I know this looks like a royal mess, but I’ve noticed many paint booths have a similar appearance. I finally got into gear and got the paint booth up and working.
One of the issues I pondered about was how to hold the models to paint. I came up with a couple of paths forward. (Click on any photo here to view a larger size.)
Behold, the medicine pill vial and a toilet paper tube can be used to hold some models. Like many model railroaders, I take some medications to keep me on this side of the dirt and active in the hobby. I often use the empty vials for small parts storage. The toilet paper tube is something most of us throw away.
I found these vials can fit inside of the tube.
By slightly pinching the top of the tube, an Accurail box car body can slip right over the top. The vial acts as an anchor. You can add pennies or coins for weight to keep the new model holder stable. My vial is filled with a bunch of 2-56 screws.
But not every model has a separate underframe. Many of the resin freight car kits I’ve built are complete with underframes glued to the car body. I needed to create another holder for those cars.
I bought some half-inch aluminum angle stock at the hardware store and cut six-inch lengths. I used a hacksaw to cut away part of the angle at each end and drilled holes for screws. Then those tabs were bent 90 degrees from the remaining stock. I anchored one of these pieces to a scrap 1×4. I measured the distance between bolsters on the model then anchored the other angle piece that same distance from the first one. One of the box cars was then attached to the other end of the angle stock with 2-56 screws.
I was able to paint the entire model with this holder. It took me a few tries to get good coverage on the underframe but I was able to paint the entire model at one sitting. Actually, I was able to paint two models in one sitting as I made two of these model holders.
In short order, I sprayed six models with Vallejo German red-brown primer and another model with Vallejo desert tan primer. I also devised a couple more model holders.
These are the first freight car models I’ve painted since moving to Philadelphia in late 2022. It feels good to finally move several models towards completion. Now I need to find the decal sets for all of these cars!
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Your paint booth looks like every paint booth I’ve ever seen, mine included. I love your methods of holding the freight cars. Simple and effective.
Thank you, Blake! I’m glad I’m not alone. – Eric H.
Hi Eric, I too have been using a variety of methods to hold models for painting, not as clever as yours, mostly just scraps of wood. Lately I’ve simply been placing a model an inexpensive (<$10 @ Amazon) plastic lazy susan/turntable, that allows me to paint sides, ends and roof. (But not underside, that requires another step.)
Brian, those lazy Susan turntables are very handy. I’ve picked up a couple at thrift stores over the years. I use them when painting gondolas and flat cars, which will probably show up in a future post! – – Eric H.
Eric, you can add a hand held clamp for painting. I have one of these and I use it a lot. I added a hook to the top-front of my paint booth so that when I am done, I can hang the clamp, and painted car, from the hook to dry.
Bruce, is that like a squeeze clamp? I think I know what this is but I haven’t seen one in awhile. – – Eric H.
The medicine bottle – toilet paper holder is a great idea. I will have to adopt that.
Steve, make it so!! – – Eric H.
Eric, I made several simple car holders over the years. My favorite is one that was made out of 34 inch by 3 inch piece of pine (what I had on hand at the time). Then, I cut up some metal hangers and screwed them to the board. This makes an adjustable holder. The hanger wire fits into the bolster holes and allows me the flexibility to paint most of the underframe and the rest of the car. Of course, to finish the underframe, you will have to remove it to properly paint it.
Wow, I’m going to copy some of those things, including the toilet paper roll holder!! I’ve done a few tricks like this before, but we can always use more!