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Painting tank tires

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  • Member since
    May 2011
  • From: Canada
Painting tank tires
Posted by HisNHer Tanks on Tuesday, June 28, 2011 5:21 AM

Yesterday I was working on the tires for the wheels of a Heller Flak Gepard in 35th scale. And because of the way Heller wanted them made, I was unable to do my usual, which is simple with Tamiya armour due to how Tamiya makes models of tanks.

I usually put the wheel on a rod and spin it such that the black gets painted on reasonably consistent just from the spinning action.

Not so with the Gepard though. With this, I had to actually crazy glue the finished wheel sets to the end of the usual rod. No real problem, removing the wheel was noting as the glue bond was not very strong. Strong enough to stay put vs the resistance of a light touch from a paint brush.

But the quality of the results was not overly yippee looking.

And the type of vehicle often is a hassle. I find I can't really stomach doing Shermans wheels first then assembling. So it means painting the tires on a model where the boggie units are already attached. Oh so not yippee.

And then there is treads. Eventually there is treads. Do you paint the treads first then assemble. But then you have trouble glueing them. Do you glue em up then paint them. But how do you avoid getting paint all over the tires?

So guys, how exactly do you approach this particular portion of the project eh?

Most of my years is with eleastic tracks, not the link sort.

Tamiya 1/48th scale armour fan

  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Western North Carolina
Posted by Tojo72 on Tuesday, June 28, 2011 6:15 AM

I spray the entire roadwheel Tamiya XF-63+Tamiya Flat Black,then whatever color the wheel is going to be,I spray it, masking the gray with a  circle template.

If the tracks are friuls,DS,Rubber band,or Magic I paint and weather,then attach them to tank.For Tamiya 1/48 link+length,I found it easier to paint them 1st,then carefully assemble them to tank,then touch them up and weather weather them on the tank,but thats just me.

  • Member since
    April 2009
  • From: Carmel, IN
Posted by deafpanzer on Tuesday, July 5, 2011 2:51 PM

Ditto Just like Anthony... those circle templates can be brought at office supplies store for $5 or so.  They worked great on many sizes as I haven't been disappointed so far.  Once I had to hold the wheels tightly against the template...

Andy

  • Member since
    August 2009
  • From: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Posted by StreetFightingMan on Tuesday, July 5, 2011 4:28 PM

Yeah, I got the template idea from these forums about a year ago. It works like a charm everytime!

-Mike

On the Bench: 1/48 Eduard Avia B-534 Series IV, Cyber Hobby Messerschmidt Bf-109 E-4

  • Member since
    November 2008
  • From: Jefferson City, MO
Posted by iraqiwildman on Tuesday, July 5, 2011 4:46 PM

I also use the circle templete. You can usually modify the roadwheels assemblies so you can attach them later after painting. On a Sherman, you can cut the roadwheels axles down to a nub and slips the painted roadwheels in later.

I alway paint the tracks seperately annd attach them around the weathering time.

Tim Wilding

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