Painting Swirls on propeller spinners using Parrafilm"M".

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October 14, 2015
Parrafilm "M" is a parrafin wax based material that I use for masking off clear canopies and anything else I want to protect from excess paint.
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October 14, 2015
Here is the spinner I am going to apply some parrafilm to, so that I can create the "Swirl" pattern that is seen on many German WW2 Aircraft.
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October 14, 2015
Cutting a thin strip as wide as you may want your swirl strip to be.
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October 14, 2015
Parrafilm is not backed with any adhesive, but it has a quality that will allow it to be stuck to your work, and this is activated by stretching the parrafilm between your fingers.
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October 14, 2015
Do NOT overstretch the film. Stretch it gently to a length that will be comfortably wound around the spinner.
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October 14, 2015
Once stretched, twist the tip and insert it in the hole like this, and secure it so that it will not pull out as you work the strip down the spinner.
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October 14, 2015
Put your thumb on the parrafilm where it is coming out of the hole and gently pull the film until it gets to a point where you can start wraping it around the tip, all the time, pressing the film onto the spinner to make it 'stick' in that position.
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October 14, 2015
Continually pressing the film down with you thumb will ensure that it stayes in the place you want.
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October 14, 2015
As the film starts to "Take hold" from all the pushing down with your thumb, carefully begin to wrap it further down the spinner, keeping you eye on the spacing you want.
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October 14, 2015
Be really careful not to overstretch the film as you wind it on to the spinner, as there is every chance it will break as you remove the parrafilm after it has been painted.
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October 14, 2015
Using well thinned out paint, carefully apply enough to just cover the spinner and cover the white underneath.
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October 14, 2015
The removal of the parrafilm is as soon as you put down the air brush, because the edges of the painted areas must be wet to prevent any 'feathering" and flaking.
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October 14, 2015
If there is any excess to be found, then leave the spinner to dry completly and then remove it if you feel you can, without damaging what work you have done. But if done quickly and with thin paint and no overstretched parrafilm.
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October 14, 2015
The finished spinner I had some feathering apper on, so I cleaned the spinner and did it again. 🙁
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October 15, 2015

Comments

1 14 October 2015, 22:12

Andrew Eadon
Hi Kerry, just wondering where's the best place to get Parrafilm 'M' from? By the way nice work on the nose cone🙂

14 October 2015, 23:06

Kerry COX
westlab.com.au/index.php
Andrew, Thanks for looking in mate and the link for Parrafilm "M" is for your area, being Melbourne I noticed.
I got the big roll some 15 years ago, and I use it ALL the time, and back then it cost me $20.00.

14 October 2015, 23:18

Gerald
👍

14 October 2015, 23:43

Kerry COX
👍

14 October 2015, 23:45

Jens
Hi Kerry, I use for spirals Eduard Masking, I'm lazy 😄 1:32 in the looks but very very convincing of how the entire building report just thrilled 👍 👍 👍

15 October 2015, 05:38

Kerry COX
Jens, Hi there again, and I did not know that there was a kit for doing spirals and I am gonna' look now. 🙂 Thanks. 👍

Yep, just had a look but for $8.00 a throw, mmmmmmmm, as mine cost 00000.01 of a cent. LOL 🙂 AND, it's a lot of fun. 🙂

15 October 2015, 06:15

Jens
Hi Kerry, I have the spirals in 1:48, Eduard EX500, unfortunately only in 48 🙁 🙁

15 October 2015, 06:47

Jens
and eduard.com/store/Edu..am=Spinner%20spirals 1:32 🙂 🙂 🙂 👍 👍 👍 32 is not my scale, but if the subject is spoken, you look sometimes on the side 😄

15 October 2015, 06:50

Wim van der Luijt
I use it for canopies and one of the things I have always liked is that you can leave it on for a very long time (moths even) and it wont damage the plastic or become impossible to remove.

15 October 2015, 07:02

Kerry COX
Wim, That is so true mate, and I have been a big fan of it for over 20 years now and it has never failed to do what I ask of it. 🙂

15 October 2015, 07:07

Christian Meyerhoff
Excellent! I will try this by my self.

