How do you paint Campbell's Ni 28 cowling?

melsharkskin · 22 August 2008, 04:58 PM

Now, this is clear proof of my utter lack of common sense, but that is a job requirement for magazine editors and such-like people. Here is my dilemma:

I want to do Douglas Campbell's Ni.28 using Roden's 1/32 kit. However, I cannot figure out the math, or geometry, whatever is required to evenly mark and mask the cowling in order to paint the "orange peel sections" on this thing. At least, that's how it's referred to in the Hamady book. It's also a design that's been referred to as a "tulip."

Either way, the thing has to be sectioned into red and black triangles facing fore and aft evenly around the cowl. And I just don't know how to figure out how to do the math in order to mark off the masking. Can anyone help me here? I know when I get the answer I'm going to be very ashamed.
Thanks a bunch,
TOM

StephenLawson · 22 August 2008, 08:00 PM

Take a narrow piece of tape. 1/3 - 1/4 of an inch. Wrap it around the cowling. Cut it so the ends butt flush with each other when they meet. Peel it off and lay it flat on a piece of clean copy paper.

I would quarter the cowling visually (don't cut it up.) Figure out how many go within 1/4 of the cowling & multiply that four times. Create a masking tape template. Make a couple of trial runs. Good luck

Flamingo · 28 August 2008, 03:58 AM

Hi melsharkskin,

measure the rear diameter of the cowl ( 33 mm?), multiply with pi (3.1415927) to get the circumference (103.67 mm). Divide by the number of red triangles (8) and you have the base width (12.96 mm). Now place a piece of masking tape on the cowl so that an edge is at right angle between rear edge and front opening. Make two pencil marks, peel off and stick to a flat surface and measure the lenght of the edge between the marks, that is the height of the triangle. Now draw a capital "T" and connect the ends and you have your masking triangle!

You might also cut triangles from black decal stock, scaled up from my 48th Blue Max kit these should be 7.5 mm wide and 19.5 mm high. Hope this is of help, I could not do that with inches.

Joachim