Painting spinners

Modeling Subjects Aircraft
1

Anyone have any tips for painting multi-coloured spinners? I’m thinking specifically of the Normandie Niemen Yak-3s, which were red, white and blue. I have the Hasegawa one, and I’ve struggled to mask an even line all the way round on models before, and this one has two demarcation lines. [V]

How do YOU do it?

2

if you want the painted look find a decal to match, put on the decal, and take a fresh razor and cut off a strip at a time and paint it ,save the strip because youll need to put it back on to keep it masked, try that. if you find a better way please post it, ive been having trouble with that as well and ive just been experimenting on the best way to achieve that look.

3

Keith -
Sounds like a pain, but I’ve had success using clear decal film - just paint the film the same color as your spinner, cut an extremely thin strip, then place that around the spinner in the correct location. This way, you have a hard color edge that you can mask against (use low tack tapes or post it notes) to paint the rest of the spinner.
Works for me…

4

I use the drill! Put the spinner on the toothpick/tape. And when it running your drill then put the brush on with whatever paint. I hope you understand. [B)]

its great for the wheels too.

5

If you are talking about front, middle, back, go to an office supply store and get a circle template in inches or millimeters. Paint the whole spinner the middle color. Find the appropriate whole for the back line and spray the back using the template as a mask. Repeat the process for the front color. If you are afraid of bleeding under the mask, cover the hole with maskikng tape, and cut it a little smaller than the hole, so it creates a tighter seal. Is this the question you are asking?

6

Thanks for the replies! I don’t much like using decals, but I’ll definetly give the last 2 methods a shot. Love the idea of using the drill like a lathe - why do I get the feeling that’s gonna end in tears tho…[B)] Still, your Il-2 looks ace, well done.

Cheers again for the help, guys.

7

Try spinning the propeller with a hairdryer or something and then paint the strip with a brush. This Ju-87 is motorized but all you need is to get the prop spinning.
B.

[img.nr] http://members.cox.net/bdelov/Ju-87G01.jpg[/img.nr]

8

All those hand painted china plates and pots have their various bands and rims done by spinning the pot and applying the brush for a couple of seconds to apply the paint. By spinning the spinner and applying the brush you should get a perfect centre band with just a couple of seconds work. the width of the band will depend upon the width of the brush, the amount of paint on it, and the pressure applied. With a little practice you should get a far better result in a fraction of the time and effort than trying to mask and spray it. I think that some people get so addicted to spraying everything in sight that they sometimes forget that this isn’t always the best way.