How do you guys do it?

Modeling Subjects Helicopters
1

I’m curious on how you all assemble and paint the cockpit area of, let’s say a Huey? I have always built the cockpit up, put the collective, cyclic, and so on in, sprayed the whole thing the appropriate gray then hand painted the smaller parts(collective and cyclic controls) I just put in. I use Tenax-7R and the reason I do this is to have a nice seamless weld on the plastic before painting. Am I doing this the hard way? I have heard of people spraying the pieces separately and then using CA to secure after all painting is done. Your opinion is appreciated.

Mark

2

I think it’s easier to paint the small parts on the sprue & fit them just before you fit the cockpit to the fuselage.
Pete

3

I like the way you discribed your method…it seems to be the better way for lets say ‘smaller scale kits’ like 1/72, 1/48 and 1/35.

I will try to help?

So it all really depends on your style, experience and size of parts you are dealing with.

For me…lets say…for the collective and cyclic sticks…

I always remove the parts from the tree…scrape and ( or ) sand the seem lines from around the parts…then paint the top, handel or boot…then the next day or much later that same day paint the rest of the part.

I would paint the floor seperate cuz its always a darker tone than the walls…then I would paint the soundproofing and bulkheads that interior grey tone.

If I had my “DREAM” shop my Airbrush BOOTH would be right next to my main work station so all I would need to do is turn my chair and GO!..fast, clean up right there! and I could keep on going…other wise I would airbrush everything I do!..but…I dont so I hand oaint most of my small parts.

More questions?..go right ahead.

4

Thanks for everybody’s input. Another thing. Do you guys like using CA or epoxy to glue painted items in? I know these might sound like basic questions but somebody might have a better way than what has been done before. By the way Troy, I assume that is you next to the B-17. Do you own it? I thought my 2 place Challenger in my profile was the thing but geez. LOL

Mark

5

I can say that small parts I usally CA in. I don’t like to use glue since I’m afraid that it will distort the part. After it dries, I’ll do paint touch-sups if required.
Dana

6

Thanks Mark! but nope! heck my own B-17…now that would be fun!..Here is one of my Wife and I along side of Nine-O-NINE last summer.