Hi guys,
I have the feeling this question is going to sound heretic to a lot of the experts , but hopefuly it will help a lot of learners like me .
I've wondered about this for a while now :
Should I paint all parts while they are on the sprue
Or is it OK to assemble first and paint later

From experience it is fine to build and then paint, , as long of course as the assembly doesn't interfere with the painting job, ie preventing the access to some areas like an interior or the hair of a figure under an helmet.

Hopefuly the ayatolahs will have some good advice on the best way to go with painting...

I picked up a few good tips from this article i read.

http://www.ipmsstockholm.org/magazine/2003/01/stuff_eng_isaksson_lavat.htm

You can see in this article that if you have an airbrush, you can construct about 80% of the model, including the small little bits which the airbrush can still reach. Different story if you use a paint brush though.

Apart from wheels and tank tracks, all other parts are usually constructed and then weathered as most actual vehicles are like.

I agree with Jeremy. Since I´m still using a paintbrush (not much developed skills though all yerars modelling), I try to paint the large pieces on the sprue, then finish the assemble of the model. After that, second hand of paint, make the camouflage if neccesary and at the end, I do the weathering with a simple accion airbrush (powered with Humbrol or Testors power pack bottle). I hope to buy my compressor soon, so i could start building without worrying about the painting for a while, as Jeremy rightfully tips.
cheers

How different is it with a paint brush? I haven't evolved to the airbrush technology yet... Is it that airbrush reaches small parts easier?

Thanks for the article it is interesting and impressive.
I'll carry on forgetting what I'd learnt when I started modelling at the age of 6, and I wasn't allowed to touch the glue before all parts on the sprues were painted!

Most definitely.If you look at the article i linked above, the unpainted model already had the headlights, the cupola, the smoke launchers all set before spraying commenced. With a paintbrush, it does increase the difficulty level somewhat if those are glued on and then painted. It can be done just a little harder.

Once i got my airbrush, i never looked back.

Persoanlly, I assemble first, then paint evrything I can, then do a final assemble. If I am doing a plane, I start with the cockpit, paint it, then assemble the plane, leaving of the accessories. Then I paint and do a final assemble.

-Jay-