So, when I go to paint the missiles I attach to planes, typically I’ll drill a hole in the tail where the nozzle is. This has the added benefit of being more realistic along with giving me a place to put a toothpick so I can paint it without touching it. So, my questions are these. Does anyone else do this? If so, how do you guys center the hole in the body of the missile? For the life of me I can never get it perfectly in the center
Yes, I do too. I usually chuck a sewing needle in a pin vise and make a pilot hole in the center. Then I’ll use a series of increasingly larger bits to open it up until I get it to the size I want.
Hope this helps,
Tom
I do the same thing, using the needle for the pilot hole. I’ve gone as far as taking a pencil and tracing along the nozzle from fin to fin to try and get the center but I can never seem to get it.
Pilot point bits run by hand works good, but most missiles are flat capped before firing. Something to check pictures for if you’re going for accuracy but they do look cool open nozzled. My thoughts!
Max
I just center a new #11 xacto blade and start twisting it. I can shave more off one side or another as I go to even it out. usually the blades are only good for one time doing this but if I’m careful they can last longer. thats why I like the 40% off coupons for Hobby lobby and Michaels, I get the 10 pack of number 11 blades all the time.
John
This is how I drill almost everything. It gives a lot of control. And the local hobby shop has 100-pack No. 11 blades for $17, and even when I break a tip, they are still useful for most of the work I need them to do.
-BD-
The conical shape of the hole allows enough grip on the toothpick to hold the missile for painting?