Super Simple Painting Stand

[Ddms]

Here's a stand I've improvised for painting car bodies.

The base is an old can of some sort; it has a diameter of about 3 1/2". It can be full or empty - full is better because of the weight - but it must have a hard lid that stays in place. On the lid is a flattened lump of purple modeling clay, the kind kids use in school. (Green, red or yellow clay will work almost as well. ) It always stays pliable.

Stuck into the clay is a long, self-closing clamp. It has a very firm grip and a wide base, so the clay can get a good grip on it. To steady the body, I propped up the rear of the body with a stick.

The clamp grips a piece of folded double-sided carpet tape that is stuck to the underside of the cowl, in front of the windshield. Depending on the shape of the car body, it can be stuck anywhere. I've also used the same tape to stick a long cardboard paddle to the inside of a door, then gripped the paddle with a clamp - or two.

The Porsche has a small body; for other cars, I might use more sticks (or even more clamps) under more places. It all depends, but regardless, it's quick and easy. I'll often pick up the whole setup so I can spray the lower edges of the body. That's why the clamp is essential; a car resting on sticks alone will fall off easily.

For smaller parts, I'll use, yep, carpet tape to stick the part to a cardboard paddle (roughly 1 1/2" x 6") and hold it with one hand while I hold the brush or spray can in the other.

Carpet tape is one of the most useful modeling tools I own. It can be cut to any shape, and the adhesive is just firm enough to get a good grip on styrene - too strong for decals and risky for painted parts, though. It doesn't leave a residue, unless you leave it attached for days. Then you need to use alcohol to get rid of the goo. Normally, I un-tape everything after a session. But sometimes I'll leave it and de-goo the plastic when I'm done.

Edited July 1, 2010 by Ddms

[highway]

That might work for you, but it doesn't look very stable to me. I think I'll stick with my super simple paint stand, and old bent coat hanger! It works, the coat hangers were free, never had a body fall off one, and I can hang it anywhere while the paint is drying.

[charlzrocks]

Looks promising but just a bit impractical to deal with a clamp, clay, can, tape and a steady stick.

While I applaud your creativity, I myself will stick with a bent coathanger.....

[puddingwrestler]

I've just started to use a new type of stand made by taping straws together. You tape two pairs into X shapes to hold the body, and tape another between them to hold them apart, then tape it down to a solid surface. I use a potter's throw wheel (atleast I think that's what it's called) which is basically a wooden disc resting on three up turned castor wheels, so I tape it to that. I've used a coat hanger based thingee before, but I seem to have lost it.

[Brett Barrow]

Here's what I've used for years:

I clean it periodically, & I learned a neat tip to avoid paint buildup on the base, cover it in cling wrap before a painting session. As you can tell though, I didn't learn that right away!!

The arms bend out to hold any 1/24-/125 scale body, & on occasion I have used tape to hold a body more firmly on the stand. as well as a chassis or some other large, primarily flat part that I painted. I've also taped small parts to it for spraying as well.

The base is easy to hold onto, though I have considered drilling fingerholes in it.

I bought it at a long gone hobby shop in Gastonia NC, many years ago & have used it every since.

I want to say I paid $10-$12 for it, but I don't remember. I do know it wasn't higher than that, & I'm pretty sure it wasn't under $10. I know, I know, I could have built one cheaper. Well, in some cases I'd rather buy what I need & begin using it right away, as opposed to gathering all the material, getting all the tools needed, & doing all the work. That's time better spent building models, & I figure in somewhere around 15 years of continuous use, it's paid for itself many times over!

I am also looking at a Tamiya stand for it's versatility to use as well.

I don't care if you pay 50 cents or 50 dollars* for a proper paint stand, it will be the best money you ever spend on car modeling. And the Tamiya stand is suhweet!

*Ok maybe not 50 bucks, but whether you build your own or buy one, you'll wonder how you ever got along without it.

[Jon Cole]

Coathanger paint stand. Cut the tip of the "hook" off, and spread the two wires apart. That forms the two feet. Turn it over, shape the longer wires to hold the body. I like to use a small vise-grip to form the third leg, making it a tri-pod. That way it can stand on its own.

[Zoom Zoom]

I used to use a bent coat hanger, I own a Tamiya paint stand, but my favorite is the one I got from Micro Mark "Hold-It Easy". It holds the body securely (foam blocks contact the inner body), the handle is long enough to keep your hands mostly away from the paint spray, and it is easier to manipulate the motion of the body as you spray it. The Tamiya stand is short and not nearly as easy to hold, seems more suited to those that want to place the stand in the spray booth and shoot the model w/o holding the stand at the same time; I prefer to move the body around a lot as I shoot it...therefore I only use the Tamiya stand occasionally. This is one of those things that I didn't think I needed until I saw a friend using it and he loved it, so I tried it myself and was immediately hooked. I saw one for sale at a hobby shop out of state that I used to frequent when visiting, and got it. You can hang it up on a peg or long nail with the body inverted to let it dry.

Those of us that use these paint stands always lend them out at modelpaloozas, everyone seems to love using them.

Micro Mark Hold It Easy

Edited July 2, 2010 by Zoom Zoom

[crazyjim]

I used coat hangers until last year when I brought a Tamiya stand. I love the thing! It's easy clean up becuase the paint just chips off after it dries.

[Ddms]

That might work for you, but it doesn't look very stable to me.

I know it looks shakey, but it's very stable because of the clamp. The clay is pretty stiff, and I stick the clamp in deep. I'm able to move it around, and even over my head if I want to spray the bottom edges.

I think it's more stable than stands that depend on gravity alone to hold the body.

[Greg Myers]

Some clothes hanger wire, welding rod a piece of 2x4 a few clothes pins and :

[vizio93]

How much was that stand, I like it !???

[crazyjim]

I got my Tamiya stand(s) online somewhere and I'm pretty sure it was less than $25, but then you need to add shipping.

I like the tip about glueing the base to the upper part. I've bodies partially paintedd and have it fall off when I tipped it upside down. Right to the purple pond after that.

[Tradeshowjoe]

I have and use a variety of what ever works per situation. I use the Tamiya stands, I love them and I too hate their spinning action - i tape them still. I use the backwards BBQ tong looking holder IT IS GREAT! I am sure to make my own from BBQ tongs one day. But still my favorite is the homemade job in the picture. I made it from a "plant prop" -36" tall. I purchased it for less than a buck at wally-world. In it's original form it is a straight wire (thicker than a coat hanger) bent into a "loop"at the top. The way mine is shaped, when I hold it, the top sections move away from each other. If I squeeze too hard it gets tighter, not looser. Plus when I am done the whole thing gets taped to the bottom of a plastic shoe box (wally-world also around a buck)for safe drying.

[Dr. Cranky]

I use chopsticks with double sided tape and they've worked for me all along, although for detailing I also use the Tamiya stands too.

[Greg Myers]

Looks easy enough to make. Two hardware store, paint, stir sticks, a long bolt with a spring and a wing nut and put it together.

[Dr. Cranky]

It can't get any easier than this:

[Agent G]

Beer bottle and tape.

G