Ugh math and modelling..calculating masks for a taper

I read somewhere to get a circle cutter, cut a circle, then cut a slightly smaller one inside its diameter. That'll give you a thing ring of tape that'll conform much better around a conic section. 

Have yet to try it, though...and I've got two /148 500-lb bombs I need to stripe up, myself. 

ditto.  I have been trying to derive or find that formula for a long while. I used to be good in trig, but that is an excellent reference!

Great link! *bookmarked*

I tried measuring the diameter and multiplying it by 3.14 and then setting the compass to that measurement. I'd draw the line on tape with the compass and then cut it out. It didn't seem to go on to my bombs as a straight line though.

I did come up with a template that was close enough, and I've finished painting the bombs and they are close enough! I'm OK with the result I just still wanted to know the steps to actually figure it out! The cone calculator worked unfortunately it has minimum sizes and of course my project was to small. It will be perfect for the nose of an airplane though!!

I think what your trying to do is create a cone.  Try this link.  It might help.

http://www.red-bag.com/engintools/calccone.php

I understand better.  I was thinking of a simple transition from one color to another.  A stripe would be very difficult with the circle template.

If you can come up with a jig to hold the piece and be able to rotate it around the axis, you might be able to spin and carefully paint the line.  Sort of like a lathe.

Paul

Both great work a rounds!

In my case with these bombs though I've already painted the yellow of the stripe so I want to use one piece of tape and then shoot the olive drab. The circle template would be great if I was doing one of, but I have 12.

I did manage to get a template to cut tape with in the end. It's close enough but that's what got my curious. There has to be a precise way of calculating this through math and I really want to learn it! To satisfy my curiosity as much as anything!

Buy a circle template from a craft store.  Find the right size hole to stick the nose through and cover all the others. 

Paul

If you cut your tape down so it's quite narrow it should conform alright, then use broader tape to finish up - or use flexible fine-line tape like 3M produce.

Another method is to paint the tip, then "mask" with heat-shrink tubing before painting the remainder.