Painting missles

I suppose it depends a little on the missle type, size and colors to be used. If it is a large scale missle or even a big enough small scale, I usually drill a small hole in the area where it will be mounted and glue it to a tooth pick. This usually works well and the hole is covered by the pylon when it is attached to the aircraft. Some missles even come with conveinant holes already in them. I use a piece of styrofoam to hold the missles as they dry. Just push the sharp end of the toothpick into the foam like a pin coushin.

Some missles have large radomes in the nose that are a different color. In that case you could tape off the radome and use the taped section to hold the missle as you paint. Can have problems with finding a place to let it dry though.

Just another note... if you plan to hold the missles in your hand as you spray or airbrush, I recommend wearing a latex glove...saves a lot of time scrubing your hands with soap and water when you get paint where you didn't plan.

Working on 1/72 A/C, I use a heated needle on a pin vise or something to pierce the exhaust part of the missile. The needle usually leaves a small hole that is easy to cover up.

I usually paint the radome (if of different color) and the stripes first. This is to minimize masking. After masking them I spray it with the body color.

Using a pin vise makes it easy to rotate the missile when spraying.

I use an assembly line method!! I took a piece of 2 X 2 X 6 pine and drilled 1/2 dozen holes in same diameter as some heavy gauge copper wire. Insert, maybe glue, wire in holes. Drill hole in stern of missle and impale on wire. Line um up and start painting. Obviously different color nose cones/warheads need to be taped off ,and done first, but method is same.
Was doing 4 Phenoix's for F-4 in Braille scale when it occured to me they would qualify for "kit" at monthly meeting so took them alone on "Vlad" riggin and saved myself a quarter.
Chief John:)

Bones -

I'm lazy, I just double roll masking tape, so both side are sticky, stuck one side to a back board, and stick the missile to the other side. Spray one side. Wait while (do some thing else) flip it over and do the other side. I only use acrylics, so the drying time is pretty quick, and if some paint dose come off, it's an easy touch up.

Archer out.