The Little World

We need a new accessory for scale model building…as if we do not have enough already…

We need a cheap, sturdy, steady, adjustable stand to hold a model while it is being spray painted. It must be capable of holding the model firmly and in balance, and the spray must be able to reach all surfaces of the model without it having to be remounted on the stand. It must then be small and portable enough to allow the model to be put into a dust-free container while the paint sets.

The modeller needs to have these in several sizes and shapes to accommodate the different types of model – single engine planes, multi-engine jobs, cars, tanks, and ships. A modular stand would be good so that different components could be clipped on for the different shapes.

And it needs to be made cheaply. Not flaming well asking for much, am I?

This is occasioned by me attempt to paint 7 aircraft in one batch.

1. The 1:72 fighters yielded to the old tricks of a stick in the nose or a Foamcore stand upon which the plane could spindle. The nose of the P-40 aircraft had a propeller shaft sticking out and this could go into the foam, while the nose adhered to a piece of two-sided foam tape. Paint away while turning the whole stand around on the spray booth turntable. Even at the clear coat stage, the whole plane could get an even shot in one go.
2. The 1:72 Marauder had two large nacelles with flat faces – I cut a couple of wood blocks and again used foam tape to stick the ship nose-down on the supports. The stickum lasted well enough to go through to the clear lacquer – but even if it needed to be renewed, it is cheap enough.
3. The 1:72 Havoc and Mitchell were problematical. I did not want to strain the landing gear too much with no wheels on the axles  and didn’t want to have to paint the things in sections while balanced on a Chinese food container…so I looked over the ships until I could find suitable holes in their ventral surfaces. Then I bent coat hanger wire into ” S ” hooks and just held the things up while I sprayed away. At drying time I could hang them over the warm box and tiptoe out without disturbing the dust for a couple of hours.

I would still like to have a fixed structure that will do this same thing and that will leave me two hands free to work. It may be a large adapter for the front of the spray booth that holds the ” S ” hooks is the best answer. A bit of cardboard box experimentation is in order after I finish my current batch of planes and you will see the horrible results right here on your screen.