FineScale Modeler – October 2019

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Reader tips

Decant spray paint

Sometimes there are only

certain colors of paint avail-

able in spray cans, so how do

you transfer the contents of

the rattle can, so that it can

be used in an airbrush, with

little to no mess? I found a

technique that seems to

solve this issue.

Parts needed: Can of

spray paint, transfer straw

(from WD40, compressed

air, etc.), paint pipette, and

paint catch bottle.

Here are my steps:

1. Remove the spray
   valve (red) assembly from
   the paint can.


2. Remove the spray noz-
   zle (white) from the valve.


3. Insert a transfer straw
   (from WD40, compressed
   air, etc.) into nozzle open-

ing. Super glue in place,

if needed.

4. Cut round end off
   pipette, and insert straw
   into narrow end of pipette.
   Next it’s time to transfer
   the paint.


5. Shake rattle can for
   the time required to fully
   mix the paint.


6. Insert modified valve
   assembly back onto top of
   spray can, but be sure not
   to depress the valve yet.


7. Place open end of
   pipette into paint catch

bottle, about three-quarters

of the way down from the

top of the jar.

4. Depress the valve to
   start the paint transfer.


5. Monitor the amount
   of paint being transferred,
   because propellant also
   is being released with
   the paint.
   Once the paint and
   propellant settle, you may
   use the paint as is, in your
   airbrush.
   I also recommend sepa-
   rating and cleaning the
   parts right away, so you’ll
   be ready for your next
   paint transfer.

• Ken Meyer
  Colorado Springs, Colo.

Emery board use

I’ve found a great use for

broken emery boards. I just

came across an old 1/

scale Airfix Morris Cowley

that I thought would be

great for a post-WWI air-

plane diorama for my

upcoming Camel. But, sur-

prise, there was flash

between the spokes of the

wheels and the steering

wheel.

After worrying about

the problem for a while I

thought of the broken

emery boards I had lying

around and, with two or

four swipes of a sharp knife

I made some fine, pointed

emery files.

These fit the tiny spaces

perfectly.

• Mike Ballantyne
  Central Saanich,
  British Columbia, Canada

is “Gravity Wins Again.” It’s represents a
typical Soyuz capsule landing, sometimes
termed a “dust-down” as opposed to a
“splashdown.”
The diorama is in 1/48 scale, and uses
the NewWare resin Soyuz capsule as the
main feature, built with few modifications.
All the figures are from a Hasegawa USAF
ground crew set, heavily modified to get the
required body positions. The two cosmo-
naut figures are from the NewWare kit.
These started as identical figures in a stand-
ing position and had to be heavily modified
to get the results seen here.

• Mike Mackowski
  Gilbert, Ariz.

Mike Mackowski created this clever diorama of
a Soyuz “dust-down.”

Professional

Sprue Cutter

2175ET

Easily trim delicate, tightly spaced parts.

Clean, close cuts. No pinching or twisting.

Large, ergonomic grips for greater control.

Purchase at hobby stores worldwide.

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for Scale Modelers

(^)
Since
1968