I always paint tools separately off the vehicle, then use super glue to attach them after the vehicle is painted.  This allows me to do detail painting on the tools without having to mask off areas of the vehicle or slop the color(s) I am using on the tools onto the vehicle.

Just as Gino does, i paint mine off the vehicle then super glue after the vehicleis painted. I paint the metal parts semi gloss black the dry brush with some natrual metal and a bit of rust. For the wood i use a light sandy yellow or buff acrylic thyen oils.

Edit: Deleted because I made some big mistakes there. 

Great advice, gentlemen! I appreciate it.  As an aside, my wife just bought me a gift of the very old Monogram 1/35 M48A2.  Those tools are molded directly onto the hull.  I'm tempted to carve them off, rebuild the deck where they were mounted, and apply new ones. 

Bill

Gamera

From what I've read it was normal to attach the tools to the vehicle, mask off the periscopes and vison slits and then hose the whole tank down with paint. So the tools should be the same as the base colour of the vehicle. 

But most modelers do paint the wooden parts a wooden sort of colour and the metal bits steel just to add more contrast. Call it artistic license, it's more interesting than painting the whole darn thing green or brown. 

Personally I leave the tools off, paint them, and then add them last. I just can't seem to get to the back sides of the tools without making a mess if I attach them and then paint them later. And one tip I've been given, paint the metal bits a dark grey and then rub a pencil on a piece of paper to get an accumulation of graphite (lead). Then rub this on you finger tip or a cotton swab and scrub it over the metal bits to just give it a light metallic sheen.  

 

Iwopuld imagine that would be the case with vehicles painted in the field but not at the factory. So German vehicles would have tools with green and red/brown on then but maybe not the yellow. There are some photo's of a Tiger II being spray painted with the tools still on.

Edit: Deleted because it was really bad advice... 

Gamera

..not that the tools were attached at the factory before painting but that before they were loaded on ships for transport to the UK...

I know this is not correct.  When vehicles are sent by ship, all their tools and other loose items were crated up so they would not be lost or stolen in transit.  Here are Shermans that just arrived in England in preparation for D-Day.

The same is true for modern equipment.  Also, when modern vehicles go to the paint booth, the crews strip them of all gear, tools, etc.  They also mask the lights and reflectors and any other parts that don't get painted.

Thanks Gino for the correction. 

Now I am finally going to shut up before I lead anyone else astray with my bad advice... 

I guess I can add my two cents to this thread too. I like to paint the tools off the model and attach them after final paint coat and prior to weathering. I try to use a slightly different shade of OD than the tank itself for some contrast. I like the look of the wood handles on the tools, but I think they would have been painted OD by the contractor who supplied them.

BTW, does anyone have any hints for working with the tiny PE footman loops and straps that hold down the tools? Do you attach the loops first and then try to thread the straps through them and around the tools? It doesn't seem possible that a human being can actually manipulate the tiny parts the way they should be done. 

The color of the tools will depend on the era as well. Currently, a lot of tools come with vehicles and are painted a solid color, either forest green or black. Replacement tools are usually locally procured so a new shovel might look like one bought from Lowe's or Home Depot.

Some crews might paint these with whatever spray paint they can get from supply or Walmart. Some crews might leave them as is.

Even if the tools came fully painted in OD green, a shovel will show some paint wear along the edges where it contacts dirt. Likewise with an axe, although they are more likely used to bust open wooden ammo boxes than cutting down trees.

Rob Gronovius

Likewise with an axe, although they are more likely used to bust open wooden ammo boxes than cutting down trees.

 

Rob Gronovius

The color of the tools will depend on the era as well. Currently, a lot of tools come with vehicles and are painted a solid color, either forest green or black. Replacement tools are usually locally procured so a new shovel might look like one bought from Lowe's or Home Depot.

Some crews might paint these with whatever spray paint they can get from supply or Walmart. Some crews might leave them as is.

Even if the tools came fully painted in OD green, a shovel will show some paint wear along the edges where it contacts dirt. Likewise with an axe, although they are more likely used to bust open wooden ammo boxes than cutting down trees.

 

That may be the case in the US but other nations will be different. In the British Army tools and any other replacements all come through the supply chain. There's no popping down to B&Q for a shovel.

HeavyArty

 

Gamera

..not that the tools were attached at the factory before painting but that before they were loaded on ships for transport to the UK...

 

 

I know this is not correct.  When vehicles are sent by ship, all their tools and other loose items were crated up so they would not be lost or stolen in transit.  Here are Shermans that just arrived in England in preparation for D-Day.

The same is true for modern equipment.  Also, when modern vehicles go to the paint booth, the crews strip them of all gear, tools, etc.  They also mask the lights and reflectors and any other parts that don't get painted.

 

Outr tools are not even fitted to the vehcile unless going into the field. We used to have a secure cage for each wagon which held every thing from spanners to the cam net.

When I was Regular Army, our vehicle tools were kept locked inside the vehicle while in the motor pool, and strapped down in their load plan assigned area for the field. During recovery after every field op, we repainted them with OD and Black spray paint from supply. 

