Ok, once and for all I've got to find out how you guys (Vinnie!) manage to paint a completely built tank so well. Particularly, all those wheels (other than the outer ones), the wheel wells, etc. How do you get in there? I mean, even with an airbrush I cant see how to convincingly cover the inner wheels etc and even then, how do you manage to paint details such as the wheel rubber on the inside wheels, especially where they overlap each other?

More baffling still are those who get the tracks in place before the first ounce of paint goes on! I see amazing results at the end but remain in awe of how you do it.... Maybe someday a build/paint story which addresses this?

This is of particular interest to me right now because for a variety or reasons spray/airbrushing is a big pain so I'd like to be able to build a tank, air a couple coats of the main color, and finish everything else by hand.

Hi James,I understand your question only to well I pondered this for years and Im still no wiser,My method is to use logical sub assemblies, I build the upper and lower hulls but dont attatch any tools build the turret then i spray that lot with the base colour then i paint and weather the tracks and spray the wheels and the tires then i will usually weather the lower hull behind the tracks and wheels. when its all dry I assemble the lot then do my washes and detail work. I like to paint the tools seperately I dont like base colour tools. all the best.

James, I kinda skimped on the painting part of the M2 feature recently posted.......so I'm working on a new one! Tracks, fully installed before a drop of paint is applied, and a full explanation coming up!

Vinnie

Its easier than it appears actually. First, spray all the running gear and lower tank in an earth colour, ensuring everything is covered. Any colours missed later, will appear as dirt/weathering.
Then spray all the wheels with rubber rims, black. I use a business card in my left hand as a mask, and I move it along, as I spray each wheel. Dont forget to do each wheel from the back side as well. Very little overspray of the black is left on the running gear when Im finished this step. Hold the brush close the area being sprayed ... adjust paint and pressure accordingly. You can hand paint the running gear back to brown if you wish, if theres a little overspray in places ... use a thinned paint to quickly and easily paint around the road wheels.
When this is finished, spray the wheel centers with base colour along with the rest of the hull. Again, one can tidy up any over spray onto the black rims. Thinned paint is the trick. Add camo ... if any.
Then a thick black wash around the rubber area gives a nice defined tyre line.
Weather as normal. The bergetiger below was painted in this fashion, as are most of my tanks.

The turret is removable .. so 2 assemblies.


Sprayed as described above, plus some details block painted


Weathered and finished.