15 October 2015, 07:40

Rui S
So Kezza, Have you ever tried Portuguese beer??? hehehe, you know what I mean right? Great info Mate. THX

15 October 2015, 08:43

Kerry COX
Rui, NO, I never have, but I am sure there would be an outlet for it here. What is the name of the one you like ? 🙂
And, what is the name of the closest pub to you. ?

15 October 2015, 08:47

Rui S
The strong one, "SAGRES" . The same name as the village in southwest Algarve "where the land ends and the sea begins" hehehe
I like to drink at home, mine or from friends. When we go out, we go to many bars to fill our bellies, heehe but not in close quarters.

15 October 2015, 09:02

Thomas Mayer
Kezza, there is no stop for you showing your amazing talent building this Uhu! I never thought about using Parafilm for this! Thanks for this clever idea!

15 October 2015, 15:56

Christian Bruer
Good idea and nice result. Thx for sharing Kerry!

15 October 2015, 18:10

Kerry COX
Thomas and Christian, I thank you for your positive feed back. 🙂
I have used all kinds of "Masking" products, but, I am still yet to find one that has as many applications and uses that Parrafilm "M" has to offer.
I first saw it mentioned and used in a Finescale Modeller Magazine just before my son was born, and THAT was just on 29 years ago. !!, demonstrating how it was for clear canopy painting, and I have been hooked ever since. :-/
I bought the biggest roll you can get, and I have used two in that time and I am just about to order an other one (My third).
And about a third of it ended up on the floor.

15 October 2015, 19:55

Jan Hazes
Tnx for the tip Kerry! I've got some of that stuff. primarily to mask canopies. It found it takes a bit of getting used to to get he stretching right.

15 October 2015, 21:01

Kerry COX
YES Jan, and it can be 'overstretched' and it is useless after that.
I have found that it is a 'feel' you get and visually, and to keep it on the 'thicker side' rather than too thin.
There were some clowns on Youtube trying to show how to use it but the waffle they went on with killed any content and nothing really was 'demonstrated. LOL 🙂
I should produce a little vid on "How to and what to know and avoid'🙂
I will keep you and everyone here posted. 🙂
Cheers. 👍

15 October 2015, 22:38

Christian Bruer
Hehe, good work deserve some praise mate!

16 October 2015, 18:22

Augie
Well Kerry.. I can blame you now.. I have roll of parafilm on its way

16 October 2015, 19:33

Kerry COX
Christian and Augie, Thanks for your words and I will post some more stuff, but in a video.🙂
Geez I'm a good salesman. !!! LOL 🙂

16 October 2015, 20:10

Rui S
hehehe, can't wait for that one Kezza

17 October 2015, 12:22

Kerry COX
I have just charged up my camera battery, and I will have to find something suitable to demonstrate it with, and I think the Uhu canopies would be good. 🙂

17 October 2015, 12:39

Vegard Øksenholt
Hey Kezza - I used the parafilm technique on my latest build, and I liked every bit of it except from removing it. It wouldn't come off in one bit, had to scratch it all away with my nails. Did I stretch it too much or is this normal?

17 October 2015, 18:00

Acki
Super! Thanks for sharing.

17 October 2015, 20:12

Kerry COX
The very best way to remove any parrafilm that is difficult, I use a wood tooth pick, as this will not scratch a clear surface and it helps clean away any 'feathering' from where the edge of the PF and paint meet.

17 October 2015, 21:12

Vegard Øksenholt
I'll keep that in mind until next time 🙂 Cheers!

17 October 2015, 21:45

Kerry COX
Good place to keep it LOL 🙂 👍

17 October 2015, 21:56

Christian Bruer
Hehe - getting older a piece of paper is a good place to keep it too🙂
P.S. just a personal experience😉

18 October 2015, 08:27

Kerry COX
You must have had some horrific personal experiences then. LOL 🙂

18 October 2015, 09:21

Christian Bruer
Sorry what are your talking about, I lost my piece of paper where I kept it🙂
Not really Kerry, but there are much to much information to keep every day.

18 October 2015, 12:48

Kerry COX
Lost in the translation I think. 🙁

18 October 2015, 14:12

arne vd burg
Thx for sharing Kerry

18 October 2015, 14:18

Kerry COX
I do my best guys. Thanks for your kind words. 🙂 👍

18 October 2015, 20:18

Es-haq Khosravi
Great!

