I'm having a bit of an issue here, hope someone can help me. I have drilled the port holes on the XXI I am currently building and I plan to make a fake pressure hull which I will probably paint black. The only problem I'm having is, how do I primer and paint the submarine once it is assembled without paint/primer getting in and making a grafitti on the hull?

I've thought of painting the pressure hull grey, or even laying some thin cellophane (saran wrap) between the pressure hull and the outside hull and then pull it out through a larger port hole when I am done, but I am a bit nervous about this (thinned walls could break and cellophane might rip and cause a headache to pull out too).

Ideas?
Thanks.

Ahoy Ion,

Do you mean the flooding/vents holes?

When you paint the hull, angle it so that if you are using an airbrush, the
spray will not or very minimal enter the flooding/vents. Start at the top
and work your way down then flip and work from bottom to top. This will
ensure that virtually no spray gets inside.

If you have opened the access doors to the tower, just stuff some slightly
wet tissue paper and this will prevent spray from getting in.

It works for me....

Cheers,
Joe

Thanks Joe. Flooding holes is what I meant. I'll give it a try using your technique.

Thanks Joe, I will soon (hopefully!) be faced with the same thing. So you spray at an angle, just slightly off parallel from hull I would imagine?

Ahoy Wink,

Yes, angle the airbrush at about 45 degrees....this will allow you to hit the hull
with paint and the angle will allow enough paint to hit the inside of the vents
without spraying directly inside and painting the pressure hull.

The other alternative is to prepaint the vent area with a wide spread of paint.

Then assemble the hull over the painted pressure hull and proceed to paint
the rest of the boat and staying away from the vents so that no paint gets in.

I have used the first method with success on all my boats. The second method
will work just as well although I have never used it.

Cheers,
Joe

Beauty mate, thanks!