No-mess model rocket painting

If your son is like mine, painting a model rocket can be a messy proposition. If he holds the rocket with one hand while he paints with the other, he will inevitably get paint all over his hands.

To keep his hands from getting messy, you will need a metal coat hanger. These can be found at dollar stores in packs of 10 or 12. Take the triangular portion of the coat hanger and pull the neck away from the long, straight end, thus turning the triangle into a square. Beck the neck at a 90 degree angle, perpindicular to the square. Straighten out the neck and bend it into a zig-zag shape.

Your son can now slide the launch lug (the part that looks like a small piece from a drinking straw) over the open end of the hangar, and the entire assembly can be set down on a table. You should still lay out some newspapers to catch drips, but at least the paint won't be all over his hands!