Hi, This is a loaded question, at least from my perspective of things. Since I only use brushes, it's a lot harder for me to paint models than those folks who use airbrushes. (Just never have had the patience to work with these things.)
So I mostly paint in as many sub-assemblies as I can, even the tools and other such small items. The tracks I usually spray with primers to get the general colorings I want them to be; usually black to start and then a general 'shading' of rust over top befor putting them on. (And usually they are the Fruil tracks too, which are moveable and quite easy to put on after painting.)
Also, using just brushes, I try to stay away from quite a bit of the PE, not only because I risk the very real possibility of snaping them off with the brush, but also because I don't have the patience to add a lot of the really small stuff to begin with.
I think, generally speaking, that each modeler has to try differnt approaches to the various building and painting techniques that are offered and find the one that generally works best for them. A lot of it is just good old trial and error, for all of us.
Good luck and take care, Sgirty
