As most of you know I am new to AFV modelling. I have about 6 kits ready to paint. What my fear is and what I am confused by is the painting stages. I can understand on a Tamiya kit where the wheels have polly caps and vinyl tracks that can be painted off the model and added after the model has been painted, but with DML kits (currently ready to paint the KT) how do you paint the wheels and tracks in sections off the model and then fit them to the model after painting as the side skirts will be in the way and I won't be able to get the wheels, sprokets and tracks on?

I apolagize if this is a stupid question I am just trying to learn the tricks and tips of the trade.

Any advise would be very appreciated, thanks.

I usually try to paint in sub-assemblies. For example I will airbrush the lower hull without the roadwheels and tracks, than paint and attach the roadwheels, than attach and handpaint the tracks.

Thanks for the advice, appreciate it. I usually read Vinnie's (Teacher) build reviews and noticed he always puts the whole tank together road wheels, sprokets, tracks etc and paints the whole tank and detial paints and weathers everything on the tank. Most of his reviews I have read have all been Tiger 1's, Panzer etc and I have not seen a build review by him on a KT or JadgT to see if he does the same thing and how he gets the paint up under the side skirts and paints the tracks etc.

My usual method:

1. Clean tracks
2. Attach road wheels, sprockets and idlers to tank using white glue.
3. Assemble two straight sections that stretches from the axle of the first roadwheel to the axle of the last road wheel (great for practice). This will be the part of the track that's on the ground.
4. Make sure you don't have any distractions for the next half hour or so.
5. Quickly assemble enough links to stretch from the sprocket to the straight lengths. I use Tamiya liquid glue for this. If you're quick enough the glue will not harden too much yet and this allows you to reposition the whole thing hopefully without losing too many links or your sanity.
6. Wait until one side completely dries before doing the other side.

7. Carefully pry wheels, tracks and all from the hull. If you were sparing with the white glue these should come off with no problems.

8. Paint as usual.


Other examples:

DML Shilka V1



DML T-34/76 Mod 1940



Good luck!. It's not that bad

John, I like your technique, however, how do you assemble the tracks when there is a piece that is blocking the top portion the tracks?

For example,
DML T28, I have assemble everything before I did the tracks. Now I am having a difficult time glueing the top portion of the tracks.