Tank wheels

http://www.finescale.com/fsm/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=948

there was the same question in Feb. and i still do it the same way, hope this helps.

Spray the entire wheel flat black. Next, "dot-in" the wheel color (front and back) using a very fine setting on your airbrush; make sure you let a little of the black show through subtly. After it dries, apply a black or dark brown wash. In addition to picking out details, the wash will also eliminate any minor overspray from the "dotting-in" technique. Drybrush and you're done.
Gip Winecoff

I put the wheels on the end of a file or paint brush and use a brush with a narrow tip. Instead of moving the brush, I rotate the file (or whatever else I am using), holding the brush steady (put a small amount of paint on the brush) and the wheels are painted this way.

I agree with the Major (a Staff Sergant agreeing with a Major? WOW... just kidding). I use paint, because it can be tinted into a dark gray or something similar. A circle template works great with an airbrush and is a good way to go. Actual road (or bogie) wheel rubber doesn't stay clean black for very long and it's nice to be able to weather it easily.

For the massive amounts of modern US armor, I use a circle template. I paint the road wheels black, then use the circle template. Mask off the surrounding circles and spray the tank color. Circle templates are less than $5 at the local arts & crafts store.

I use regular "sharpie" pens. They come in three or four thickness. Using thi fine point first then filling in with a thicker pen. It works very well. I found this tip in Modeling German Armor reference book.

I use flat black.