Painting Wand and Tip

On the forums, some builders complain of runs after spray painting rockets.

We've all seen this illustration in kit instructions, this one from a recent Semroc Cherokee D.

DON'T PAINT YOUR MODEL IN AN UPRIGHT VERTICAL POSITION! You are just asking for drips.

Set you model horizontal, on it's side for painting.







Use a painting wand to hold onto your model.
This is nothing more than a 1/2" diameter dowel with a used 18mm engine casing on the end.
You may have to add a few wraps of masking tape to get the casing to fit on tight.
Lock it into the engine mount and the dowel will keep the paint away from your holding hand.
For a 24mm paint wand, slip a 24m casing over the 8mm casing already on the dowel.
Again, add a wrap or two of tape for a tighter fit over the 18mm casing.

Take a look at the white paint to the immediate left of the casing. That's not an illusion, you can see how thick the paint is on the dowel. I've used this painting wand many times.

Here's the casing wand in an Estes Mini Shuttle.
This is how I would hold the model for spraying - horizontally.

TIP: After I do my final heavier "wet" coat I slowly turn the model like a slow rotisserie. I turn the model for a minute or two.
Keeping the model rotating won't allow the heavy wet paint to start pooling and make a run. Slowly rotate until the paint just starts to "skin".
Runs can happen anywhere but usually gets thick at the end of the body tube .

The painting wand also gives you something to clamp onto while the model dries.
I clamp the dowel into my Black and Decker Workmate. Nothing touches the rocket until it is dry.