I usually assemble first, leaving the road wheels free spinning on their axles, then paint before I install the tracks. 

Plus doing that, allows you to fill in any gaps too.  

Thanks Stick.

Davja

Just curious to hear how some of you build the bogies, VVSS or HVSS, on your Shermans.  Do you paint everything first, then assemble or assemble then paint?  It's been a long time since I built a Sherman, and I can't remember how the heck I went about it.  I have a vague memory of trimming the "axles" down on the bogies so I could slide the road wheels into place after painting.

This method is the way I do VVSS, works great.

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http://cs.finescale.com/fsm/modeling_subjects/f/3/t/134935.aspx?page=5

You'll have to copy and paste, the stoopid links here don't work.

Scroll about halfway down the page to start out. You'll be glad you did. Your question will be answered.

I would cut the axles down to nubs so I could paint the wheels separately and then slide then in and secure with a lttle glue.

Did the same thing with my Italian assault gun,works for me.

Well, for what it's worth, I paint all the bogie components separately after masking all the mating surfaces that I can. Then scrape or sand the paint from the other locations that might need to be glued for assembly. 

Thanks for sharing everyone, much appreciated.

disastermaster

 

 

Davja

Just curious to hear how some of you build the bogies, VVSS or HVSS, on your Shermans.  Do you paint everything first, then assemble or assemble then paint?  It's been a long time since I built a Sherman, and I can't remember how the heck I went about it.  I have a vague memory of trimming the "axles" down on the bogies so I could slide the road wheels into place after painting.

 

 

 

This method is the way I do VVSS, works great. 

                                                      ⬇

                                                      ⬇

http://cs.finescale.com/fsm/modeling_subjects/f/3/t/134935.aspx?page=5

You'll have to copy and paste, the stoopid links here don't work.

Scroll about halfway down the page to start out. You'll be glad you did. Your question will be answered.

      

 

 

No offense but there is waaaay to much visually happening on that thread... what’s with the hundreds of emojis?.. very very distracting.

Murphy's Law

No offense but there is waaaay to much visually happening on that thread... what’s with the hundreds of emojis?.. very very distracting.

 

The suspension parts for the old Italeri Sherman are making me cringe, lol.  Oh well, the whole point of what I'm doing is to get something in the stash done.

disastermaster

 
This method is the way I do VVSS, works great.
                                                
http://cs.finescale.com/fsm/modeling_subjects/f/3/t/134935.aspx?page=5

You'll have to copy and paste, the stoopid links here don't work.
Scroll about halfway down the page to start out. You'll be glad you did. Your question will be answered.

Tojo72

I would cut the axles down to nubs so I could paint the wheels separately and then slide then in and secure with a lttle glue.

Did the same thing with my Italian assault gun,works for me.

Dang I wish I found this thread and these suggestions in July when I was assembling and painting the boges on my Tamiya M3 Grant/LEE. I painted all the parts on the sprue then assembled. Then putty and sanding where needed, then prime and paint again. What a PITA method. 

This popped up in my feed after seeing this thread, seemed apt to share.

(Ignore the utter lack of PPE, it was 1940)

Davja

The suspension parts for the old Italeri Sherman are making me cringe, lol.  Oh well, the whole point of what I'm doing is to get something in the stash done.

 

Ive built quite a few Italeri Shermans, Priests, Kangaroos, etc., that all use that suspension. Once you get past that point, the rest of the basic build is easy and swift. 

Some things that you may want to consider replacing on the kit: tracks, commander’s .50, some of the more anemic pioneer tools. 

Thanks stick.  Yeah, I looked at the state of the suspension and saved it for last.  I believe the last time I built this kit, was in the early 80s when it came in the Testors box.

SprueOne

Dang I wish I found this thread and these suggestions in July when I was assembling and painting the boges on my Tamiya M3 Grant/LEE. I painted all the parts on the sprue then assembled. Then putty and sanding where needed, then prime and paint again. What a PITA method.

Gee sprue,

 I thought you had read this a lonnnng time ago.

Sorry 'bout that. At least 'ya got it now though.