It can be tricky to figure out how to hold parts, especially smaller items, while you’re painting them or while they’re drying. My simple solution involves toothpicks, sticky tack, and floral foam. I like sticky tack – an adhesive, clay-like substance designed to hold posters on walls – for bigger bits. I apply a small wad to the back of the part, then insert a toothpick, cotton swab stick, or clothespin to serve as a handle. For tiny parts without a “back,” such as gear-shift levers, I put a small drop of super glue on the bottom, then touch it to a toothpick soaked in accelerator. The thin, brittle glue is easy to snap apart when it’s time to install the piece. After painting, I push the toothpick or clothespin handle into a block of floral foam (available at art-supply and craft stores). The foam is soft enough to conform to the shape of the handle, but firm enough to support it, even with larger, heavier parts attached. If you use floral foam designed to absorb water, spritzing it will trap dust away from the model. I even use the foam to hold parts in the spray booth during painting. When one side gets too holey, a 180-degree flip reveals a brand new piece!

Tip submitted by:
John FincherSeattle, Washington