When I was in the Guard tools were kept locked in the vehicle or in a conex for the vehicles that could not securely lock them up. Since we did not have the time to repaint them regularly, they were left in the colors that they were issued in. Which was usually clear varnished wood and painted metal black.

stikpusher

 During recovery after every field op, we repainted them with OD and Black spray paint from supply.

i never knew any of this. Thank you Vets.

GMorrison

 

 

stikpusher

 During recovery after every field op, we repainted them with OD and Black spray paint from supply.

 

 

 

"Seargent Stikpusher, why do keep bringing kits into barracks?"

 

i never knew any of this. Thank you Vets.

 

My builds in the barracks were the best diversion during inspections. The inspecting officers would see them, make a beeline to my desk where they were all displayed, look and ask a few questions about them, then move on to the next room in the barracks. Usually completely ignoring my roommates and my gear and lockers that were supposed to be the subject of the inspection.

Bish

 

 

That may be the case in the US but other nations will be different. In the British Army tools and any other replacements all come through the supply chain. There's no popping down to B&Q for a shovel.

 

This was a direct result of the $800 hammers that plagued the Pentagon in the 80s.

Rob Gronovius

 

 

Bish

 

 

That may be the case in the US but other nations will be different. In the British Army tools and any other replacements all come through the supply chain. There's no popping down to B&Q for a shovel.

 

 

 

 

This was a direct result of the $800 hammers that plagued the Pentagon in the 80s.

 

Well they have to pay for those top secret UFO bases some how

stikpusher

 

 

GMorrison

 

 

stikpusher

 During recovery after every field op, we repainted them with OD and Black spray paint from supply.

 

 

 

"Seargent Stikpusher, why do keep bringing kits into barracks?"

 

i never knew any of this. Thank you Vets.

 

 

 

 

My builds in the barracks were the best diversion during inspections. The inspecting officers would see them, make a beeline to my desk where they were all displayed, look and ask a few questions about them, then move on to the next room in the barracks. Usually completely ignoring my roommates and my gear and lockers that were supposed to be the subject of the inspection.

 

Nice to know i am not the only one that worked for.

It worked for me as well.

It seems that the answer to my question is that some tools were painted but others weren't.  That certainly makes life easy.  I like the idea of painting them because of the contrast that approach conveys. It also seems that painting the metal parts of these tools steel is the wrong approach; they should be painted black, dark gray, or gunmetal and highlighted with steel colored paint or graphite pencils.

Thanks!  All of your comments help!

Bill

Rob Gronovius

 

 

Bish

 

 

That may be the case in the US but other nations will be different. In the British Army tools and any other replacements all come through the supply chain. There's no popping down to B&Q for a shovel.

 

 

 

 

This was a direct result of the $800 hammers that plagued the Pentagon in the 80s.

 

Not to mention that either the driver or commander of the vehicle was "signed" for all assigned items. Anything that was missing during inspections and the soldier who signed for said missing items was given a "statment of charges" to sign for those items and the money was taken from his pay. So before inspection time it was off to the local hardware store or on requisition trips around the Battalion motor pool to replace any lost items. And a quick repaint and stencil to cover up previous owner markings. Or so I have heard... 

stikpusher

 

Rob Gronovius

 

 

Bish

 

 

That may be the case in the US but other nations will be different. In the British Army tools and any other replacements all come through the supply chain. There's no popping down to B&Q for a shovel.

 

 

 

 

This was a direct result of the $800 hammers that plagued the Pentagon in the 80s.

 

 

 

 

Not to mention that either the driver or commander of the vehicle was "signed" for all assigned items. Anything that was missing during inspections and the soldier who signed for said missing items was given a "statment of charges" to sign for those items and the money was taken from his pay. So before inspection time it was off to the local hardware store or on requisition trips around the Battalion motor pool to replace any lost items. And a quick repaint and stencil to cover up previous owner markings. Or so I have heard... 

 

Now that sounds harsh. We used to do a check of our own tools regulaly and anything missing could be reported and was replaced and out down to excersise loss. If it was picked up on an inspection and you hadn't reported it, then you were in trouble.

But fortunatly, i was part of Coy HQ and worked in the garage full time which included ordering. And it also included maintaining a stock of those items we didn't have

Bish

...We used to do a check of our own tools regulaly and anything missing could be reported and was replaced and out down to excersise loss. If it was picked up on an inspection and you hadn't reported it, then you were in trouble.

We use the same system in the US Army.  After each field exercise, we too turn in our field losses for requisitions.  As long as you have the paperwork showing it is on order, you are fine at inspections.  Rob is talking about your last line above (that I highlighted). That is when a statement of charges was issued.  

As a tank company XO, I was also the supply officer. A missing crappy screwdriver would cost more through the supply system than a set of four Craftsman screwdrivers would through the Sears catalog (pre-Internet days). BUT, the tool couldn't have a brandname on it. So I learned that I could do a little cosmetic touch up with my Dremel battery powered rotary tool and grind off the name.

I still have a couple of the Craftsman screwdrivers that weren't the same size as the ones required for the tank tool bag.

Gamera

Thanks Gino for the correction. 

Now I am finally going to shut up before I lead anyone else astray with my bad advice... 

 

Hey, Gamera, no sweat.  There's no one of us who's right all the time.  Some folks at HyperScale think they are, maybe, but...  But you're always postive, supportive and gentlemanly, so keep it up, man!

Best regards,

Brad