I've taken to attaching nearly every little bit of gear to tongue depresors with doublesided tape if large enough...or a small dab of gel C/A as seen here---that way it stays put during the entire process...but can be broken-loose when finished and if needed , touched-up at the attachment point.
Typically the steps for equipment go as well-covered elsewhere...there just isn't a better way, as far as I know..(this part will be basic to alot of you)
I've cleaned the parts, and as these will be 'recently used' shovels, will be sticking in the sand, and I need to paint both sides but bury the tip...they've go on this way.
Next step--primer---in this case I used Tamiya Flat Black TS-6 as ii works nicely to undercoat the MP40 and knives ,but I'll often use white or sand tan for tools as basecoat.
Then an acylic undercoat on the wood areas.. I used XF-78 Tamiya Wooden Deck Tan
After fully dry, a heavy coating of VanDyke Brown Windser & Newton Oil paint ( you can vary colours for different wood varieties--burnt sienna works nicely,ect..)After appling most of the oils are rubbed off, brushing 'with the grain' and attempting to leave traces of brushmarks to act as grain, but allowing the base colour to show through to give the wood 'life' Use a dry medium sized brush(a flat works well) and no thinner. wipe the brush off often as you go, removing the excess oil paint .
I set the thing aside a few days as I don't trust oils to dry overnight, and later drybrush the metal areas with a suitable metal coloured enamel(in this case Testors Steal & Black)
After that, the shovels can be dirtied-up with pigments that match the base , and put into service.
More as I have it Gents........thanx as always for tuning in.................