Securing a pilot figure for painting

[The Rat]

Keep some of your empty paint bottles, they can be used for a number of things, like this: piece of double-sided tape, and plonk his butt down on it.

Need to saw something that's small, and want it secured? Piece of double-sided tape, stick it on the surface of your work bench, stick the piece to it, and hack away.

[kerick]

I was thinking of glueing a sprue stick to his butt. Your idea will work much better.

[The Rat]

I was thinking of glueing a sprue stick to his butt. This would work even better.

You can just leave it there instead of finding some place to stick it, it isn't going to fall over.

[kerick]

By "this" I meant the paint jar. Sorry   I edited the post to correct my writing and make myself clear.
I would have to make the jar a color I wasn't going to use anytime soon until I emptied one or the paint went bad. A little weight in the jar might help it not tip over when my clumsy hand whacks it.

[Dizzyfugu]

I was thinking of glueing a sprue stick to his butt. Your idea will work much better.

That's what I sometimes do, too, even though I more frequently use thin pincers and hold the figures at their feet/boots. Another (though certzainly controversial  ) method: drill a hole into the butt (or use a hot needle, ouch), and put the figure on a toothpick. Allows a better field of work.

[zenrat]

I use Dizzy's second method.

1.2mm drill up the clacker and then shove a toothpick up the hole.

[Old Wombat]

I use Dizzy's second method.

1.2mm drill up the clacker and then shove a toothpick up the hole.

I do this under the feet on 1/35 or 1/48 figures that will be standing.

If they're seated figures, though ... Well ... Sorry, mate, butt plug it is.

[kerick]

I'll have to see if I can find some of that tape and try the Rat's method. A nice fat bottle to hold on to could be easier on the arthritis.

[scooter]

I'll have to see if I can find some of that tape and try the Rat's method. A nice fat bottle to hold on to could be easier on the arthritis.

Harbor Fright has a $20 articulated vise you can use for the butt plug method if the bottle doesn't necessarily work (pose, weight, size, etc.).

[jcf]

A piece of dowel with some stickum of some sort on the end - tape, blutack etc. whatever yer poison.
Basically the same principle as the dop stick used in lapidary work.

[Mossie]

I use a clothes peg with Blu Tack, and for pretty much any smaller pieces.

[kerick]

Don't use florist foam for anything around painting! Little bits end up everywhere. I used it to shove the bamboo skewers I had glued mini clothes pins too. Bad combo.

[killnoizer]

I always use a fine pincer and hold one of the boots , fixed the pincer with a small bracket . If the complete Figur is painted I do the boots at last step  . There are many, many cockpits where you don't see them , or it ist not enough space for the complete legs , so I have to cut them of ....

[The Rat]

so I have to cut them of ....

Been there, done that. I just put it down to Douglas Bader being a test pilot. 

[NARSES2]

I use a clothes peg with Blu Tack, and for pretty much any smaller pieces.

I use similar but with some double sided tape I got from Poundstore. I find it can be a little difficult to remove all of the  Blue Tack from a part.

Also got various sizes of clothes pegs. The small ones were meant for hanging Christmas cards but the intermediate size ones I swear are for dolls clothes