Do you guys prime and base coat your tanks with the wheels on or wheels off? I tend to do it with the wheels off but hope to save time with assembling wheels on. Any suggestions?

I always leave the wheels off...

They only get in the way, so it the easiest thing for me to do.. I just put them on the end of a brush or something and spray paint them like that...

Hi. For me it's definitely wheels off. So much easier to do that way. But this is just me. Others do it differently, and that's okay too. What ever is the easiest and handiest for the builder to do is what counts in the end.

Take care, sgirty

Wheels on for me... I like to be different Really, though - I personally find it easier to build the whole thing, wheels, tracks and all before I paint. Unless I'm using Friuls tracks (they get the blacken-it treatment seperately), I put the whole darn thing together before painting.

Later-
Jeff

I think wheels off. Current build is a PZ IV. Need to get a good wash, weather and crud up on those leaf springs and bits. Can't do it with the wheels on.

Hi Rosedale73
The wheels must be left off to be able to correctly detail the running gear. I can't see of any other way to get at them.

I prefer to attach everything prior to painting. It takes a little bit more time to cover everything, but it relieves the hassle of removing paint in order to glue the pieces on.

Another obe for the wheels off here...
Ciao

Wheels off - I can't seem to go the "easy" route...

Gunnie

I'm in the wheels off camp. I also often leave off the suspension.

Wheels off here.

While I would love to change the words here, I must admit that I am in with the company.....

Wheels off

Dave

I leave the wheels off so I can get the weathering look that I am going for. you can't get the good mud in there with the wheels on. Plus a lot of the armor today have some wheels that are different colors like. on a camo track you may see a desert wheel here and there. But you have to do what is best for you.

Same here, Jeff. Everything on, then paint. We are the crazy bunch....

The only time I do seperate paint is when I do a plane, then it's cockpit painted.... but then everything else are all assembled and paint.

Check this out, all assembled then paint.. (sorry lost the pic of the all assembled one, but you got the idea).

Like, it seems, most guys here, I do mine with the wheels off. I prime them about the same time as the rest of the model and they are one of the last things put on to the finished product. I find that I am able to paint behind them better and do any weathering behind them easier. You may not be able to see the detailing in back of the wheels very well or at all, but I know it's there and that's all that matters.

Wheels off, I have never been able to figure out how to paint all the suspension and lower hull with it all together. I also paint the tools seperately and add them just before weathering starts.
capnjock

wheels off for me i find it much easier to paint the hull/chassis without them on and stops the chance of over spray trashing your nicely done tires

I always thought I was the black sheep because I keep the wheels off until everything I wanted to do to the model was done. I also find it easier to paint and detail the wheels one by one when they are on my hobby table and not stuck on the tank.

My conclusion is to paint hull with wheels off as I generally do.
Painting with the wheels on depends on what scenario you using your tank in. I've read articles by the great Mig whats his face, where he has sparyed with wheels on. The tank he was constructing was used buried in a ditch on a diorama, therefore limited focus on wheels and tracks.

Paint the wheels off tank, front, back and inside.. Paint hull base color. Add wheels. Paint camo colors.

WHEELS?...boats don't have wheels!!! er....wait....my DUKW does...and i do the wheels off for that...

so, wheels off for me

Kevin

I think this subject has wheely wolled its course(both on and off).

Thanks everybody

BTW
Aluminium (or bronze) welding rod, great for supporting your wheels whilst spraying.

I usually prime and paint with the wheels off. As with any rule there are exceptions....

Wheels off!