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Gannet Propeller Painting


Daedalus

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OK all you clever people out there. I am currently making a Gannet AEW3 (Alley Cat) and a Gannet COD4 (modified Revell). How do I get those neat looking stripes on the propellor boss that others seem to be able to do. I have not tried yet because I cannot think of a way to do it without holding my breath for several minutes. If there is an easier way I would love to know.

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Hello

I sprayed mine with red pain first (D flight cab) and then carefully masked with very thin masking tape, Tamiya tape sliced quite finely. It was then a case of a steady hand and a straight eye to lay the tape straight. I didnt get it perfect but it seems to work for me. Also I painted the spinner before assembly which made things alot easier.

094-1.jpg

I found the kit was a gem to build and looks mighty fine!

Cheers now

Bob

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i did the same thing, tamiya tape cut into very fine strips can be forced around the spinner as long as you take care to really burnish it down.

my aew is the aeroclub conversion of the frog kit, but you can see the spinner here

DSC02759.jpg

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stick some electrical insulation tape onto your cutting mat, then take a coin and a sharp blade, carefully cut around the coin onto the tape to make a thin 'C' shaped circular strip which you will be able to wrap around the conical prop hub for the purpose of masking - with a bit of practice you will be able to get the band perfectly even and circular. Insulation tape is ideal for this because you can adjust it and stretch it without it folding or tearing.

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Thanks guys. I thought it would have to be something to do with fiddly masking. I like Skii's idea of making circular masks as they will fit more easily around around the conical prop boss. My partner suggested putting the boss on a very slow moving turntable or drill chuck and holding the paint brush against the boss as it slowly rotates. Now there's a thought! :mental:

Cheers, Ian

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My partner suggested putting the boss on a very slow moving turntable or drill chuck and holding the paint brush against the boss as it slowly rotates. Now there's a thought! :mental: Cheers, Ian

Not as daft as it sounds. I use that technique for painting wheels. A Dremel on low speed with a piece of tooth pick in the chuck to mount the wheel on. Works a treat for them, can't see why it wouldn't work with a spinner.

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  • 3 weeks later...

Just to finish this one off - I was rooting through my tool drawer today and found several reels of Model Technics TrimLine. Each reel holds various widths of self-adhesive film that are used to add coach lines to model cars or plimsoll lines on ships. It can be bent round curves without lifting and the two smallest widths are 1mm and approx 0.5mm so it is ideal for masking those thin stripes on Gannet propellor bosses. Thanks to those who offered their advice - armed with that and my TrimLine I am going to do the 849 NAS 6 yellow and 6 black!

Cheers, Ian :thumbsup:

Edited by Daedalus
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Not as daft as it sounds. I use that technique for painting wheels. A Dremel on low speed with a piece of tooth pick in the chuck to mount the wheel on. Works a treat for them, can't see why it wouldn't work with a spinner.

That certainly works and I have used that technique for 15 - 20 years on wheels, spinners etc, anything that can be painted evenly and is circular. I use a step down transformer bringing the voltage down to 110v and the Dremel is perfect.

Once the centre of the item to be painted is ascertained, a chopped toothpick lightly super-glued to the centre and chucked in the Dremel to act as an axle, brush loaded with slightly thinned paint - bingo - job done.

DR

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Not as daft as it sounds. I use that technique for painting wheels. A Dremel on low speed with a piece of tooth pick in the chuck to mount the wheel on. Works a treat for them, can't see why it wouldn't work with a spinner.

I've done the same thing myself, I have a battery operated dremel which I set to a slow speed and lightly load the paintbrush, quick glug of wine (optional) and away I go!

I like the tip about cutting round a coin though, would be good for nose cones etc where you can't spin parts around in a dremel.

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