I'm about to build my third 1/35th scale model and need some advice on the track links. heres what I have done so far
1st model: t-34/85 from Dragon. I put the whole model together before painting. I'm happy with the way the tracks look as far as assembly but the painting was very hard to do and leaves a little to be disired

2nd model: M-18 hellcat from acadamy. I painted the model and track seperately before putting track on. I like the way the pant looks around the wheels, but not so much where the glue blurred the paint.

how do the you experts do it?

thanks

I like AFV club and Modelkasten tracks because they are "workable/" This means they are movable and adjustable. They can be painted off the vehicles and don't need glue to attach them, it just takes a while to get those last two pins in. If I feel the need to glue them down, I use superglue on the inner roadwheel so it can't be seen. Superglue will take paint, so I can just touch up the paint where the glue dries.

If you use other types of track that are not workable, but have to dry in shape, use small sections, about 1/4 of the links at a time and cement them to each other, but not the roadwheels. Do the front quarter, top quarter, rear quarter, and bottom (The easiest). This way you can remove them to paint them and you probably still won't have to cement them to the roadwheels once your are ready to put them on. There are numerous articles about doing this type of application. Here's Andy's, in it he does them all att once, but I prefer the piece at a time method:

https://armorama.kitmaker.net//features/127

Rob

I'm agreeing with Rob. The AFV Club tracks are great!!! I just used their set for the M1A1 and must say, they went together without a problem, look great, and will definitely add to the appearance of any model.

I am the few that construct everything then paint type. and my philosophy is the area your brush or airbrush cannot reach, your eyes can not see. #:-) #:-) #:-) #:-) #:-) #:-) #:-)

So I would just glue all the tracks there , create sag, then paint them all.

For individual link tracks I glue them in sections like Rob suggested and then paint and assembly the sections. Do not paint the joining sections until final assembly of the entire track. Then paint these small sections (one or two links per track section) on the model.

Here is a link to another feature on how to assemble link to link tracks.

https://armorama.kitmaker.net//features/84

When it comes to painting, I paint them off the model, then put them on (AFV Club tracks or others with pins). If they are individual links (Academy, DML)...I try desperately to find some that are pinned. I doubt there are many modelers out there that hate indi link tracks (the ones you glue together) as much as I do.

just fer chits an giggles if yall havent tried the Fruil tracks oh man they are very very very sweet an workable.. just put a set on a Pnzr IV Mobelwagon from tamiya an oh lordy do they look very Spiffy !!!!!... if ya haven't tried them.. by all means do pick up a set.. comes with 2 bags of links for left an right side.. an wire to pin the tracks together..

when I can get pic's I'll post them..

Chris