Hey, guys:

How do you guys handle the assembly and painting of the various angle-of-attack indicators, probes, antennae attachment points, and other small bits that sprout from both vintage and modern aircraft?

For my 104G, my inclination is to attach them before painting, then go back at the end of the build and hand-paint them, as needed (on the 104, they're a separate color from the body). Or do you guys glue them on after painting is done and hope you don't ruin the paint finish in the process?

I know, another dumb little question, but a topic that confounds me a big way. :-)

Thanks!

PB

A lot of the small projections, pitot probes, gun barrels etc I replace with brass wire CA'd into a deep mounting hole.

That way I won't break it off, and don't end up ruining a perfectly good finish trying to glue tiny parts with shaking hands and failing eyesight!

Yoy can of course attach the parts after painting using PVA wood glue, which can be wiped off with a damp Q-tip.

Karl

Antennae and other extraneous appendages all get attached at the very end.  Nothing is worse than painting the kit, then snapping off an antenna or pitot.  Because then you have to sand the area and drill a new hole.  Plus, you no longer have a strong mounting tab for the piece you busted off.

Paint the antennae and whatever else off the plane.  Paint the plane and let dry.  Take the antenna and dip the mounting tab in a small drop of your preferred glue - don't apply glue to the antenna or to the plane.  Put a drop of glue on some wax paper and dip the mounting point in the glue.  This makes sure that you have only enough glue to make a secure connection and not some big glob hanging off the end.  Attach the appendage and let dry.  You'll have a no-mess attachment and have minimized the chance of snappage.

-Fred

 

I admitted defeat a long time ago. I glue them on whereever they appear in the instruction sequence, then once the glue dries, I go ahead and break them off and throw them to the carpet monster....