21 October 2015, 21:04

Augie
got mine.. seems to work simples..

21 October 2015, 21:38

Augie
Yeah.. works very well.. little fiddly to remove but finger nails work a treat!.. 145ft of the stuff.. its going to last years!

22 October 2015, 00:23

Kerry COX
Dammed right Augie, and you will find so many more uses for it too. 🙂

22 October 2015, 00:48

Augie
Lol well did think it might work when doing my nails 😛

22 October 2015, 09:05

Kerry COX
See ? All ready, an other application I can use. hehehehe. 🙂

22 October 2015, 11:06

Spanjaard
It has taken me a while to find this but it is a great idea for masking 🙂

14 March 2019, 16:30

Cuajete
Yes... great idea! 👍

14 March 2019, 18:02

Holger Kranich
Time for a walk to the pharmacy!

15 March 2019, 08:38

Holger Kranich
Kezzy my dear, can you show us how you mask a canopy with it? Do you strech it gently, pull it over the clear part and then cut it out?

15 March 2019, 08:40

Kerry COX
Holger. The Parrafilm is just paraffin wax rolled out flat and mostly used (before modellers discovered it's properties) by the horticultural industry and science labs like pathology, for sealing the glass tubes when building liquid carrying tubing to prevent leaks.
Now you have asked. I will produce a video on the way to use it when either masking off canopies or even when masking areas on a fuselage for camo work. 👍
It is done exactly the way you described it. As long as you don't 'overstretch' it, to give your self some 'body' in the film so that it will adhere well with the right finger pressure when laying it up on what ever your working on. It leaves NO residue or wax marks behind when removed and it's especially good when using it with fresh paint, leaving a good demarcation line with no 'feathers' along the line needed.
But I will set up something that describes that aspect when I do the video. 😉
I buy mine through a medical supplies outlet.
Stay tuned. 🙂 🙂 🙂

15 March 2019, 10:38

Wim van der Luijt
Another big plus is that you can leave it on for a very long time if needed. I had a canopy where I removed it after a couple of months....no problems whatsoever

15 March 2019, 11:24

Kerry COX
Wim. 🙂 🙂 🙂
So true mate. 👍
I have had kits that I have 'put aside' for a while, in fact for well over the six month period and it just rolled off like it was applied yesterday. Beats the hell out of the liquid paint on masks. 👍

15 March 2019, 12:44

komoras
Thanks for sharing Kerry! Love the end results 👍

15 March 2019, 14:55

Kerry COX
Any time for my friends Komoras. 👍 🙂

15 March 2019, 17:44

Christian W
This is great! I'll Keep it in mind. Got that stuff from a freind but never used it.

28 June 2019, 09:21

Derek Huggett
Finally succumbed myself Kerry - easy to find on evilBay among all the other surgical supplies. Saw some rubber tubing also advertised, which bought back all the old nightmares....AAARRGGHH, Nurse...Not the rubber tubing again...pleeeze!!! 🙂

28 June 2019, 10:13

Kerry COX
To think that Parrafilm started off being used in the horticultural business, being a wrapper for cuttings when spliced into other plants. ! Then pathology grabbed it for use in labs to seal glass tubes and the like, but now, more modellers use it than any one else. !!!! FACT. 🙂 👍

28 June 2019, 10:56

Derek Huggett
Likewise, a certain floor shine liquid that is now 'the modellers friend' (Klear)! What an inventive/innovative bunch we are!😎

28 June 2019, 12:21

Spanjaard
Well, we gad yo do wit what was at hand, Boeing that floor polish, foid wrapping, electrical cables.....

28 June 2019, 19:07

Christian W
The modellers are quite good inventors 😄 Or are they just practical? Creative. They are creative.

28 June 2019, 19:51

Kerry COX
All of the above me thinks. 🙂 Adaptation of so many things that really had no basis in modelling, like the simple little piece of plastic that goes on the bread wrapper/bag. ! How many times has that humble little square helped me out of a jam. 🙂 🙂 🙂 👍

28 June 2019, 20:24

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The technique I have used for meny years to create the swirl on propeller spinner caps.

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