Do you find yourself usually sticking to a particular build order for the most part? As I’ve stated, I’m working on my first couple of models (for all intents and purposes), so I thought I would bounce this off of you experienced folks in hopes of learning a thing or two.
I’m kinda thinking it will flow as follows (individual assemblies in bold and listed in no particular order):
Interior
Simply put, this would be painted and detailed as much as possible before insertion into the hull. Naturally, if the hull cannot be assembled through the base color painting without the interior, this would likely be my first task.
Hull/Turret
All smaller attached parts would be evaluated on a case by case basis to determine if it would be best to paint it first and then attach it, with the intention of masking it during hull painting or not fixing the painted parts to the hull until the base color has been properly applied.
Tracks
Wheels would be painted and weathered independently from the tracks. Once completed, the wheels would be affixed to the hull, followed by affixing the completed tracks to the wheels. This would all be done prior to applying washes to the hull.
Finishing
At this point, the kit would be completely assembled for the most part, and the decals, washing, drybrushing or other effects would be applied to complete the kit.
I think you’ll find most guys develope a system that works for them and basically stick to it. I generally follow this sequence: lower hull, upper hull, turret, road wheels and tracks last. I usually paint the entire vehicle except the tracks the base color, then paint the rubber parts of the wheels. Most of the time when I paint, the vehicle is completely assembled except for track. If the track is going to be difficult to install or I’m using indies I’ll leave the upper hull off until the track is painted and installed. Once assembly is complete and base paint is applied I paint the details, tools and such, then I gloss coat and decal. Gloss coat again then apply any washes, when dry I spray a flat coat and dry brush/finish. Experiment with what feels right to you and look carefully at your vehicle and the kit instructions as they can often show you where trouble in the sequence may occur.
Having now built about 30 models since returning to the hobby, from my perspective, there’s really no single answer to your question. The specific order of parts-prep, construction, and finishing in my builds has not fallen into any “general” set pattern beyond those things you would expect (i.e., nearly all finishing is done after construction is complete).
When I open a new kit, one the first things I do is ask myself, “How do I want to tackle this particular build?” and the answer will vary dramatically depending on the kit itself. Does it have individual track links? If so, do I want to prep, organize, or alter these parts first, somewhere in the middle, or late in construction. I’ve done all three. Can the tracks and/or running gear remain off until after painting the hull or do they have to be installed earlier in the build? I’ve built entire armor kits, including the wheels and tracks, before applying a drop of paint. I’ve also painted many parts before construction. It really depends on what works best for the model being built. Generally, I tend to attach all the stowage and tools to a build before painting them. That’s just the way I prefer to do it, but I can also understand why some modelers want to paint these items first…whatever works for you. The only area where I tend to have a pattern is during the finishing process and that’s only because I’ve developed a system that works for the type of paint and style of weathering I use. However, even this can vary slightly depending on the ultimate look I’m looking to replicate.
I know this probably doesn’t help much, but as I said, the answer is really dependent (at least for me) on the kit I’m currently building.
It depends on a lot on the kit and any individaul fit isses that may arise. As an example, normally I like to leave the tracks and running gear until late in the game. On the other hand, if there are skirts or fenders that have to go on after the tracks, I might find it easier to do the running gear early on and mask over it when actually painting. The key for me is to look at the instructions and parts, and visualize building it before actually doing so, and with luck catching most of the possible problems in the imagination phase rather than after having glued something.