painting nose cones

If you cut the masking tape into very thin strips it will bend around the spinner much better than a wide strip. I usually use 1/8" (or even narrower) strips for things like that, and it helps a lot. Make some pencil marks around the spinner the same distance up from the bottom so you'll have some guide points for your tape. Once you have a thin, straight band of tape around it, you can add wider strips that just stick to that band since they won't have to be so straight.

Yellow is a terrible color to paint, I hate it. I'd almost be tempted to paint the whole spinner light gray, shoot the yellow, then mask it for the red.

thanks-that is what I did as far as the yellow paint goes! It is all yellow now and I am painting the darker red color last. I thought it would take coats after coats of yellow to finish it

Ill try that with the tape.

yeah, using thin strips of tape is always the way i go, so that is probably your best bet to use. I never measure my strips, i just cut em but they are probably about 1/8"

On the topic of painting nose cones, how do people paint the spiral on nose cones of Luftwaffe planes? I have always wondered that. Scott

its a decal.

For the spiral on the spinner, some people here have suggested free hand, as that was the way it was done at squadron level. I have heard of cutting the tape strip on the diagonal, leaving one edge straight and winding it on. To paint bands on the spinner, get a circle template and fit it over the cone to the level you want the bottom band and spray or brush. Do the same with a smaller circle for the top band. Little muss or fuss.

QUOTE: how do people paint the spiral on nose cones of Luftwaffe planes? I have always wondered that.

I'll bow to the expertise of the others; I've never attempted it! If I were to try and do it freehand I think I'd try and draw the spiral on the spinner first. Maybe mount the spinner on the prop and the prop shaft in a vise so I could turn it, then just move a pencil down it while I turned it. Not really sure

QUOTE: I never measure my strips, i just cut em but they are probably about 1/8"

Me either ... I use 1/4" masking tape and split it roughly in half.