warm water when soaking decals, especially in cold weather climates.
  • Using a 4" or so mailing tube, cut to 3 feet in length, seal both ends with duct tape. Then cut a 1" square opening on one end. When you are cleaning your airbrush and running thinner through it, put the airbrush nozzle up to the 1" opening and spray into the tube. Tube will trap the fumes.
  • For painting camouflaged aircraft, locate some plans of the aircraft that either shows the camo pattern or if just plans, xerox them to scale of model, draw camo pattern on copy and then cut out and use as a paper mask on model itself. Attach mask to model by paper punching holes in pattern and using tape to hold it down on model.
  • Use Future Floor Wax on inside and outside of clear parts to make them more clear.
  • Use Future Floor Wax as a gloss coat on model.
  • Use Post-It Notes for masking small areas for airbrushing.
  • Use Lacquer Thinner for ALL your enamel paint thinning needs.
  • Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) is a great liquid glue for styrene plastics. Can be purchased at any quality hardware store for less than $10 a quart.
  • Use white glue thinned with water to fill in minor gaps in wing roots, etc. When dry, use a Q-tip or damp rag to wipe excess off. Repeat as needed.