I have a P-40 Warhawk and a Yak 3. The P-40 has a yellow propeller hub with a black stripe 2/3 of the way down. The Yak is a Normandie version with a red white and blue propeller hub. I have tried several methods like:
Mounting on a dremel, spinning, and brush painting
Masking
Cutting a hole in a rubber glove with a small hole punch and stretching over the hub
The rubber glove worked great for the first edge, but it was hard to align the subsequent edges with the first edge. Does anyone have a better or fool-proof method of painting the propeller hubs?
I usually have to cut very thin strips of mask tape and wrap it around the hub. I will strike a line first by placing the hub into a circle template at the correct spot and trace a line. Then, just wrap the tape around the line. You can get those templates at art stores. The’re the placstic ones with the various diameter circles drafters use. Just my [2c]
Just to expand on Andy’s comment, I do something similar. First paint the hub the color of the stripe, then mask it with thin masking tape. Pactra makes some precut very thing tape/pin-stripes for RC models. Then paint over with the main hub color.
I’ve done this without masking by using a Circle template
I’ve found the best way to paint a two tone prop hub is paint the entire thing your tip color then stick the hub into the correct size circle depending on how much of it you want painted that color then paint your base color over it… use a very fine grit sanding or polishing stick to remove any paint edge if you have any…
The last compound curve I needed to mask I covered the whole area with blutac I then carefully cut the blutac along the lines path with a knife, removed the excess and it worked a treat.
