Painting Vinyl Tracks

I also do the same (as mentioned above) I leave them flat for the basic paint and wash. I then spray a very light "misting" coat of Testors Dull coat on each side and let dry. I then assemble and add them to the kit before the final weathering stage.

I have found that the Dull coat cuts down on the paint flaking.

Monsterzero

If using the vinyl tracks, I always try to leave either the idler or Drive sproket loose until I am ready to fit the vinyl track - mainly on Tamiya kits which have the poly caps and the wheels are just pressed on. That way you can slip the track over the road wheels and idler/sprocket on the model and then slip the loose idler/sprocket inside the track loop, then fix it to the kit. This way you don't need to twist or flex the track over these components, and little track paint damage can occur. Of course, this doesn't work when the wheel needs to be fixed to the suspension components and the assembly then has to be glued to the kit. The track tension will pull the parts out of alignment if you do this.

Where the wheels are interwoven it can be a bit fiddly too.

Then of course, there are those without the patience to use perfectly good vinyl tracks and just wimp out and go for the indy Fruil or Kasten tracks (Just joking guys don't hurt me!)

Tahts how I do them since I can't see how anybody paints them after they've been put on and I've never had a problem.

Give the paint enough time to dry before you put on the next coat or weathering. I have been using acrylics on the tracks and never had too much problem with regards top flaking.

Wash your tracks with a mild soap and water, rinse them off then paint. You won't have any major problems with them.

I agree with shermanfreak, you won't loose all that much paint and you'll be able to touch-up and/or weather over any you do loose. Keep the track join point on the bottom and under a wheel too. The worst vinyl tracks are those that have detail around the outside but the inside is basicly smooth vinyl, then aftermarket track is the only way to go unless you want to scribe the detail into the track (I wouldn't). Have fun.........
G.L.

You might lose a little bit ever now and then .... but I've never lost enough to be visible. After the balance of the weathering is done ... ie pastels ..... it wouldn't be seen anyways.