HI, im new to the hobby and i like building 1/35th scale WW2 German armor as well as some russian stuff as well.

Here is my question, do most of you guys that build similar stuff, build the entire kit then paint it.. or do you assemble in parts (turret, hull, etc) and paint those

Also what about the tracks, i keep messing up with the tracks, should i assemble the tracks first (individual link is usually what i encounter) and then paint them or should i paint them once they are on the tank, any help would be appreciated

Bakeman

Hi and welcome to Armorama.
About your question,some modellers have different methods on painting there models,some build a complete kit with all added such as turret,road wheels,tracks,tools and a like.i dont like this approach its far to complicated.
i usually bulid the hull and turret, hatchers and little extras.after this i set to give it a coat of primer before the base coat.once the colour is dryed i apply a few coats of future clear floor polish,this protects the paint from your washes,plus leaves a nice smooth surface for the decals.after the main body of the tank is weathered then i start to add the road wheels and tracks,then the last thing is the tools and tow cables.
and maybe some more weathering with mig powders to simulate dust and dirt.
Individual links,i always make mine in a complete run,
i mean i build them on a table,by glueing all the links together,then i paint them and weather them then i can add the tracks to the tank.sounds silly but a hair dry to soften the glue helps ease them on the wheels.
well its up to you which route you take,but this is the way i do it.
good luck and happy modelling.
cheers

Hi Stug and welcome.

I suppose this won't really answer your question but it is really trial and error.

Try something and if you like it keep doing it and if you don't, don't do it again and try another method and you will find you will come up with your own preferences for different thing that work for you.

Personally I usually fit all tools etc that will be painted the same colour as the vehicle so the painting isn't a problem and anything that requires to be painted any other colour I will paint separately then fix to vehile and begin weathering.

With tracks I assemble one side and fit to the vehicle in 2 -3 sections, remove and paint then fit and fix on vehicle then do other side and finally weather.


Happy modelling.

Here is my build/paint order, whether German or not:

Build hull, leave off any tools. Prime this.
Prime roadwheels.
Paint roadwheels and hull whatever color they are going to be. Paint tires on road wheels, if present.
Add roadwheels but not the tracks.
Build, prime and paint turret.

If you are going cammo your vehicle, put on the turret and do it now.

Add tracks. *If they are indy links, like DML, I paint them off the vehicle.
Paint and add pioneer tools.
Gloss coat.
Decals.
Dull coat.
Weather.

HTH,

I know I missed a step in there somewhere.

Shaun

I know I am fairly new here, but yes keenan missed a couple of steps. These can be inserted within his step as necessary:

-mow lawn
-take out trash
-drink lots of coffee (especially before fine detail work)
-find favorite brush that son/ daughter has run off with ...again...
:-) :-) :-)

I used to build the whole thing and then paint it.....but as time went on i got into the habit of building and painting in sections, ie:

prime n paint wheels
assemble lower hull, prime suspension/running gear etc
assemble (basics) upper hull (attaching/leaving tools as preference)
Assemble turret, prime
Assemble tracks, prime, paint
Complete assembly of various sections, paint, detail, weather.

Tracks always seem to be fiddly!

hope this is of help (just my way of doing things!)
Aaron

Thanks for the tips guys!

Bakeman