Looking at post here and mags i see some people make the kit up completly then paint others do not.
Is there a prefered method when it comes to wheels and tracks.mount them both then paint OR try to keep wheels and tracks as 1 assembly,paint then mount.
I think i have seen more with the wheels/tracks on before paint.But this might be down to the choice of model.Any tips please.
When i make tanks, jeeps and cars i always put the wheels and the tracks after i paint the figure. Usually the wheels and tracks are the last things i put because i might accidentally paint the wheels and tracks. Take my advice if you don’t want any paint on your tracks and wheels.
depends on the builder. i usually paint my wheels first then mount. i also paint the tracks separately then mount. you’ll see everyone has his/her own way to do it. i guess it depends on how easy one or the other is for you! [:)]
It often depends on the vehicle and paint scheme. For a Jeep or tank with a simple suspension (like an M48 or M60 tank), I find it easier to leave off the wheels, paint them separately and paint the underside of the vehicle. Then assemble for weathering and additional detail painting.
For a vehicle like a Tiger tank with a more complex paint scheme and suspension, I would add the road wheels and then paint the camouflage scheme.
From what you see here…it depends on the kit and how well you can reach every thing. I also tend to leave little details like tools, packs etc, off and paint separate.
There really is no right or wrong answer…only what works for you!
Rounds Complete!!
My normal practice is to paint wheels and tracks separately then mount but others do it exactly in the reverse. If a vehicle is going on a base or in a dio and the mud/dirt/weathering is going to be heavy as a result, painting things separately may not make as much sense if it’s all going to be covered up anyhow. Try it both ways and see which one you like is the best advice I think. [;)]
I used to paint as many sub-assemblies as possible then join them together…I found, however, that this often resulted in a disjointed look, especiallly when you attempt to do any type of weathering seperately…my philosophy now is build it to 100% if possible before any painting…With open-topped vehicles, however, sometimes you HAVE to paint interior details while building…
while learning airbrushing on a kubelwagen, i painted everything on the frets and then needed superglue to put it together. a disaster. i was able to unbond the sides and rear from the fenders, sand down all the superglue, put everything back together, fill in gaps and then hit the whole thing at one time (except the tires and spare and seats). primed it first. lost some interior detail paint which wasn’t noticeable. turned out presentable but won’t do that again.
my tamiya KV-IIA is in 3 subs plus roadwheels (turret, upper hull, lower hull and sprockets). will paint all 3 separately at the same time, insert pins to sag the rubberband track after detailing the roadwheels and installing, put it all together and weather. actually may mud up the hull before putting together. may even try using pulverized dirt and water.
I assemble most of the model and paint it, but leave off the wheels adn running gear as sub-assemblies. Then add them, and weather it.
I usually paint all of the lower parts of the hull and finish construction on that portion. Then I mask it off and build/paint/weather the top.
For most tanks, APCs, SP howitzers, and such, I shoot it at about 90% complete if it’s a single-color. I paint the roadwheels’ rubber parts, then mask with a circle template to shoot them the hull color. The other 10% consists of tracks, tools, gear, etc and gets painted either prior to attachment or occasionaly after…
For German armor that gets the red-brown & green camo, I shoot those colors after the tank’s complete to represent a field-applied camo… That means some stuff, like spare track and such, gets deliberately over-sprayed, since crews don’t mask in MY Heer…[:D]
There’s always exceptions though, especially open-top vehicles… They get a lot done inside before assembly with some touch-up afterwards.