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Holding Small Items


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For painting small pieces (airbrush or by hand) I have been using the alligator clip on a skewer things. I'm getting less and less happy with them. They can literally crunch some pieces and at best they leave a spot where the paint didn't go meaning I have to sand and paint that spot after everything dries. I don't like double work.

 

I'm wondering if you guys have any suggestions for an alternative

Sail on...... Mike         "Dropped a part? Your shoe will always find it before your eyes do"

Current Builds:                                                          Completed Builds:

Lancia Armata 1803 - Panart                                   US Brig Niagara - Model ShipwaysSection Deck Between Gun Bays - Panart  ; Arrow American Gunboat - Amati    

 Riva Aquarama - Amati                                           T24 RC Tugboat  ;  Hispaniola - Megow - Restoration ; Trajta - by Mikiek - Marisstella ; Enterprise 1799 - Constructo                             

                                                                   
                                                               

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Hi Mike

 

I have suggested this before on this forum but here goes.

 

One of the most valuable tools in my collection is my fly tying vice (designed for tying fishing flies) It will hold very small items without crushing them. I tend to use it for tying blocks and rigging. I usually use small alligator clips to hold items when airbrushing, but I see no reason why it couldn't be used when painting. There are many inexpensive fly tying vices on eBay and amazon.

 

Hope this helps you

 

post-1505-0-85703500-1452892911_thumb.jpg

 

Steve

Hornet

 

Current Build: - OcCre Shackleton’s Endurance. 

 

Completed Ship Builds:

                                     Caldercraft - HM Bark Endeavour. (in Gallery)

                                    Caldercraft  - HMAV Bounty (in Gallery)

                                     Caldercraft - HM Brig Supply (In Gallery)

                                     Aeropiccola - Golden Hind

                                                        - Constitution

                                     Clipper Seawitch (maker unknown - too long ago to remember!)

                                     Corel - Victory

                                     Modeller's Shipyard - A Schooner of Port Jackson - In Gallery

                                                                      - Brig `Perseverance' - In Gallery

                                                                      - Cutter `Mermaid'- In Gallery

                                                                      - Sirius Longboat (bashed) - In Gallery

                                                                      - Sloop Norfolk - In Gallery

                                      Completed Cannon:   - French 18th Century Naval Cannon

                                                                      - Napoleonic 12 pound field piece

                                                                      - English 18th Century Carronade

                                       Non Ship Builds - Sopwith Camel - Artesania Latina

                                                                   - Fokker DR1 - Artesania Latina

                                               

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You might try:

small and tiny clothes pins

masking tape, sticky side up

pins and needles

 

The pins and needles can be pushed into the part where it won't show on the model.  Some parts are best painted twice, such as trucks.

 

Keep building and above all, have fun.                                   Duff

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Duff - I was having the same idea about pins. They're cheap and I can deal with many parts in one painting session. Plus they leave almost no footprint on the piece.

Sail on...... Mike         "Dropped a part? Your shoe will always find it before your eyes do"

Current Builds:                                                          Completed Builds:

Lancia Armata 1803 - Panart                                   US Brig Niagara - Model ShipwaysSection Deck Between Gun Bays - Panart  ; Arrow American Gunboat - Amati    

 Riva Aquarama - Amati                                           T24 RC Tugboat  ;  Hispaniola - Megow - Restoration ; Trajta - by Mikiek - Marisstella ; Enterprise 1799 - Constructo                             

                                                                   
                                                               

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I will probably get around to buying one of those fly holders when it gets time to rig. But for my current problem I don't think it is the answer. I usually paint a lot of parts at one time, so I don't see a single holder helping much. Plus I imagine a holder would cover some area of the part so I would still need to paint twice.

 

Pins seem like they would work well for wood. Not so sure about the small brass parts.

Sail on...... Mike         "Dropped a part? Your shoe will always find it before your eyes do"

Current Builds:                                                          Completed Builds:

Lancia Armata 1803 - Panart                                   US Brig Niagara - Model ShipwaysSection Deck Between Gun Bays - Panart  ; Arrow American Gunboat - Amati    

 Riva Aquarama - Amati                                           T24 RC Tugboat  ;  Hispaniola - Megow - Restoration ; Trajta - by Mikiek - Marisstella ; Enterprise 1799 - Constructo                             

                                                                   
                                                               

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I use mini clothes pins, pins, tape rolled up so it's sticky on both sides & self locking tweezers. Metal parts can sometimes be stuck or pinned into soft wood.

 

Jesse

Edited by JesseLee

 Current build: Syren : Kit- Model Shipways

 

Side project: HMS Bounty - Revel -(plastic)

On hold: Pre-owned, unfinished Mayflower (wood)

 

Past builds: Scottish Maid - AL- 1:50, USS North Carolina Battleship -1/350  (plastic),   Andromede - Dikar (wood),   Yatch Atlantic - 14" (wood),   Pirate Ship - 1:72 (plastic),   Custom built wood Brig from scratch - ?(3/4" =1'),   4 small scratch builds (wood),   Vietnamese fishing boat (wood)   & a Ship in a bottle

 

 

 

 

 

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  • 4 weeks later...

Hi

 

Painting small objects isn't easy as we all know.

Yes, I use the good old jewellers help with the magnifyer and arms and clips.

But I've also found the easy way for multiple small items is to use a piece of cardboard.

Drill approriate holes through the card and stick your items to be painted through.

If the holes are small enough, the pieces even tend to stay still when being painted.

 

Here's a couple of examples:

 

post-2632-0-56689600-1455216768_thumb.jpg

 

post-2632-0-90294200-1455216792_thumb.jpg

 

Hope that helps......

 

John

Edited by JRB9019
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