Ok, need some tips from armor model experts here. Building a couple of tanks and need some info.

When it comes to tracks do most of you put them on during the building and then paint them afterwards? Or do you paint the tracks and put them on separately.

Same goes for tank wheels with rubber rims. Do you guys paint the wheels, then the rim black, then put the wheels on after vehicle is painted?? Some help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

I wouldn't call myself an expert, but here's what I do for what it's worth. I paint the wheels then the rims since the wheels are usually the same as the base coat and I might as well paint all part that are the same colour at the same time. As for tracks, I usually try and paint tracks separately since it makes painting the wheels very hard (at least for me) if the tracks are already attached. Hope this helps.

Mark S.

I paint and weather the tracks off the tank,then I add them

For rubber rimmed wheels,I spray the rubber color,then I mask off the edges using a circle template,and spray the main color.I have hand painted the rubber on T-34's since the demarcation line is pretty clear.

I paint and weather the tracks separately. With indi links, I do the top and bottom runs separately for ease of assembly. I always paint the road wheels, before attaching them. I spray the rubber part with Tamiya NATO black and use a circle template to paint the hub.

It really depends on the type of tracks in question. If I am using one-piece track or metal tracks, I assemble the track, then remove it and paint and weather it separately. for individual tracks or link-and-length tracks, I temporarily affix the road wheels and return rollers to the model, then assemble the track. I then glue the tracks to the wheels, so the sprocket, return rollers, idler wheels, and road wheels are all one piece. I remove this then paint it separately. As for road wheels, I paint them the body color, then go back with a brush and paint them by hand. I try to be as neat as I can, but it isnt crucial for me as once weathering gets involved, you cannot tell the difference anyway.

Hope that helps and happy modeling!

I dry fit all parts involved to make sure of a good fit,then paint,then place Jeff T.

It can be done both ways ... in sub assemblies and assemble after painting, or assemble everything and paint afterwards. When I use kit tracks that have to be cemented, I usually assemble everything and paint assembled. When using workable tracks, I can paint seperatly. Basically each model is determined individually ... no fixed rule.