I am primarily an aircraft modeler but manage to build an armor kit perhaps for every two or three aircraft completed. My question is why do so many armor modelers install the road wheels and tracks prior to painting? I myself, prefer to build the basic vehicle without road wheels, tracks, and stowage and then add those parts after finishing the main components (i.e. hull, turret, etc.)? Does building the vehicle with tracks and road wheels make the overall finishing process easier? To me, it would seem to add work, but the subjects guys using this method turn out are usually stunning. Could it be a “cultural” thing, where aircraft modelers are more concerned with building in subassemblies (cockpit, engine, wheel wells, etc.) while armor modelers, at least to me, seem more concerned with the overall finished subject and imparting a sense of visual authenticity (through weathering, highlighting, pre/post shading, etc). Anyway, do most “serious” armor guys build the vehicle (tracks and all) and then paint, weather, and finish or is it mostly just personal preference? Thanks!
You have all types.
I ALWAYS paint the wheels and tracks OFF the model, and view those who do it on the model as something similar to aliens from Venus or something…[:-^]…(just kidding, guys!) Seriously though, I couldn’t bring myself to do it on the model, ever. Just the fact that I know that there are little islands of bare plastic somewhere on the backsides is enough to make me dwibbly with frictures!
Armor modeling has a fair degree of subasssemblies as well, depending on the type of vehicle–open-top AFV’s have most; turreted tanks, less; tank hunters the least.
What to attribute the different methods to? Hmmmm. Well, some people untie their sneakers before they take them off, others just kick 'em off from the heel…[swg]
He he heh…
I did actually try to completely build a tank (a Tamiya 1/48th scale Crusader) once and paint it after all stowage, wheels, and track was on it… It was super frustrating, and I found myself getting “dwibbly with frictures” (or something to that degree) trying to figure out how to finish it. I really tip my hat to those can do this and have the patience and confidence that it will all come together with that last filter or wash…