Build First or Paint then Build?

Yes and yes.  A better answer is, it depends, but usually it involves some of both.  This is part of the pre-build planning.  You have to look at the subassemblies and see how hard masking of color seperation lines are likely to be.  It is often a case of building subassemblies, painting these subassemblies, then assembling whole model and then often doing some painting on completed model.  However, on aircraft I generally do not put landing gear on even if painting the rest of the assembled plane.  Landing gear and a few parts go on last, even if painting whole plane in one piece.

Research the prototype- were wings, tail, etc easily removable?  If so it may be best to paint these seperately.  On other planes it was very hard to remove wings.  So color seperation lines ran across these joints.

Every kit, every model is different.  Experience is about only way you become comfortable with the planning of when to paint what.

An airbrush is such a neat tool because you can paint small areas of a nearly complete model by adjusting to a very small spray.

The answer is, plan first.

Every kit is different. When planning your build work out which sub assemblies are paintable, which may need masking, and how you are going to layer on coats of paint.

Once that's mapped out, the question is already answered. 

That depends greatly on what you're talking about.

Since I'm far more comfortable with an airbrush than a paintbrush, I generally paint small parts own their own, then assemble. Like so:

If it's something that'll need seam repair - a fuselage, wings, wheel halves, etc - then I build first, then clean up, then paint.

If it's something that will be extremely difficult to mask later, I'll paint it first, too. The red cowl ring on P-47s of the 56th FG, for example.

The thing, IMO, is to figure out what works for you. I read an FSM article last fall where the author stated he prefers to paint all the stowage, tools, etc after they've been attached to the tank. To me, that's a giant NO EFFIN WAY!

Hello!

Manny style answer: That depends...

I say build first, and then paint - except for where impossible

As for little parts - PERSONALLY I wouldn't paint them on the sprue, because of the sanding and filling almost every part needs. I find it better to attach small parts to bigger subassemblies and then paint them. This way you can also shade and blend everything nicely. Sometimes I glue a part on a holder made of wood or styrene. Then the joint goes where it's easy to conceal/redo/not matter much versus a place where it's optimal for casting like a sprue attachment.

Hope it helps, good luck with your projects

Paweł

Not sure what type of model you are making but if aircraft, I would HIGHLY suggest buying the FSM booklet by Pat Hawkey "Building & Detailing Model Aircraft"

It looks to me like you just answered your own question.

Basically we follow the details as shown in the typical kit's instructions, that tells us to paint interior stuff as we build before assembling the fuselage halves, etc.

Also, we usually paint small items before detatching them from the sprue.

As for scraping the paint off the surfaces to be joined you should own a good set of hobby knives (I have three or four sets myself) and use an apporpriate size and shape knife blade.

The best bargain on these if from Harbor Freight Tools, where you can buy on-line or from a local retail outlet.

Also there are good hard-back books on model airplane building you should get (I have a few myself) that can help you with the basics as well.

Also check out the kit review websites, usually the writer will tell how he did what he did more thoroughly then the typically edited magazine articles.

Tom T